Student permits (decals) for the Durham campus are sold online in advance of semester openings, or over-the-counter at other times of year. Some categories are subject to availability, and resident permits do sell out. The permit selection form appears below during online sales periods, and will not be seen during other periods.
When the form is open, you may begin your application by selecting your preferred permit type below to read the corresponding information, agree to terms and conditions, and then proceed to ThePermitStore.com to enter your order. Upon approval of your application, your permit will be delivered to you in the U.S. mail.
Whenever possible, students — not their parents — should apply for the permit so the permit user fully understands the regulations and terms of use.
If the form does not appear below, permit sales are conducted at the parking office or virtual counter only.
Wait list: When a permit category is sold out, clicking on the "Join Wait List" button will direct you to the wait list page. Eligible applicants will be selected from the wait list if/when space availability allows. If you are selected, we will notify you via campus email with instructions on how to claim the permit. You may also wish to investigate off-campus (private) parking options offered by area institutions.
Fall/Spring & Fall-Only Permit Sales - START HERE!
Select Commuter - $75 (2-semester option only)
Durham-campus Commuter students only (any year). Must live in a residence >1 mile from campus and >.25 from nearest campus/downtown Durham bus stop. Eligible graduate assistants who purchase a fall/spring commuter permit and remain in an eligible program for the following summer term (as verified by the Graduate School) will be allowed a summer commuter permit at no additional cost.
Sold out - Join Wait List Resident East - $450 (fall/spring), $300 (fall-only)
Non-freshman campus residents of any on-campus dormitory, excluding Gables and Woodside.
Sold out - Join Wait List Gables - $450 (fall/spring), $300 (fall-only)
Non-freshman residents of the Gables apartment complex only.
Sold Out - Join Wait List Woodside - $450 (fall/spring), $300 (fall-only)
Non-freshman residents of the Woodside apartment complex only.
Select Resident West - $300 (fall/spring), $200 (fall-only)
Non-freshman residents of any on-campus dormitory or apartment complex.
Select Non-Resident - $750 (2-semester option only)
Students living in off-campus housing that falls in the area ineligible for commuter permits, e.g., Madbury Commons, Cottages, Lodges, River's Edge, etc. (not commuter permit eligible). Valid in Mast Road Lot only. Valid fall semester through summer semester.
Select Moped - $75 (2-semester option only)
Commuters or non-freshman campus residents. Not available to students obtaining a Gables, Woodside, Resident East, Resident West or non-resident permit (campus residents can't have moped and car).
Select Motorcycle - $75 (2-semester option only)
Commuters or non-freshman campus residents. Not available to students obtaining a Gables, Woodside, Resident East, Resident West, or non-resident permit.
Note: Students who have purchased commuter permit may obtain a motorcycle permit at no charge: please come to the parking office - do not order online!
Fall
Valid for the fall semester only.
Resident East - $300
Non-freshman campus residents of any on-campus dormitory, excluding Gables and Woodside
Gables - $300
Non-freshman residents of the Gables apartment complex only
Woodside - $300
Non-freshman residents of the Woodside apartment complex only
Spring
Valid for the spring semester only.
Select Permit Commuter - $37.50
Commuter students only (any year).
Note: Permits purchased after Dec. 1 are valid spring-semester only. If you already purchased a commuter permit in the fall (and remain eligible), you do not need to purchase another permit for Semester II.The permit you purchased for the fall expires at spring commencement.
Join Wait List Strafford Lot Spring Semester- $300 - SOLD OUT
NEW! Strafford lot is converting from an employee lot to a student resident lot starting Spring Semester '23.
Available to non-freshman campus residents living in an on-campus dorm or complex. Off-campus complexes such as Cottages, Lodges, and Madbury Commons are NOT eligible for this permit.
Select Permit Resident West Spring Semester- $200
Available to non-freshman campus residents living in an on-campus dorm or complex. Off-campus complexes such as Cottages, Lodges, and Madbury Commons are NOT eligible for this permit.
