Parking Services

Log into the Student Parking Portal using your University Credentials (formerly Falcon Key).

Students must be registered for classes to apply for a permit. 

For new students, parking permits are available for pick up when you get to campus. For residents, permit pick up is available during your designated move-in day. For commuters, parking permits are available on the first day of classes.

Out-of-state students living on campus who are bringing vehicles to Massachusetts must fill out a Non-Resident Driver Statement (PDF)

Log into the Staff/Faculty Parking Portal using your University Credentials (formerly Falcon Key).

Please bring your OneCard with you when you pick up your permit 1-2 business days after purchase.

Alumni parking permits are available for purchase for a fee of $10, which shall be paid upon pick up of your parking permit. Please allow one business day after your application has been submitted for processing time.

Guest User Registration

The Overnight Guest/Visitor Permits are for individuals who do not qualify for any other designated permits within the University Community. Overnight Guest/Visitors do not have a Fitchburg State BANNER identification number.

At the time of pick-up of the Overnight Guest/Visitor Permit you will be informed of which parking lots you may utilize on the main campus. The host must also be present for Overnight Guest Permit pick-up. 

Please see the Types of Permits to review a description of Overnight Guest and Visitors. 

Guests are individuals who will be overnighting on the campus. Overnight is defined as midnight until 7:30 a.m. Overnight guests must be hosted by an individuals designated as a resident/renter

Visitors are individuals who are hosted by a university community member between 7:30 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. Examples/Descriptions of Visitors are as follows:
ALFA: Adult Learning in the Fitchburg Area
Candidate interviewing
Family/Friend visiting a Resident
Visiting a university department/staff member

Open Parking: For special events visitors may park on the campus in lots designated for the event.

Civic Center Parking: Guests and Visitors may park at the Civic Center at any time. Acquiring Guest/Visitor Permits are encouraged.

Hang-tag permits must be properly affixed to the rear-view mirror (color side facing out) of the registered vehicle before the permit is considered valid. The hang-tag permit is transferable between vehicles belonging to the permit holder.

No vehicle should, at any time, display more than one current permit. Vehicles doing so are subject to violation fines/tow.

Until you have obtained your parking permit, your vehicle can only be parked at the Wallace Civic Center. Enforcement of parking rules and regulations is in effect 24/7.

Eligibility
All full or part-time students who do not live on campus

Parking Locations

• Red - Commuter lots
• 4 p.m. – 12 a.m. (midnight) only: Blue - Faculty/Staff lots (except Sanders and Highland)

Hours
7 a.m. – 12 a.m. (midnight)
Not valid for overnight parking (12:01 – 6:59 a.m.)

Cost
$75
Permit fees must be paid in full at the time of purchase and are non-refundable

Valid
For one year September 1 thru August 31
The permit is only valid when hung from the rear-view mirror (red side out).

Eligibility
Students living on campus in residence halls with 24 or more earned credits

24-Hour Parking Locations
Green - Resident lots:

• North #1
• Green Street #2
• Upper Cedar
• Part of McKay rear (staff parking spaces are not 24 hour parking)
• McKay lower

Overnight Parking (5 p.m. until 7 a.m.)

• Red - Commuter lots
• Blue - Staff/Faculty lots (except Sanders and Highland)

Vehicles must be moved to lots approved for their permit (or to the Civic Center, if parking in designated lots is unavailable) by 7:30 a.m. on class days. Failure to comply with this policy will result in ticketing and/or towing of your vehicle.

Cost
$150
Permit fees must be paid in full at the time of purchase and are non-refundable

Valid
For one year September 1 thru August 31
The permit is valid only when hung from the rear-view mirror (green side out).

Resident freshman students with fewer than 24 earned credits are not eligible for a resident parking permit for the main campus and are instead required to park at the Wallace Civic Center parking lot.

Civic Center Permit (Light Green)
Students may obtain a Civic Center Permit at no charge. Students are encouraged to obtain this permit, as it assists Campus Police and Parking Services in contacting a student if necessary.

Overnight Weekend Parking
Freshmen with a Civic Center hang-tag will be allowed to park in campus parking lots during the weekend as of 5 p.m. on Friday, with the exception of Highland, and Sanders, which remain faculty/staff or reserved parking 24 hours. All freshmen must move their vehicles back to the Civic Center by 12 a.m. (midnight) on Sunday.

