Parking information
Where to obtain permits
- Online parking portal - for students and employees
- Kelowna campus parking map
- Kelowna employees parking map (Evangel Church lot)
- Vernon campus parking map
- Penticton campus parking map
Visitor parking
Visitors to the Kelowna campus can park in all OC lots, provided they have purchased a permit for the duration of their visit. Use the PaybyPhone app or one of the pay stations on campus to purchase a parking permit.
There is designated visitor parking at the Kelowna campus in Lot 1, west of the main entrance for up to two hours.
Event parking
Parking rates are in effect seven days a week, all year. Event organizers should contact Parking Services for options for event parking.
Guest parking
Temporary or guest parking can be provided by College departments using a validation code assigned by Parking Services. Each department will be invoiced monthly for any parking provided.
Accessible parking
Students, employees or visitors who have a valid SPARC BC permit and who have paid to park may park in any of the parking stalls at OC that are designated as accessible parking. Employees who have a valid SPARC BC permit and who have registered for taxable benefit parking are also eligible to park in any designated accessible parking stall. SPARC BC permits are available in temporary (one month to 12 months) and ongoing (three years, renewable) formats. Individuals who have a short-term (less than one month) accessibility challenge should contact parking@okanagan.bc.ca.
Parking permits
Students can purchase and manage permits with our online system:
- Manage your parking account online including updating vehicle license plates, credit card details and view past transactions and active permits.
- Permits purchased for Kelowna campus are valid at all campuses. Permits purchased for Vernon or Penticton are only valid in Vernon and Penticton.
- Payment is online with credit card (Visa or Mastercard) or Visa-debit.
Account access for students
Note: OC students accessing the parking portal must use their OC email address to register. You can find this information in myOkanagan, by going to Personal Information > View Email Addresses. It will be in the format of: first.last@myokanagan.bc.ca.
Student housing parking
Students who reside in OC student housing and who keep a vehicle on campus must purchase a parking permit. On the Kelowna campus, student housing parking is located at Lot 18.
Accessible parking
Students, employees or visitors who have a valid SPARC BC permit and who have paid to park may park in any of the parking stalls at OC that are designated as accessible parking. SPARC BC permits are available in temporary (one month to 12 months) and ongoing (three years, renewable) formats. Individuals who have a short-term (less than one month) accessibility challenge should contact parking@okanagan.bc.ca.
Employee FAQs
Read a full list of questions and answers related to campus parking for employees.
Taxable benefit parking
Employees are eligible for taxable benefit parking, which means they can register to receive an annual parking permit at no up-front cost, but they will pay taxes on its value when they file their income tax return. Once registered, employees can choose to opt-out of taxable benefit parking at any time (but they will not be able to opt back in until the following March). Taxable benefit parking permits are terminated if/when an employee member’s employment with OC ends.
Sign up for taxable benefit parking through the online parking portal. (Note: the online system prompts users to "buy" this permit; however, no up-front cost is charged to the user.)
Paid parking permits
Alternatively, employees can choose to purchase a permit. This provides them access to park in any OC campus parking lot, including those in Kelowna designated for paid parking only. Employees can purchase parking permits online using a credit card (Visa or Mastercard) or Visa-debit. It is also possible to manage your parking account online, including updating vehicle license plates and credit card details, as well as viewing past transactions and active permits.
Permits purchased for Kelowna campus lots are OC-wide permits and are valid at all campuses. Paid permits purchased for Vernon or Penticton are only valid in Vernon and Penticton. Employees with taxable benefit permits in Vernon or Penticton, and who come to Kelowna, may park in the Evangel Church Lot.
Payroll deduction
Employees in Kelowna who choose to purchase a 2022/23 annual parking permit through payroll deduction, must do so through the online portal before Sept. 6, 2022. Once the permit is obtained online, notification will be sent to Finance to arrange the payroll deduction. These paid permits are valid at all OC campuses and provide employees the option of parking in any Kelowna campus parking lot.
Choosing payroll deduction is a commitment to the full term of the pass, which for 2022/23 will be Sept. 7 to Mar. 31. (The annual rate will be pro-rated.) Going forward, annual permits will be available for purchase in March, and will be valid for one year from April through March.
Payroll deduction is only available to employees who are permanent full-time or have a contract term greater than one year.
Travelling faculty
A small number of parking stalls are designated for faculty travelling between OC sites. For more information to determine eligibility, contact parking@okanagan.bc.ca.
Accessible parking
Students, employees or visitors who have a valid SPARC BC permit and who have paid to park may park in any of the parking stalls at OC that are designated as accessible parking. Employees who have a valid SPARC BC permit and who have registered for taxable benefit parking are also eligible to park in any designated accessible parking stall. SPARC BC permits are available in temporary (one month to 12 months) and ongoing (three years, renewable) formats. Individuals who have a short-term (less than one month) accessibility challenge should contact parking@okanagan.bc.ca.
