Eligibility for Annual Parking Permit

Parking permits are granted by the University on the express condition that the University assumes no responsibility for damages to any vehicle or its contents by reason of fire, theft, or other cause, and applicants agree not to sue for any such damages if a parking permit is granted. University staff members have no authority to assume care, custody, control, or possession of any permit holder’s vehicle on University property. It is strongly recommended that all vehicles be locked when left in University parking spaces.

Eligibility for Parking Permits:

• All faculty and staff with a University-issued identification card.
• Undergraduate students, graduate students, research assistants and teaching fellows, as well as Harvard Extension School, Summer School, Executive Education, Professional Development, and cross-registered students.
• Employees of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, childcare centers, and any other affiliated institution.
• Retired staff are ineligible for yearly parking permits.
• All others should contact their local department Transportation Coordinator, or call the Parking office at 617 496-7827 for more information.

Parking permits are distributed at the start of each academic year and are valid July 1 to June 30 (unless otherwise noted). Please be sure to have your permit displayed either by hanging it from the rearview mirror or displayed on the dashboard at all times while on University property.

Lost or Stolen Parking Credentials

Lost Permits (Hangtags and Access Devices)
Hangtags are University-issued parking permits and have value to the permit holder. Access devices, including transponders and clickers, accompany permits and guarantee entry into University-owned facilities. In the event that a hangtag or access device is lost, the permit holder should immediately report the loss to the Parking Office. Once the permit holder reports a lost hangtag, it becomes invalid. For each occurrence, a replacement hangtag will be issued to the permit holder for a $50.00 fee. Duplicate access devices may also be subject to service fees.

Any vehicle displaying a permit or using an access card that was declared lost by the original permit holder will be immobilized or towed immediately. Parking privileges will be revoked immediately from all parties involved.

Stolen Permits (Hangtags and Access Cards)
Hangtags are University-issued parking permits and have value to the permit holder. Access cards accompany permits and guarantee entry into University-owned facilities. In the event that a hangtag or access card is stolen while the vehicle is on University property, the permit holder should immediately report the theft to the HUPD and obtain an incident report. In the event that a hangtag or access card is stolen while the vehicle is off campus, the vehicle owner should obtain an incident report from the police department in the city where the theft occurred. When the report is filed, the permit holder should send a copy of the report to the Parking Office. Once the permit holder reports the stolen hangtag, it becomes invalid. A replacement hangtag will be issued to the permit holder at no fee.

Any vehicle displaying a permit or using an access card that was reported stolen by the original permit holder will be immobilized or towed immediately. Parking privileges will be immediately revoked from the owner of the towed vehicle.

Parking Cancellations

Permit holders are individually responsible for all fees associated with securing and maintaining an annual permit and any fees associated with infractions and violations. If a permit-holding employee’s affiliation with the University is terminated, the employee is solely responsible for notifying the Parking Office in advance of the termination date. Delay in notification may, in some cases, result in parking fees. Parking permits are non-transferable.

To cancel parking, the permit and any access cards must be returned to the Parking Office before any refund/credit will be processed. The permit holder is the sole person responsible for the permit unless it has been physically returned to the Parking Office, and will be charged for the permit the entire time it is in the permit holder’s possession. No exceptions will be made to this regulation.

Please note: Employees whose parking fees are payroll deducted are subject to IRS pre-tax regulations prohibiting refunds unless the permit holder is leaving the University or there was a processing error. We strongly encourage employees to give at least two weeks’ notice before cancelling parking privileges.

Monthly prorated refund amounts are determined by the date Parking Services received the physical permit, not the dates of verbal or written notice. Neither cash nor check refunds are made to payroll deducted permit holders. If insufficient deductions have been taken at the time of termination, a deduction for the remaining balance will be charged.

Permit holders who paid in cash or by check for their annual parking fees will be issued refund checks within 30 business days of receipt of the permit, not the date of verbal or written notice of cancellation.

When a permit holder cancels his or her parking permit, he or she relinquishes all rights to park in the originally assigned lot or area. If he or she wishes to re-apply for a parking permit at a later time, the request will be considered as a new assignment, and the applicant will be placed at the bottom of the desired wait list. Exceptions are made for those individuals on University-approved sabbaticals or leaves of absence, or by prior arrangement.