Eligibility
School of Graduate, Online and Continuing Education students who only attend classes in the evening/online or summer sessions

Hours

• Academic year: 4 p.m. – 12 a.m. (midnight)
• Summer session: 7 a.m. – 12 a.m. (midnight)

Parking Locations

• Red - Commuter lots
• Blue - Staff/Faculty lots (except Sanders and Highland)

Cost
Free

Valid
For one year September 1 thru August 31
The permit is only valid when hung from the rear-view mirror (gold side out).

Note
SGOCE students and Graduate Assistants who need to park on campus between 7am and 4pm during the academic year are eligible to utilize either of the following options:

• Utilize the Civic Center lots and free shuttle service
• Purchase a Red - Commuter permit ($75)

Eligibility
All students

24 Hour Parking Locations

• Wallace Civic Center

Weekend (5 p.m. Friday - 12 a.m. Sunday) Parking Locations

• Red - Commuter lots
• Blue - Staff/Faculty lots (except Sanders and Highland)

Vehicles must be moved back by midnight on Sundays. Exception to this is a Sunday preceding a Monday holiday. Failure to move by midnight will result in ticketing and towing of your vehicle.

Cost
Free

Valid
For one year September 1 thru August 31
The permit is valid only when hung from the rear-view mirror (light green side out).

Eligibility

• All full- or part-time employees of the University
• Employees of the University Bookstore, Food Services, city employees at McKay School/FAA, and staff of affiliated programs

Parking Locations
Blue - Staff/Faculty lots

Hours
7 a.m. – 12 a.m. (midnight)

Cost
Free

Valid
"E" permits - Designated for part-time employees of the University including adjunct faculty, athletic coaches, employees of the University Bookstore, Dining Services and city employees at McKay School/FAA
For one year September 1 thru August 31

"S" permits - Designated for full-time employees of the University
For five years September 1 thru August 31

This permit is only valid when hung from the rear-view mirror (blue side out). The hang-tag permit is transferable between vehicles.

Overnight guest parking permits can be obtained from Parking Services during business hours and from University Police after business hours.

Resident students must accompany their guests to pick up their guest parking permit. The resident student must present a valid Fitchburg State University OneCard. The guest must present their vehicle registration and a photo ID to obtain the permit.

The permit will indicate the lot in which the vehicle should be parked. Vehicles must display the required overnight guest parking permit and must be moved to the Civic Center by 7:30 a.m. on class days. Failure to relocate the vehicle by 7:30 a.m. will result in ticketing and towing of your vehicle.

Overnight guests, along with the host, are responsible for all parking regulations including the snow removal policy.

Permits that are lost, stolen, destroyed, or otherwise compromised may be replaced at Parking Services.

The vehicle should be parked at the Civic Center until a new permit is obtained.

There is a $10 fee for a replacement permit. The original permit will be deactivated. If a deactivated permit is found to be in use, vehicles will be ticketed and/or towed and the permit holder may also face action including referral to the Student Conduct Office or revocation of parking privileges.

Motorcycles can only be parked in areas designated for motorcycle parking. Motorcycles are not required to display a permit.

A number of parking spaces have been designated on campus for accessible parking. These spaces have been identified by signs and painted decals within each parking spot.

Vehicles displaying a valid accessible license plate or official placard from the Registry of Motor Vehicles are allowed to park in designated parking spaces. Vehicles also must display a valid Fitchburg State University parking permit.

Vendor parking is available at the Wallace Civic Center without a permit.

Approval must be obtained before a permit to park in on-campus parking lots will be issued to a vendor. Contact us for further details on this process.

Visitor parking permits are required of each visitor or guest who parks a vehicle on campus. The faculty, staff, or student sponsoring the guest may obtain the permit from Parking Services in advance.

Large groups of visitors or guests (6 or more vehicles) are encouraged to park at the Wallace Civic Center. If on campus parking is required, approval must be granted. Contact Parking Services for further details on this process.

Visitors are individuals who are hosted by a university community member between 7:30 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. Examples/descriptions of visitors are as follows:

• ALFA: Adult Learning in the Fitchburg Area
• Candidate interviewing
• Family/Friend visiting a Resident
• Visiting a university department/staff member

• Monday - Thursday: 6:30 a.m. – 12 a.m. (midnight)
• Friday: 6:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.
• Saturday: No Service
• Sunday: 4:30 p.m. – 12 a.m. (midnight)

Exceptions

• Weekday holidays: 4:30 p.m. – 12 a.m. (midnight)
• No service on the Sunday preceding a Monday holiday
• No service during Spring Break

During posted operating hours, the shuttles continuously drive a 15-minute loop around campus: From the Civic Center along North Street to the Fitchburg Intermodal Center, then back along North Street to the Civic Center. There are signs indicating the location of the shuttle stops along the route.

