Our Portland and Gorham campuses each have a grace period of at least 30 minutes. This time allows you to either register and/or purchase a parking permit or start a paid or validated parking session.
If your vehicle is parked on campus longer than the allotted grace period, you will be fined.
You can find a paystation in high-traffic areas on our Gorham and Portland campuses (parking on our Lewiston-Auburn campus is free). You don't need a smartphone to use a paystation.
You can pay with credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay.
Portland campus
- Parking Garage 1 in the lobby (on garage level 1)
- Parking Garage 2 by the entrance
Gorham campus
- Inside the Costello Complex
- By the Ice Arena
- Lot G3 by Bailey Hall
- Enter from Water Tower Rd. or University Way
- Use this paystation if you park near Russell Hall or Corthell Hall
Our PAY HERE signs include a number you can text from your mobile phone to start your paid or validated parking session.
Text-to-pay is an alternative option to scanning the QR code, but it still requires a mobile device that can access the internet.
After you text the number, you’ll receive a text with a web link to provide your information and payment.
Pay once to park in any designated campus lot on the same day without additional charges.
- You must start your session before leaving your first (or only) parking space.
- You don’t need to start a new paid parking session each time you move your car to a new space on the same campus in a single day.
- Check the signs at each parking lot entrance for any restrictions that may apply to you.
Your paid or validated parking session doesn’t carry over to another USM campus.
If you visit both our Portland and Gorham campuses in one day, you will need to start a new paid or validated parking session for each campus.
For example: If you tour our Gorham campus in the morning and then our Portland campus after lunch, you’ll need to start a new paid or validated parking session for each campus tour. (Or vice versa.)
NOTE: If you have a permit, you must adhere to the rules and regulations assigned to your specific permit.
- We offer visitor and vendor permits.
- University faculty, staff, and students must purchase a permit to park on our Gorham and Portland campuses.
Your paid or validated parking session doesn’t carry over to another USM campus.
If you visit both our Portland and Gorham campuses in one day, you will need to start a new paid or validated parking session for each campus.
For example: If you tour our Gorham campus in the morning and then our Portland campus after lunch, you’ll need to start a new paid or validated parking session for each campus tour. (Or vice versa.)
Permit holders
If you have a permit you aren’t restricted to one campus unless you’re a Portland Commons resident participating in the Buyout Program. Check your permit documentation for details.
You don’t need to display a physical permit on your vehicle unless you have a carpool permit.
Our system will recognize your license plate when you arrive on campus and check our records for your permit. There’s no need to check in or scan a QR code each time you park with a permitted vehicle.
NOTE: It’s important to review your vehicle information for any typos or incorrect selections. If your information is wrong you could receive a fine.
If you don’t have a smartphone or a current University parking permit
- Use one of our walk-up paystations in the Portland campus parking garages or in 3 areas of the Gorham campus.
- If your phone can connect to the internet, use our text-to-pay option.
- Pay or or validate your parking session from a computer with internet access before you arrive on campus. Please note that we cannot guarantee a parking spot will be available when you arrive on campus
If you don’t have access to a computer
- Locate our staff in the basement of the Abromson Community Education Center (just inside the door from Parking Garage 1 on the Portland campus) during business hours to purchase a parking permit or pay for an individual parking session.
You can purchase a visitor permit or pay our hourly parking rate.
We recommend that you purchase a monthly visitor permit.
You can purchase a visitor permit or pay our hourly parking rate.
Starting July 1: When you log in to your ParkEngage account you can view your parking permit(s). The expiration date is in the Valid Till field.
Generally, all student, faculty, and staff permits expire on July 30th each year. Visitors, vendors, and other permit types have variable deadlines.
No. All outstanding fines, including those under appeal, must be paid in full, or the appeal must be approved before you can purchase a (new) permit.
Unfortunately, the system isn’t perfect. If you receive a parking fine during the grace period (30 minutes), you’ll need to start the appeal process to get it waived.
