Residence Halls & First-Year Resident Parking Policy
First-year students, including those with enough credits to be classified as sophomores, are prohibited from bringing vehicles to campus during their first year (fall through spring quarters). They are not eligible to purchase any campus parking ePermits, including daily, weekly, or quarterly permits.
Main Campus Residence Halls include:
- Anacapa,
- Manzanita Village
- San Miguel
- San Nicolas
- San Rafael
- Santa Cruz
- Santa Rosa
- and off Campus Santa Catalina
These Residence Halls are typically occupied by first-year students. Residents of these complexes are not eligible to purchase any campus parking ePermits, including daily, weekly, or quarterly permits.
For eligible students Residence Hall Parking on the Main Campus will be located – Structure 22, (H22) and designated areas in Lot 23 (H23). Upon application please be prepared to provide a copy of your vehicle's current DMV registration (registration must be in your or your family's name).
UC Santa Barbara is committed to being a good neighbor. Surrounding communities and private businesses have parking policies in place. Parking in these areas may subject you to citations or tows. Students that live in UC residential facilities without a long-permit should not bring a vehicle to campus.
First-year students are encouraged to use alternative transportation, including:
- MTD bus service (free with UCSB student ID)
- Zipcar
- Bike racks and lockers
- Taxi/Uber/Lyft
- FLIX Bus, Amtrak, Coastal Express
Students with an extenuating circumstance may apply for an exception.
- Exception requests require appropriate justification but must not include medical documentation.
- A limited number of exceptions will be granted, all decisions are considered final.
- The exception request form will be available beginning August 1, 2025.
Important: Exception requests must be approved before bringing a vehicle to campus. Only applications submitted with a UCSB email will be reviewed.
Students are expected to adhere to the policy and not bring vehicles to campus. UCSB works with its neighbors to minimize traffic, and students play a vital role in maintaining this commitment.
Apartments
Each apartment in Storke and West Campus Family Student Housing is assigned one parking space based on the apartment number. Only one space is allocated per unit.
The cost of parking is included in the monthly rent, but residents must apply for a parking ePermit through the UCSB Parking Portal. A copy of your current state DMV vehicle registration (registered in your or your family’s name) is required during the application process.
Second vehicle ePermits are available by waitlist only. Residents may apply for a second permit after moving in. Parking a second vehicle in any campus lot without a valid UCSB-issued ePermit is not allowed.
Overflow second vehicle ePermits are available for a fee. Please contact Transportation and Parking Services for more information.
Residents of San Clemente Villages with a vehicle must apply for an H50 parking ePermit through the UCSB Parking Portal. The cost of parking is included in the monthly rent, but each resident must obtain their own ePermit. A copy of your current state DMV vehicle registration (registered in your or your family’s name) is required during the application process.
Residents without a vehicle can receive two San Clemente Villages parking codes per month. To request a code, call 805-893-4501. These codes renew monthly and are not available to residents with an active H50 parking ePermit.
Returning resident students (sophomores, juniors, and seniors) must purchase an "H" parking ePermit for their designated area. Parking assignments are based on housing location:
- El Dorado – H43
- Santa Ynez – H57
- Sierra Madre – H65
- Westgate – H44
- San Joaquín – There is no on-site parking available; parking is located one mile away in Structure 50 (H50).
- Residence Halls (Main Campus) – H22 (Structure 22) and designated areas in Lot 23 (H23) for eligible students.
Parking ePermits are limited and issued on a first-come, first-served basis.
A limited number of parking spaces are available for those that wish to bring cars. Parking is not guaranteed on-site and may be located up to one mile away from your residence. ePermits for all University-owned residences can be purchased online via UCSB Transportation & Parking Services. Upon application please be prepared to provide a copy of your vehicle's current DMV registration (registration must be in your or your family's name). Please visit their website for up-to-date information: tps.ucsb.edu
Be Car Free in Santa Barbara
- City Buses (MTD): UCSB students may ride the MTD bus for free by showing a valid student ACCESS card. Connections to UCSB, Isla Vista, Goleta, and Santa Barbara. See www.sbmtd.gov for info and schedules or call 805-683-3702.
- Greyhound Bus: located in the Train Depot next to the Amtrak station downtown. (805-965-7551)
- Amtrak: there are two local stations, one in Goleta and another downtown on lower State Street.
- Airlines: the Santa Barbara Airport is adjacent to the UCSB campus.
- Santa Barbara Airbus: local transportation to LAX and Burbank Airports. Charters, play & concert connections, and much more. See www.sbairbus.com for info and pricing or call 805-964-7759.
- Taxi Cab Service: check the yellow pages. See Tips for Taking a Taxicab in Santa Barbara.
- UCSB's Transportation Alternatives Program
- Zipcar: offers access to cars parked right on campus by the hour or by the day.
University Housing Complexes Include:
Housing & Residential Services operates six apartment complexes (El Dorado, San Clemente, San Joaquin, Santa Ynez, Sierra Madre, and Westgate), and two family student apartments (Storke Family Housing and West Campus).
Parking availability is extremely limited. Parking is not available for all Resident Halls or Apartment complexes. In some cases parking is a mile away from the complex. Most students walk, bike, or take the bus.
The best advice to students regarding parking on campus is don’t bring a car.