Real-time shuttle tracking is available by selecting Shuttles in the Fitchburg State Mobile App.

Shuttle service to the Theater Block (including the Game Design Studio), located at 717 Main Street, is available on a limited basis:

• Monday – Friday (class days only)
• Departs from Aubuchon Hall at the following times:
  • 8:30 a.m.
  • 11:45 a.m.
  • 1 p.m.
  • 5 p.m.
  • 6:30 p.m.

Prior to stopping at the Intermodal Transportation Center (ITC), the shuttle will divert onto Main Street and stop at the Theater Block, before returning to the ITC and resuming the regular shuttle route.

The extended route shuttles will be clearly marked with a sign in the window indicating the route change. This extension route will add approximately 15 minutes to the total route time. These shuttles will not be making any unscheduled stops at other locations during the travel on Main Street and Boulder Drive.

Students, faculty, and staff with a valid OneCard can travel to Main Street and the Theater Block/Upper Common at other times of the day by taking the shuttle to the Intermodal Transportation Center and transferring to a Route 5 bus or Route 6 bus. Please refer to the MART website for current schedules and for the Intermodal Transportation Center and Upper Common departure times for Routes 5 and 6. These times are subject to change.​

University Police provide safety escort service to individuals from the Civic Center Parking Lot to the main campus when the MART Shuttle is not in operation for the university upon request. If you would like to inquire or request the service, call 978.665.3111.

Additional information can be found on the University Police page for the Safety Escort Service.

• University shuttle from Main Campus to Commuter Rail Station
• Bus from Commuter Rail Station to Water Street

Fitchburg State students and other members of the University community can ride the local MART bus system at no cost by presenting a valid OneCard. MART provides local bus service to locations throughout the Fitchburg and Leominster area. Visit the MRTA website for detailed routes and schedules.

MART’S Evening Ride Services

This is a great alternative for students to get low cost transportation around town.

• MART’s Evening Service is for people who need a ride between the hours of 8 p.m. and 12 a.m. for employment, the movies, shopping, visiting friends or family, or any other ride needed. (There is no service on Sundays or Holidays)
• MART Evening Service is available within Fitchburg, Leominster, Gardner, and in certain areas of Lancaster, Lunenburg, and Westminster
• All rides are scheduled through MART, although transport may be a MART van or a taxi. The price is $2 per ride
• Rides must be scheduled one business day in advance. To schedule, please call our office, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and speak to one of our customer service representatives
• To schedule a ride, you must call MART at 978.345.7711, option 3, at least one business day before your trip. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

• Name of the Event
• Organizer
• University host (if applicable)
• Contact person (including email and phone number)
• Number of people to attend the event
• Number of expected spaces
• Any large-scale vehicles (e.g. bus, RV, etc.) 

 You will receive a response within 72 hours on the status of your request.

Event parking requests should be submitted to the Office of Event Management at 978.665.3900 or eventmanagement@fitchburgstate.edu a minimum of 10 business days prior to the event.

In order to qualify for this program, you and at least one other Fitchburg State University community member must apply for carpool designation, using the joint Carpool Parking application. Bear in mind that both applicants must have valid, current-year Fitchburg State University parking permits (Commuter or Faculty/Staff). When utilizing the carpool parking area, no other vehicle associated with either individual may be parked anywhere else on campus. If you do not carpool, use of the carpool spaces is prohibited. Carpool permits are valid for one semester, and you must fill out the joint application to reapply each semester. Permits are issued on a first come, first served basis and the number of permits issued is limited. Please note: Resident students are not eligible to participate in this program.

To apply for the carpool designation/pass, please complete the online Carpool Parking Access form (must be logged into your campus email account to access form).

If approved, you will receive an additional pass/permit that must be displayed when parking in the carpool area.

The rules and regulations (PDF) set forth have been developed to control traffic and parking for all persons utilizing the parking areas at Fitchburg State University. Anyone operating a motor vehicle on property owned, operated, or controlled by Fitchburg State is subject to these regulations and the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts unless otherwise exempt by state or federal laws. It is the responsibility of all persons utilizing the university parking facilities to be aware of and follow these regulations.