Select Permit Motorcycle - $75
Commuters or non-freshman campus residents. Not available to students holding/obtaining a Gables, Woodside, Resident East, Resident West or non-resident permit.
Note: Students who have purchased commuter permit may obtain a motorcycle permit at no charge: please come to the parking office – do not order online!
Select Permit Moped - $75
Commuters or non-freshman campus residents. Not available to students holding/obtaining a Gables, Woodside, Resident East, Resident West or non-resident permit.
Select Permit Non-Resident - $425
Students living in off-campus housing that falls in the area ineligible for commuter permits, e.g., Madbury Commons, Cottages, Lodges, River's Edge, etc. (not commuter permit eligible). Valid fall semester through summer semester.
Join Wait List Other
Gables, Woodside, Resident East, and/or permit types marked "Waitlist Selected Applicants Only" are not presently availble for general sale. You may get on the wait list for these types.
Summer
Valid for the summer term only.
Eligible graduate assistants who purchased a fall/spring commuter permit for the preceding academic year and remain in an eligible program for the following summer term (as verified by the Graduate School) will be allowed a summer commuter permit at no additional cost. Extension permits placards (PDF) were delivered to eligible GAs on May 1 via campus email. Those receiving the extension DO NOT need to order a Student Summer permit. All others may continue, below:
Student Summer (Commuters, Residents, Student Employees)- $50
Students who are either enrolled in summer courses, employed in a summer on-campus job, or both. Non-freshman campus residence of any residence hall or enrolled commuters or summer-employed students of any class year from any off-campus address. Note: Graduate Assistants, please review note, above.
Summer Moped - $50
Non-freshman campus residents in any residence hall, or commuter or summer-employed students of any class year from any off-campus address. Campus residents may obtain either a car permit or a moped permit but may not have both. Note: At the vendor site, this permit will appear as "Staff & Summer Moped", but is OK for students to buy.
Summer Motorcycle - $50
Non-freshman campus residents in any residence hall, or commuter or summer-employed students of any class year from any off-campus address. Campus residents may obtain either a car permit or a moped permit but may not have both. Note: At the vendor site, this permit will appear as "Staff & Summer Motorcycle", but is OK for students to buy.
Wait List Offers
The online store is presently available ONLY TO PRE-APPROVED APPLICANTS who have been been selected from a parking permit wait-list, who were sent an offer email, and are applying before their noted deadline.
Any applications received from people who were not made this type of wait-list offer will be disapproved.
Pre-approved applicants owing fines must pay these before applying. Otherwise, please make your permit type selection based on the wait-list offer you received:
Resident East Spring Semester - $300*
Wait-list selected applicants only! Non-freshman residents of any campus dormitory, excluding Gables & Woodside. Valid spring semester only.
Gables Spring Semester - $300*
Wait-list selected applicants only! Non-freshman residents of Gables. Valid spring semester only.
Woodside Spring Semester - $300*
Wait-list selected applicants only! Non-freshman residents of Woodside. Valid spring semester only.
Strafford Spring Semester - $300*
Wait-list selected applicants only! Non-freshman residents of Woodside. Valid spring semester only.
On sale starting 12/20 9:00 a.m. Eastern
"Non-Resident" Spring Semeseter - $425
Wait-list selected applicants only! Non-freshman residents of Woodside. Valid spring semester only.
*For those upgrading from a 2-semester "Resident West", "Commuter", "Motorcycle" or "Moped" permit, your permit fee will be adjusted to reflect a partial credit prior to being sent to the student billing office. Please note, though, that due to technical limitations, this this credit will NOT be reflected at ThePermitStore.com, but will be adjusted subsequently. Your original permit will be invalidated.
Permit sales temporarily closed
Permit sales are temporarily closed, and will resume at 9am on Friday, 7/29.
Sales will be available for Grad, Senior, Junior, and Sophomore campus residents, and commuters of any class year.
(Freshman campus residents not eligible).