Due to limited resources, parking is not free on our Portland and Gorham campuses. You must purchase a parking permit or paid parking session (or use a validation or promo code provided by a University department) to park on campus.
You don’t need to display a physical permit or receipt on your vehicle (with the exception of carpool driver and rider permits). Our license plate recognition (LPR) technology takes a picture of your license plate to validate your paid or validated parking session or permit.
Why do we charge for parking?
Finding parking at the University of Southern Maine (USM) can be a challenge at times, particularly on our Portland campus.
A paid parking system helps us manage the demand for parking spaces, motivates people to choose alternative transportation methods, and contributes to the upkeep of our facilities including:
- Repairs, cleaning, and other maintenance
- Technology implementation and enhancements
- e.g., the ParkEngage system
- Safety and security measures
- e.g., surveillance cameras, lighting, security personnel
- EV charging technology and maintenance
- METRO Husky Line costs
Parking rates
If you park infrequently on campus, you can pay an hourly, daily, or overnight rate instead of purchasing a monthly or yearly permit.
NOTE: Non-permit rates are different for our Portland and Gorham campuses.
Step-by-step paid or validated parking: QR code or text-to-pay
NOTE: You cannot extend a validated parking session beyond its allotted time or you will be fined. For any additional time parked on campus, you must start a new parking session and pay our standard hourly rates.
NOTE: Parking on our Lewiston-Auburn campus is free.
There is a sign at the entrance to each parking lot or garage, and smaller signs are mounted on poles.
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 choose to scan the QR code or text the parking zone number to 559-922-2660. The zone number is different for each parking lot or garage.
You’ll receive a new text message from 509-260-8793 with a link. Open the link and the rest of the process is the same as if you had scanned the QR code.
In this example, the Zone number is 50110, so you would text 50110 to 559-922-2660.
License plate: Include dashes but don’t include spaces, dots, hearts, stars, or other special characters.
Phone number: Enter your full, 10-digit mobile phone number (include the area code).
Each hourly segment shows the cost. There’s also an option for a full day.
If you aren't sure how long you'll be on campus, we recommend that you err on the side of too much time for your parking session. If you plan to park for more than 5 hours, choose the day rate option.
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.)
Enter the validation or promo code you were given into the Validation Code field and tap Apply.
If your parking validation or promo code was provided to you as a QR code, tap the small QR code next to the Apply link to scan the code you were given.
Make sure to double-check your details before you start your parking session.
We don’t provide refunds for typos or other user mistakes.
Our privacy policy and additional parking-related information appear below the Start Parking button.
Make sure to start your session within our grace period to avoid getting fined.
NOTE: Your credit card won’t be charged until 30 minutes after you leave campus.
You'll receive a text message confirmation with your parking session details.
Walk-up paystations powered by ParkEngage
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.
NOTE: Parking on our Lewiston-Auburn campus is free.
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
If the screensaver is on, tap the screen to get started.
Tap the New Parking button on the screen.
NOTE: If you don’t have access to a smartphone or mobile phone, provide your email address to get your receipt.
License plate: Include dashes but don’t include spaces, dots, hearts, stars, or other special characters.
Phone number: Enter your full, 10-digit mobile phone number (include the area code).
We don’t require both your mobile phone number and email address. However, you must provide one or the other to receive:
- Your e-ticket/receipt
- A link to extend your paid parking session
- A reminder alert 15 minutes before your current session expires
Enter the validation or promo code you were given into the Validation Code field and tap Apply.
The parking fee total adjusts automatically based on your selection.
Your parking expiration time appears in the top-right corner of the screen and adjusts automatically based on your selection.
NOTE: You cannot extend a validated parking session beyond its allotted time or you will be fined. For any additional time parked on campus, you must start a new parking session and pay our standard hourly rates.
Your parking fee total will appear on the next screen.
We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, Apply Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay. Credit cards can be inserted, tapped, or swiped.
NOTE: Your credit card won’t be charged until 30 minutes after you leave campus.
Your parking session e-ticket ID will appear on the paystation screen.
You’ll also receive a text message and/or email with your parking session details.
If you have a smartphone, you can get your parking session details by using the camera app to scan the QR code that appears on the paystation screen (tap the link that appears if prompted).
Your parking session expiration time is located in the top right-hand corner of the information you received after scanning the QR code or tapping the link in a text message or email.
NOTE: You cannot extend a validated parking session beyond its allotted time or you will be fined. For any additional time parked on campus, you must start a new parking session and pay our standard hourly rates.
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
If the screensaver is on, tap the screen to get started.
Tap the Extend Parking button on the screen.
Extend your session from a smartphone
Open the e-ticket you received (by text or email) when you initiated your parking session and tap the Extend Parking button.
Follow the prompts to add more time to your paid parking session.
The paystation will prompt you to swipe or tap your original method of payment to access your e-ticket.
The parking fee total adjusts automatically based on your selection.
Your remaining session time appears in the top-right corner of the screen and adjusts automatically based on your selection.
Your new parking fee total will appear on the next screen.
We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, Apply Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay. Credit cards can be inserted, tapped, or swiped.
You’ll receive a new text message and/or email with your updated parking session information.
If you have a smartphone, you can get your updated parking session details by using the camera app to scan the QR code that appears on the paystation screen (tap the link that appears if prompted).
Your new parking session expiration time is located in the top right-hand corner of the new information you receive after extending your session.
If you experience any difficulty with your payment via paystation, QR code scan, or text-to-pay link, please email ParkEngage customer support at usm.support@parkengage.com.
Other ways to pay
Pay online in advance
You may pay to park at USM ahead of time. However, we cannot guarantee a parking spot will be available when you arrive on campus.
Our busiest or peak parking hours are Monday – Thursday, from 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. So make sure to give yourself plenty of time to find a parking space.
NOTE: Parking on our Lewiston-Auburn campus is free.
The following is a step-by-step guide through the advanced payment process. If you get stuck and need help, contact us.
Refunds
If you voluntarily move out of Portland Commons during the fall semester, you can request a pro-rated refund based on the number of months left in the academic year and how much you’ve paid on your parking permit payment plan.
We don’t provide refunds for the following:
- Violations of University parking policies
- Illegal activity
- Typos and other user mistakes
- Our system has a 1 – 2-character margin of error; if 3 or more characters are incorrect, it won’t recognize your license plate
- Parking permits and passes
- Validations, promo codes
- Permits with unpaid parking fees
- Portland Commons residents…
- who leave during or after January
- after starting in either the fall or spring term
- with outstanding payments on a parking permit payment plan
- dismissed for violating University policies
- who leave during or after January
Do you want to read our full parking rate policy?
Do you have questions or need assistance? We're happy to help!