Permission to operate a motor vehicle on the grounds of Fitchburg State is a discretionary privilege given by the Board of Trustees of the University for conference attendees and other guests. This privilege may be denied, revoked, suspended, or modified by the Board of Trustees or by officers of the university authorized to take such action under Chapter 73, Section 18 of the General Laws of the Commonwealth.

No one may park a vehicle in violation of these rules and regulations. The permit holder of the motor vehicle will be held responsible for all parking violations issued to the vehicle. Ignorance of these regulations will not be an acceptable reason for appealing a violation. Fitchburg State assumes no responsibility for vehicles parked or operated on University property.

Properly registered motor vehicles may be parked on campus within white-lined spaces with a valid Fitchburg State hang-tag affixed to the rear-view mirror of the vehicle. Use of these parking facilities during non-designated hours without written authorization constitutes illegal parking.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts requires that a Non-Resident Driver Statement form must be completed by every non-resident enrolled as a full-time student at a school or university in the Commonwealth who operates a motor vehicle in Massachusetts that is registered in another state or country during any period beginning on September 1 of any year and ending on August 31 of the following year.

This applies to students commuting from out-of-state to a school in Massachusetts and students temporarily residing in Massachusetts. This form is available from Housing and Residential Services. The completed form will be filed with the Police Department in the city or town where the school is located, the local assessor, and the Registry of Motor Vehicles.

Housing and Residential Services will issue the required decal, which must be affixed to the uppermost center portion of the windshield. The penalty for a non-resident's failure to comply as required is up to $200.

If a motor vehicle should become disabled, you must notify University Police at 978.665.3111. Every effort must be made to remove disabled vehicles from state property within a reasonable period of time.

In order to facilitate the removal of snow from the parking areas of the University, parking is prohibited in accordance with the following:

• When school has been cancelled due to inclement weather, all motor vehicles must be removed from all staff and commuter student parking areas within one hour of the official closing of school.
• In the event of snowfall, instructions will be available at 978.665.3006.
• Each storm is different and additional snow removal may be necessary days after a storm is over. Staying aware of the parking policies during this time is the permit-holder and guest's responsibility.
• Vehicles will often be required to be moved to the Civic Center parking lot to allow for plowing operations to proceed. Shuttle transportation will be provided for as long as possible to transport you back to campus and again the following day to return cars to campus lots.
• If it snows and classes are not cancelled, normal regulations are in effect.
• If classes are cancelled during the course of the day, you will be instructed where to put your car at the time of the closing. 978.665.3006 will need to be called between 5 – 7 p.m., and again between 6 – 8 a.m. and between 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. the next day for further information.
• If classes are delayed or cancelled for the entire day, or if snow falls on a weekend or holiday, 978.665.3006 must be called between 6 – 8 a.m. for instructions, and again between 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 5 – 7 p.m. for further instructions. University Police also attempts to notify resident students by email when possible.
• All vehicles found to be impeding snow removal operations will be ticketed, towed and stored at the owner's expenses, whether the owner is present or away from campus.

The standard procedures for snow removal and plowing at Fitchburg State University should be as follows:

• When the university is closed because of snow or parking lots are closed during snow removal phases, all essential personnel who must report to work, such as maintenance, power plant and recreation center staff, etc. are expected to park in the Weston Lot. Public Safety will utilize the North 4 lot.
• Signs will post the information of lot closings times and dates. These will be placed at the entrances to the parking lots. Please refrain from parking in closed lots. If vehicles are left in closed parking lots they may be ticketed and possibly towed at owner's expense.
• The actual plowing procedures will be done in two (2) phases. First (1) phase will be the commuter and faculty/staff lots, as well as the Civic Center lower lot. Once those lots are completed phase two (2) will be posted and the resident student parking lots, including the Civic Center Upper lot, will be cleared. Please check emails and the Snow Hotline for details, dates and times of the phases.
• Due to the size of our new lots, Capital Planning and Maintenance wants to make sure that the snow is cleared properly and to ensure as many parking spaces stay open as possible. McKay Front and Upper Ross Street (new addition to the Ross Street Lot) will also be closed during Phase II operations. Resident students will still be allowed to park in the larger part of Ross Street Lot during Phase II.
• The Civic Center Parking lots included on the list below will be part of the snow removal phases to assure these lots get cleaned properly. During these phases the shuttle bus will be scheduled to provide extended service to facilitate vehicle moves. Resident students may park in any open lot on campus during Phase 2 but will need to have their car returned by 7:30am the next day to their approved lots. Students will not be allowed to park in Sanders Lot or Highland Ave during Phase II.