Rates as of Sept. 7, 2022
Kelowna
| Day pass (until 5pm) | $ 8.00 |
| 3 Hours | $ 6.00 |
| Evenings (5 to 12) | $ 4.00 |
| Weekends | $ 4.00 |
| FlexPass (Day) 10 | $ 50.00 |
| FlexPass (Evening) 10 | $ 25.00 |
| FlexPass (Day) 30 | $ 85.00 |
| FlexPass (Evening) 30 | $ 60.00 |
| FlexPass (Day) 50 | $ 115.00 |
| Monthly pass | $ 55.00 |
| Semester Pass | $ 180.00 |
| 2 Semester pass | $ 340.00 |
| Annual Pass | $ 515.00 |
| Carpool (semester) | N/A |
| Visitor 2 Hours (Max) | $ 4.00 |
Notes: FlexPass is valid for 1 year
Payroll deduction for taxable benefit will be $19.65
Vernon and Penticton
| Day pass (until 5pm) | $ 8.00 |
| 3 Hours | $ 4.00 |
| Evenings (5 to 12) | $ 3.00 |
| Weekends | $ 3.00 |
| FlexPass (Day) 10 | $ 45.00 |
| FlexPass (Evening) 10 | $ 20.00 |
| FlexPass (Day) 30 | $ 60.00 |
| FlexPass (Evening) 30 | $ 40.00 |
| FlexPass (Day) 50 | $ 90.00 |
| Monthly pass | $ 55.00 |
| Semester Pass | $ 120.00 |
| 2 Semester Pass | $ 230.00 |
| Annual Pass | $ 386.25 |
| Carpool (semester) | N/A |
| Visitor 2 Hours | $ 4.00 |
Parking rates are always in effect, seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
Pay a parking fine
Parking fines are $40 and can be paid online. Fees can be reduced to $20 if paid within five days. Failure to pay parking fines may result in loss of parking privileges and other administrative penalties.
Dispute a parking fine
If you believe you received a ticket in error, you can dispute the fine online and enter your violation notice details. Parking Services will review and respond within three business days.
Frequently asked questions about parking
You can pay for hourly parking using the PaybyPhone app, or at a Pay Station. No cash or coins are accepted.
The PaybyPhone Zones for Okanagan College are:
- Kelowna Campus 11434
- Penticton Campus 11432
- Vernon Campus 11433
FlexPasses, semester and annual permits are available for purchase online.
If you’re parking on campus one or two days a week, a Flex Pass may be your best option. Flex Passes are available in packs of 10, 30 and 50, and days or evenings (day Flex Passes are valid day and evening; evening passes are only valid after 4 p.m.).
Flex Passes can be redeemed online on any day and are valid one year from the date of purchase.
There are no refunds on unused portions of a Flex Pass.
Parking permits can be purchased online using a credit card (Visa or Mastercard) or Visa-debit. It is also possible to manage your parking account online, including updating vehicle license plates and credit card details, as well as viewing past transactions and active permits.
No. Every effort will be made to monitor parking demand and to make access available to as many people as possible, however spaces cannot be guaranteed. OC also reserves the right to limit the number of permits sold.
After Sept. 7, 2022, OC hang tags and paper permits will no longer be valid. The new parking system is electronic and links to individual licence plates, meaning pay-and-display passes are not required.
There are no refunds on purchases through PaybyPhone or campus pay stations.
Semester permits are refunded on a monthly pro-rated basis:
- Returned within 30 days from the start of the semester: 75% of the fee
- Within 60 days: 50% of the fee
- Within 90 days: 25% of the fee
- Over 90 days: No refund issued.
Annual parking permits purchased by OC employees through payroll deduction cannot be refunded and either expire at the end of the fiscal year in which they were purchased (March 31), or are terminated if the employee is no longer working with OC.
New parking pass options, including Flex Passes, have been designed to give students more choices and flexibility. It will now be possible to buy parking passes that reflect your use of parking at specific campuses, instead of requiring you to purchase semester passes at more than one campus.
OC students looking to log into the parking portal must use their OC email address to register. You can find this information in myOkanagan, by going to Personal Information > View Email Addresses. Note: make sure to use the address that follows this format: firstnamelastname@okanagan.bc.ca.
If you are OC staff in Penticton or Vernon, you can register for and obtain a permit online and continue with taxable benefit parking.
If you are OC staff in Kelowna, you can register for and obtain a permit online and continue with taxable benefit parking in the Evangel Church lot at K.L.O. Road and Gordon Dr. Alternatively, you can choose to purchase a parking permit to park in the lots designated for paid parking (open to students, staff and visitors to the Kelowna campus).
All employees need to either register for taxable benefit parking or purchase a permit to park at any OC campus, as existing permits are no longer valid as of Sept. 7, 2022.
Anyone experiencing technical issues with OC's online parking portal can submit an IT service request.
No, you can add up to four vehicles to a purchased permit. However, only one vehicle can be using the permit at any one time.
Alternative transportation
Electric vehicle (EV) car chargers are available to any OC student, staff or visitor for use. Cars must be plugged in and charging to be parked in the designated EV charging stalls.
A parking permit is required to use the charging stations, but vehicles must be plugged in.
Vehicles parked at a charging station and not plugged in will be ticketed and may be towed.
To use the charging stations, you will need to use your AddEnergie access card which you can get at addenergietechnologies.com.
The communities in the Okanagan valley promote alternative transportation and there are many accessible trails and paths for cycling.
Contact Parking Services about secure bicycle parking.
Three of the College’s campuses are also serviced by city transit with the following bus routes:
- Kelowna: #1 Lakeshore, #4 Pandosy/UBCO Express, #8 University, #12 McCulloch
- Penticton: #2 Westside/Penticton, #4 Westside/Duncan East, #15 Night Route
- Vernon: #6 College, #90 North Okanagan Connector
- Salmon Arm: #2 College Hillcrest
- Revelstoke Centre: Columbia Park, Big Eddy and Commuter
For further information on bus routes in your area, click below.
We encourage employees and students to carpool but because permits are license plate based, we’re unable to provide designated carpool parking.
Motorcycles, scooters and mopeds do not require a parking permit, provided they are parked in stalls designated for that for those modes of transportation.