In an effort to ensure the safety of the University of Southern Maine campus communities and guests, it is necessary to establish guidelines, rules, and regulations for parking, motor vehicles, and pedestrians. These regulations are routinely enforced.

Parking, Transportation, and Pedestrian Rules and Regulations

Parking lots on the Portland and Gorham campuses have colored signs at the entrances. The following guide will help you identify which lots you can legally park in based on the color of your parking permits.

  • Blue signs: Employees only.
  • Red signs: Commuter students and employees.
  • Green signs: All residential, commuter students and employees. 
  • Green Striped signs: All resident freshman, resident, commuter students, and employees.

University of Maine System Parking permits from any University of Maine System campus are permitted to park on any campus in accordance with campus guidelines. USM campus guidelines require a USM hangtag permit or paid parking.

Gorham Campus

First Year Residential Student Parking
  • GS1 (Below Robie-Andrews Hall, along School Street)
  • GS2 (Next to McLellan House & ROTC)    
  • G12a (Lower Lot behind Phillippi Hall)
  • G13 A, B & Cc (by soccer field)  
  • G14 (Behind Dickey Wood towers)
Upper Class Residential Student Parking
  • G2B (In front of Upperclass Hall)
  • G7 (Behind Woodward)
  • G11 (Behind Upton-Hastings)   
  • G12 (Behind Phillippi Hall)  
  • G1 (Old Admissions Office along Husky Drive)
  • GC2 (19 College Ave)
  • G20 (By Public Safety)
Commuter Student Parking (No Overnight Parking)
  • G2A (The Water Tower Lot)
  • G4 (Lower lot outside Bailey Hall)
  • G16 (All 3 levels in front of Gym)
  • G17 (Behind John Mitchell Building)
  • G19 (In front of John Mitchell Building)
Visitor Parking
  • Designated lot according to temporary parking permit from Parking Services or Public Safety
  • G2A (near to the water tower, along Water Tower Road) – Admissions Parking Spots
Employee Parking (No Overnight Parking)
  • G1 (Old Admissions Office along Husky Drive)
  • GC2 (Next to 19 College Ave)
  • G3 (Outside Bailey Hall)
  • GC3 (Next to 51 College Ave)
  • G6 (Front of Corthell Hall)
  • G8 (Behind Russell Hall)  
  • G15 (Next to Anderson Hall)

Portland Campus

Employee Parking (No Overnight Parking)
  • Parking Garage
  • P1 (Next to Luther Bonney)
  • P9 (In front of Sullivan Gym)
  • P10 (Next to Payson Smith)
Student Parking (Portland Resident Student Overnight Parking Only)
  • Parking Garage (located in front of McGoldrick Residence Hall)
  • P6 (only after 4:30PM)
Visitor and Public Parking (No Overnight Parking)
  • Parking Garage
    • Visitors may park on any level
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI)
  • Parking Garage

Parking Services must be notified before parking overnight. This applies to non Resident Students & all Employees & snow ban public vehicles. Your vehicle will be at risk of tow without notification.

On the Portland campus, visitors and guests can use the parking garage located on Bedford Street.

Prospective students and their families do not need a parking permit for campus visits. On the Gorham campus, the Office of Admissions has parking available near the water tower, along Water Tower Road.

Overnight guests, athletic event attendees, and other visitors to the Gorham and Portland campuses need a temporary parking permit. You must get this temporary permit from Public Safety in Gorham or Parking Services in Portland. 

Parking on the Lewiston campus does not require a permit for visitors.

Parking permits from any University of Maine System school are permitted to park on any campus in accordance with campus guidelines. USM campus guidelines require a USM hangtag permit or paid parking.

Parking in spaces designated and clearly marked for persons with disabilities and requires the display of either a valid disability license plate or a properly displayed valid disability windshield placard. If using a windshield placard, both the parking permit and disability placard must be clearly visible.

In Gorham: Resident Students and Employees can leave their vehicles on the Gorham campus overnight or during University-designated vacation periods/USM business related business trips as long as they have a valid and current parking permit on display, color side facing outwards. 

  • Resident Students and Employees must park in their designated lots per their assigned parking permit color for overnight parking while on campus. Employees, please park in the Employee lot closest to the building you live in. 
    • For University-designated vacation periods or USM related business trips, park in Lot G-13 between the designated long-term parking signs. 
  • Non Resident Students and Employees who do not live on campus must park in Lot G-13 between the designated long-term parking signs for University-designated vacation periods/USM business related trips and short-term overnight periods. 

Parking Services must be notified before parking overnight. This applies to non Resident Students & all Employees. Your vehicle will be at risk of tow without notification.

