OCNews

Parking permits are now available online for Okanagan College campuses in Vernon, Kelowna and Penticton.

Register for your OC Parking Permit before Sept. 7, 2022:

OC staff can visit the Parking Services page on the OC website to:

• Register for taxable benefit parking in Vernon, Kelowna and Penticton
• Purchase an annual, semester or Flex Pass permit (Kelowna)

The new permits reflect changes announced in June, and are effective Sept. 7, 2022. Updated Frequently Asked Questions are available on the OC Parking Services website.

Taxable benefit parking for employees:

Employees can register 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. Employees who choose to use taxable benefit parking in Vernon, Kelowna and Penticton must register before Sept. 7, 2022 to avoid being ticketed.

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 a staff member’s employment with OC ends.

In Kelowna, taxable benefit parking is designated at the Evangel Church lot, beginning Sept. 7, 2022.

Purchase a parking permit (Kelowna):

The new parking rates offer more options to users to choose a pass that best matches their use:

• Hourly and daily rates
• Flex Pass options of 10, 30 and 50 day passes
• Semester, two semester and annual permits

The new fee structure is consistent or lower than parking costs at comparable municipal, health care, academic and other comparable parking lots in the Okanagan. The cost of a semester parking permit at OC is also consistent with a BC Transit Pass.

Purchasing an annual permit through payroll deduction:

Staff in Kelowna can choose to purchase a 2022/23 annual parking permit through payroll deduction. These paid permits are valid at all OC campuses and provide staff 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 fulltime or have a contract term greater than one year.

For more information, contact parking@okanagan.bc.ca.