• North 2 Lot/Clinton Street
• Green Street Lot 1
• Ross Street Lower Lot
• McKay Front
• McKay C (rear)
• Herlihy Lot
• Lower Weston
• Upper Weston
• Sanders Lot
• Town House South
• Lower Cedar
• Conlon Rear
• Highland Ave.
• Service Center
• Congress
• *Civic Center Lower Lot

• North 1
• Green Street 2
• Upper Cedar
• South Cedar
• McKay Front
• McKay Lower
• McKay Rear
• North 4
• Ross Street Upper Lot
• *Civic Center Upper Lot

Under Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 73, Section 18 (Acts of 1963, Chapter 642, Section 18) and in accordance with the Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 90, Section 20A (Acts of 1981, Chapter 647), the Board of Trustees of the University and/or their designated representative have established the following motor vehicle violations and fines, as well as the efforts in enforcing such violations and the collection of all fines. Any of the following parking manners shall constitute illegal parking and subject the offender to the following penalties:

Unauthorized parking in a handicapped area

• Obstructing Fire Lane
• Impeding Snow Removal/Snow Policy
• Parking on Land Not for Vehicles (sidewalk, lawn, etc.)

• Obstructing:
  • Building entrance
  • Stairway
  • Ramp
  • Gate
  • Loading dock/zone
  • Driveway
  • Dumpster
  • Other vehicles
• Parking in an access lane
• Parking in a restricted area
• Unauthorized overnight parking
• No proper sticker or permit
• Chapter 90

• Towing

• If a warning is issued, no payment is required.

The University Police Department is authorized to enforce parking policies and to have the ability to issue citations and/or towing of vehicles found in violation of parking policies. All fines are payable to Fitchburg State University within 21 days after the date of violation. Payments may be made by mail, in person, or by an authorized person. Payments may be made at Housing and Residential Services on Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., or by mailing a check or money order to:

Fitchburg State University
Parking Services
160 Pearl Street
Fitchburg, MA 01420

Checks should be made payable to Fitchburg State University.

Citation payments can now be made online using a credit card through our Parking Citation Portal.
You will need to provide the citation number, state in which the vehicle is registered, and the license plate in order to make payment.

Individuals who fail to resolve a parking violation within 21 days will be assessed the appropriate late fine. Students who have failed to resolve a parking violation within 90 days will have a "hold" placed on their Fitchburg State University records (BANNER), which can prevent such functions as registration, issuance of transcripts and financial transactions.

Faculty/Staff permit holders and individuals of non-permitted vehicles who have failed to resolve a parking violation within 90 days may be reported to the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV), which can result in the non-renewal of one's license to drive or vehicle registration.

Five (5) or more unresolved violations regardless of the age of the violation will have a hold placed on their Fitchburg State University records (Banner), which can prevent such functions as registration, issuance of transcripts, and financial transactions.

Ten (10) or more parking violations, resolved or unresolved, within an academic year may be towed and/or referred to the Student Conduct Office for disciplinary action, which could include the loss of parking privileges.

Faculty/Staff permit holders and individuals of non-permitted vehicles who have five or more unresolved violations that are 90 days or older may be reported to the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV), which can result in the non-renewal of one's license to drive or vehicle registration.

Any person receiving a parking violation while parking a motor vehicle at Fitchburg State University has the right to appeal to the University Parking Appeals Officer. There will be no late fee assessed while the citation is in appeal.

Appeals may be submitted online. In order to submit an online appeal, you must have the following:

• Your citation number
• Your plate number
• The state in which the vehicle is registered
• Faculty, staff and students will need their full Banner ID # and Fitchburg State email address to be able to log into the system. Visitors and guests to the campus can create a guest account.

Citations are usually available for an online appeal 24 hours after they are written. If you are unable to appeal your citation online but have all the required data, please email the Parking Coordinator at parkingappeals@fitchburgstate.edu. If you have further questions about the appeals process, please contact the Parking Services Office at 978.665.3219 for assistance.

All appeals must be made in writing within fourteen (14) calendar days after the issue of the violation. Notification of decisions will be sent to the appellant in a timely fashion. The appellant has the right of re-appeal in person with the Parking Appeals Coordinator. All decisions of the Parking Appeals Coordinator are final. The Parking Appeals Coordinator can be reached via parkingappeals@fitchburgstate.edu.

Aldrich is the current designated tow service company. They can be contacted at:

Aldrich Auto Body and Repair
209 Lunenburg St.
Fitchburg, MA 01420
978.343.3738