Locations 

On the Portland Campus

At the entrance of the Parking Garage on the outside wall and on the first level near the northeast stairwell.

On the Gorham Campus

At the entrance of Russell Hall on the outside wall overlooking the basketball courts in front of Upton-Hastings Hall.

These stations are available for students and employees of the University of Southern Maine.

Charger Information

The chargers are Level 2, 4 amp, 240 volt, with a 25 foot long cord. They are equipped with a universal charge connector that works with most electric vehicles.

Charger Rules 

  • There is a 2 hour charging limit. Please do not attempt to stay plugged in all day.  
  • You must unplug after the 2 hours and park elsewhere to allow another person use of the charging station.
  • If no one is using the charger after an hour, you can park and plug in for another 2 hours.
  • If you do not unplug after the 2 hour limit you will be subject to citation, and possible towing. Continued occurrences can result in revocation of on campus parking privileges.  

To facilitate snow removal efforts, it is necessary for students and employees parking on campus during snowstorms and parking bans to move their vehicles to designated spots when required. Failure to do so may result in your vehicle being ticketed or towed.

Information about impending parking bans is distributed via text and/or email through the USM Alert Emergency Warning System. Students and employees should expect that a current or recent snowstorm is indicative of an impending parking ban.

When parking during a Snow Ban in the Parking Garage on the Portland Campus:

  • Do not park near any openings as this may prevent the removal of snow and any storm debris.
    • Vehicles parked on Level 4 of the Parking Garage during a ban may be ticketed or towed for obstructing snow removal.
  • Vehicles are to park on the Ground Level of the garage away from any openings. If full, you may move up one level, again not near any openings. 
  • For members of the community: There is no charge to the public for vehicles entering after 5:00 p.m. and exiting before 8:00 a.m. the following morning. If vehicles are not removed by 8:00 a.m., parking fees will begin accruing.

A violation of these regulations may result in a number of consequences, including a parking citation fine, towing of a vehicle (at owner’s expense), or suspension of campus parking privileges.

  • The first parking ticket of $25 received during the academic or calendar year is typically a warning, and no payment is required. Subsequent ticket(s) must be paid. The following violations are ​typically​ considered first-time warnings each academic year:
    • Unauthorized overnight parking: $25.00 fine
    • Obstructing traffic: $25.00 fine
    • Parking in a restricted area: $25.00 fine
      • Parking on lawn/grass
      • Parking in a loading zone
      • Parking in a service vehicle zone
      • Parking in the wrong coded lot and/or spot
      • Parking on roadway
    • Failing to display a valid parking permit hang tag: $25.00 fine
    • Overtime parking in a timed space
  • The following violations will not typically receive a warning and the vehicle may also be towed:
    • Unauthorized disability parking (including hashmarks next to and adjacent to): $200.00 fine
    • Parking within 20 feet of a fire hydrant, fire lane, emergency parking space, or driveways: $50.00 fine
    • Driving or parking on sidewalks: $50.00 fine
    • Hindering snow removal operations: $50.00 fine

Payment: To pay for these fines in person, you may go online at the USM Parking Portal.

If a vehicle is towed, the cost and risk of the tow is the responsibility of the vehicle owner or parking permit hangtag registrant. The towed vehicle will not be released until all fees are paid in full, or partial payment and payment agreement for remaining fees have been established. When a vehicle has been towed, the Public Safety officer taking such action will notify the dispatcher, who will then document the information in the dispatch logs. Once all fines, towing fees, and storage fees have been fully paid – the vehicle may be released. If you suspect that your vehicle has been towed, contact Public Safety at (207) 780-5211.

A motor vehicle may be towed and stored at the owner’s expense in the following situations:  

  • Vehicles parked on campus during 30-day permit suspension.
  • A total of $100 or more in fines have accumulated for the student/faculty/staff member affiliated with vehicle(s).
  • Parking within twenty feet of a fire hydrant, fire lane, or emergency parking space or in a manner that impedes fire-fighting or rescue efforts.
  • Displaying invalid registration plates or the abandonment of a vehicle.
  • Hindering snow removal operations.
  • Unauthorized parking during University designated vacation periods, snowstorms, and parking bans.

Pedestrians should use crosswalks and sidewalks for their own safety. Pedestrians are prohibited from walking into traffic and/or obstructing traffic; this includes walking in the entry and exit lanes of the parking garage.

Public Safety offers on-campus safety escort services at any hour. To use this service please contact Public Safety at (207) 780-5211. A uniformed Public Safety officer driving a marked vehicle will pick you up at your present location and bring you to a different on-campus location such as your residence hall or to your vehicle.