The University of Southern Maine does not manage street parking for Gorham, Portland, or Lewiston. You must contact the town or city that issued the ticket. Look for contact information on the ticket or citation you received.
Events hosted by faculty, staff, & students
There are 3 ways to validate parking for guests and event attendees through the ParkEngage system:
- Validation code
- Promo code
- Pass (guest permit)
To provide free or discounted parking rates for your event attendees, you must submit your request at least 3 business days before your event date.
NOTE: To complete the request form, you’ll need to know your department billing codes. We need a processed interdepartmental order (IDO) to process parking validation requests.
Events hosted by external guests
If you’re renting University facilities for an event, Conference Services will help you with your parking needs.
We heard you!
Starting July 1*: The parking lots listed below will be open to visitors and students.
These parking lots are closer to buildings than previously designated lots to better accommodate class schedules and public access. The lots will be available until 11:00 PM.
Gorham campus
- All parking lots (except GC1)
Portland campus
- Lot P1
- Located near Luther Bonney Hall, Masterton Hall, and the McGoldrick Center
- Lot P9
- Located near the Science Building and the Sullivan Gym Complex
- Lot P10
- Located near Payson Smith Hall
While the City of Portland offers free metered parking on Sundays, the University of Southern Maine does not. If you don’t have a USM parking permit, you will need to pay our hourly parking rates.
All University of Southern Maine (USM) parking rules and regulations are in effect at all times (including weekends, holidays, and outside regular business hours).
We know the Portland Commons residential parking permits are a lot to pay all at once. If you qualify, we may be able to help you set up a payment plan through Student Financial Services.
Buses can park in surface lots that accommodate oversized vehicles.
Dedicated parking areas
The following parking areas have larger spaces, fewer obstructions, or are specifically for oversized vehicles:
Portland campus
- Lot P6, by the former Maine Law building
- Lot P11 — bus and disability parking only
- The loop in front of the Planetarium
- Parking Garage 1: On the roof
- Except during snow ban parking
- Parking Garage 2: On the roof
Gorham campus
- G13, by Dickey-Wood Hall, Hannaford Field, the softball stadium
- G20, by the Public Safety (Police) building
Notes:
- If your vehicle weighs 10,000+ pounds or is taller than the clearance bars in the parking garage entrances, you need to find another parking area
- You will be fined if your vehicle doesn't fit within 1 standard parking space, for example:
- crossing over the painted lines of the space
- sticking out into drive lanes
The hourly parking rate is different for each campus.
You can park a vehicle with a trailer or a recreational vehicle (RV) in any lot that accommodates oversized vehicles.
If you’re hauling a trailer, you must complete an additional transaction with the trailer’s license plate number.
- Oversized vehicle rates may also apply to the trailer if it doesn’t fit within the lines of 1 standard parking space.
- If you don't start individual parking sessions for your vehicle plate and the trailer plate, you will be fined for one or the other.
Notes:
- If your vehicle weighs 10,000+ pounds or is taller than the clearance bars in the parking garage entrances, you need to find another parking area
- You will be fined if your vehicle doesn't fit within 1 standard parking space, for example:
- crossing over the painted lines of the space
- sticking out into drive lanes
Dedicated parking areas
The following parking areas have larger spaces, fewer obstructions, or are specifically for oversized vehicles:
Portland campus
- Lot P6, by the former Maine Law building
- Lot P11 — bus and disability parking only
- The loop in front of the Planetarium
- Parking Garage 1: On the roof
- Except during snow ban parking
- Parking Garage 2: On the roof
Gorham campus
- G13, by Dickey-Wood Hall, Hannaford Field, the softball stadium
- G20, by the Public Safety (Police) building
The hourly parking rate is different for each campus.
There are several alternative or more sustainable ways to get to our university including:
- METRO Husky Line
- Bicycle permit
- Carpool permit
- Amtrak train
Portland Commons residents
If you’re a Portland campus residential student, you may be able to give up your parking pass privileges through our Buyout Program.
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