Through the web-based Commuting and Parking Services (CAPS) application, eligible NIH employees can apply for, renew, and update their parking information at any time.
CAPS is compatible with Microsoft Edge, Chrome, and Apple Safari. If you receive an error message while logging in, it may be due to high security settings in your browser. Try temporarily adjusting these settings to complete your actions.
If you do not have an NIH ID, please send your parking request via email to the NIH Parking Office at nihparkingoffice@nih.gov.
TEMPORARY PARKING PERMIT NOTICE
Effective March 31, 2025, temporary parking permits for the Bethesda campus will be available ONLY to employees with an on-campus workstation listed in NED.
Employees assigned to off-campus locations will NO longer be eligible for temporary permits and must use designated visitor parking areas. For information on local travel reimbursement or parking validation, please contact your Institute/Center (IC).
Applying for a Parking Permit (Join Parking)
To obtain a permanent parking permit for the NIH Bethesda Campus and Rockledge I/II Campus, all vehicles must be registered through the Employee Transportation Services Office (ETSO). ETSO issues
parking permits in the form of a rear-view mirror hanger to eligible employees. You may request a permit through one of the following methods:
- Applying online through CAPS - Enroll in Parking
- Email parking permit request to nihparkingoffice@nih.gov. Include the NIH ID number, local home address, and a copy of a valid vehicle registration with the employee's name. Additionally, the contractor or tenant must be authorized to park by an Administrative Officer in the NED system.
Contractors without NIH computer access should submit a completed and signed NIH Bethesda Campus Contractor Parking Application via email.
*If you are unable to apply for a permit online, please email nihparkingoffice@nih.gov or call 301-496-5050.
Disclaimer
It is the responsibility of the permit holder to adhere to all applicable policies, regulations, and laws while using the NIH Parking Permit. The ETSO attempts to inform the NIH staff of parking policy changes using a global email. In specific cases, the use of website alerts, fliers, signs, and news articles may be utilized. ETSO is not involved with or responsible for any parking citations or law enforcement actions taken on the NIH Campus. Those enforcement matters should be addressed to the NIH Division of Police. The use of NIH parking permits is the sole responsibility of the user to ensure they are up-to-date and compliant with all parking policies and regulations.
Acknowledgment
By accepting an NIH parking permit, you acknowledge and accept the following terms and conditions:
- Any person who knowingly makes a false representation on this application may be subject to a criminal prosecution potentially resulting in a fine or imprisonment, or both, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1001 and to disciplinary actions, including the revocation of parking privileges, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. Chapter 75 and 5 C.F.R. Part 752.
- The parking permit (hanger) is the property of NIH and must be returned to the NIH Division of Amenities and Transportation Services (DATS) upon separation from the Government or when the holder is no longer eligible for the permit.
- The permit cannot be transferred.
- The permit must be properly displayed while parked on the NIH Campus – Bethesda, Maryland, and is valid through the last day of the month and year displayed.
- Anyone using this permit inappropriately is subject to possible administrative and/or criminal penalties, including ticketing and towing of the vehicle.
- If you are renewing, please destroy or discard your old parking permit in the trash.
- You have read and understand the
NIH Parking Policy, Manual Chapter 1410 , and will adhere to all rules and regulations within the policy and abide by policy applications administrated by the program managers.
Online Enrollment Instructions
After logging into
CAPS, choose the button labeled "
Enroll in Parking", and follow the steps below:
- Step 1: Verify work address, click Next;
- Step 2: Enter your current (local) home address;
- Step 3: Enter the number of days you will commute to work (typically, 20 days per month);
- Step 4: Enter vehicle information: year, make, model, license plate number, type of vehicle (truck, car, etc.), and type of engine (gas, hybrid, etc.), and if more than one vehicle is registered, identify which of the authorized vehicles is your primary vehicle, if applicable.
* If you are not eligible for a parking permit, the "Enroll in Parking" option will not be available. Please reach out to your Administrative Officer for further assistance.
Once you submit your online permit request, you will receive an approval email from "CAPS Admin." Your permit will be mailed to your home address, and a temporary two-week permit will be emailed to you for immediate use.
Modify/Change Parking Account
Did you get a new vehicle? Need to update a license plate number? Want to update your home address or information associated with your parking account?
Updating your account is easy!
Log in to CAPS and select the "Modify Parking" button. Follow the on-screen prompts to update details concerning your NIH Parking account.
Report Lost/Stolen Parking Permit
If your NIH permit is lost or missing, submit a “
Report Lost/Stolen Hanger" through the CAPS system. A replacement permit will be mailed to your home address, and a temporary 2-week permit will be emailed to you for immediate use. To apply, visit the
NIH Commuting and Parking Services Member Portal.
If the permit was stolen, you will need to provide a police report number with your request.
Renew Parking Permit
NIH parking permits are renewed annually or biennially, depending on the permit type. Red and General permits are renewed every two years, while all other permit types require annual renewal. The expiration month and year are displayed on both the front and back of the hanger.
During your renewal month, you will receive weekly email reminders from "CAPS Admin" prompting you to log in to CAPS. After logging in, select the "Renew Parking" button and follow the on-screen instructions. Once your renewal is complete, the email reminders will stop. Be sure to verify your information during renewal, especially your home address, to ensure your permit is mailed correctly.
If you do not see the option to renew or enroll after logging into CAPS and it is your permit's expiration month, you may have been removed from the NIH Parking Program due to a change in your NED status. For assistance, contact the ETSO/Parking Office at nihparkingoffice@nih.gov or call 301-496-5050.
| General | A - B | January | 2 Years |
| General | C - D | February | 2 Years |
| General | E - G | March | 2 Years |
| General | H - J | May | 2 Years |
| General | K - L | June | 2 Years |
| General | M - N | July | 2 Years |
| General | O - R | August | 2 Years |
| General | S - T | September | 2 Years |
| General | U - Z | November | 2 Years |
| Gold Disability | Not Applicable | May | 2 Years |
| Rockledge Gold DIsability | Not Applicable | May | 2 Years |
| Rockledge General | A - M | July | 2 Years |
| Rockledge General | N - Z | October | 2 Years |
| Carpool | Not Applicable | October | 1 Year |
| Vanpool | Not Applicable | November | 2 Years |
| Red | A - M | February | 2 Years |
| Red | N - Z | April | 2 Years |
| Rockledge Red | A - M | February | 2 Years |
| Rockledge Red | N - Z | April | 2 Years |
| Red/SE-RES | Not Applicable | April | 2 Years |
| Contractor | A - M | September | 1 Year |
| Contractor | N - Z | December | 1 Year |
| VFG | Not Applicable | August | 1 Year |
Terminate
To participate in an NIH Commuting Subsidy Program (Transhare/Vanpool Subsidy), parking members must be removed from the Parking program and are required to return the parking permit to the ETSO/Parking Office. This action cannot be performed online.
Per
NIH Chapter Manual 1410, NIH Parking permits are federal government property. Upon separation from the NIH, employees must return their parking permit to the ETSO/Parking Office or before joining a subsidized program.
Returning your Permit is easy! Drop it off at the ETSO/Parking Office by placing it in the "Drop-Box" located outside the NIH Parking Office door in Building 31A, Room 1A11.