Permits

USF Tampa campus embraced the trend of utilizing Virtual Permits in our parking operations. Virtual permits have numerous benefits including efficiency, sustainability, and cost. For example, our valued customers will immediately have access to park on campus upon purchasing online compared to waiting for a physical permit to arrive in the mail. It is also a more sustainable process as permits don’t need to be printed and then mailed. Finally, PATS can more efficiently check lots and garages for violations, which will help to ensure only valid permit holders are parking on campus freeing up more spaces for you.

Ensure your vehicle information is up-to-date when you buy your permit as PATS utilizes License Plate Recognition (LPR) for enforcement in our facilities. This is why USF Tampa campus will require all vehicles to “Park Plate Out.” Enforcement officers will be able to see whether the vehicle associated with your license plate is authorized to park on campus. If you haven’t purchased a permit and you attempt to park on campus, you may receive a citation.

All vehicles parked on the Tampa campus must abide by the “head-in-only” rule to ensure that the license plate is facing the drive lane and can be read by the License Plate Recognition (LPR) cameras.

Exception to the rules are as follows:

1. Vehicles parking in a disabled parking space.
2. Vehicles actively charging at an electric charging station.
3. Vehicles displaying an official State-issued front license plate
4. Vehicles displaying the Optional Front License Plate issued by PATS. 

For those wishing to back in, but who don’t have a front facing plate, you can purchase a vanity plate through PATS. Failure to follow the “Park Plate Out” policy will result in a citation.

As of the 2021-2022 Tampa Parking Permits all permits transitioned to virtual permits. The “Park Plate Out” policy took effect on August 12, 2021.

The process to purchase your parking permit has not changed. Simply visit parking.usf.edu, choose your permit type, and check-out. The only difference is that you won’t receive a sticker in the mail. You will receive email confirmation of your purchase and be cleared to park on campus immediately.

Any vehicle that you intend to drive to campus must have its license plate number registered to your permit, otherwise you will receive a citation. Please ensure your account vehicle information is up-to-date or you may receive a citation. You can register up to three vehicles to your permit, but only one can be on campus at a time.

You can add the new plate by logging into your parking account via myUSF, clicking on the View Your Permits tab, and then Add Vehicles to Your Permit Button under your current permit.

You can add the new plate by logging into your parking account via myUSF, clicking on the View Your Permits tab, and then Add Vehicles to Your Permit Button under your current permit.

As is already the case, visitors will either use the permit pay station in the parking lot or the ParkMobile app to purchase their permit. ParkMobile requires you to put in your license plate, which will then register with our License Plate Recognition technology. 

Virtual permits are still required, but the park plate out policy does not apply to disabled parking locations throughout the Tampa campus. Vehicles parked in disabled parking should park as they traditionally do to accommodate the person with a disability. 

Vehicles actively charging at one of the electric vehicle charging stations on campus are exempt from the park plate out policy. 

After purchasing your virtual permit through the parking portal, you can print proof of your permit for use on the St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee campuses. Refer to the Parking FAQ for details on where your type of permit is valid on the other campuses.