Parking Services

Permit Sales/Citation Payments:
Housing and Residential Services
& Parking Services
Aubuchon Hall
(North side entrance)
(978) 665-3219

Enforcement:
Campus Police
32 Clinton Street
(parking in North Street lots)
(978) 665-3111

Parking Services Links:

• Shuttle Bus Service
• Restricted Residential Freshmen Parking
• Permits
• Temporary Permits
• Emergency/Snow Removal
• Citation Payment
• Citations
• Appeals
• Overnight Parking for Residents
  

Campus Police and Housing and Residential Services jointly operate Parking Services for Fitchburg State College. The Parking Committee reviews policy and planning related to parking functions for the college, and includes student, faculty and staff representatives. Parking lot maps and the current parking rules and regulations guide are also available at both offices. The college is not responsible for any loss or damage to vehicles while parking in lots on the main campus or at the Civic Center.

The college maintains 25 parking areas on the main campus. A permit is required to park in any lots on the main campus. Additional parking is available at the Wallace Civic Center, which offers parking for hundreds of cars and is serviced by two shuttle busses that transport students, employees, and guests to the main campus. There is no charge for the shuttle.

Rules and Regulations

The rules and regulations set forth have been developed to control traffic and parking for all persons utilizing the parking areas at Fitchburg State College. Anyone operating a motor vehicle on property owned, operated, or controlled by Fitchburg State College 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 college parking facilities to be aware of and follow these regulations.

Permission to operate a motor vehicle on the grounds of Fitchburg State College is a discretionary privilege given by the Board of Trustees of the College, conferences, and guests. This privilege may be denied, revoked, suspended, or modified by the Board of Trustees or by officers of the college 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 College assumes no responsibility for vehicles parked or operated on College property.

Registered Vehicles

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

Non-Mass Driver Statement

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 college 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.

Parking Permits

Each student, faculty, staff member or visitor who operates a motor vehicle on the property of Fitchburg State College must obtain a parking permit in order to use college regulated parking facilities.

Permits are available from Housing and Residential Services (located in Aubuchon Hall), on Monday to Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm. The individual's status with the College determines the type of permit assigned. To obtain a parking permit, the individual must present a valid Fitchburg State College One Card.

Commuter and Resident students are required to pay the permit fee before the permit is issued. Permit fees must be paid in full and are non-refundable. Faculty/staff, Civic Center and GCE permits are free of charge.

Hang-tag permits must be properly affixed to the rearview mirror of the registered vehicle before the permit is considered valid. The hang-tag permit is transferable between vehicles.

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

Commuter (Red)

All full or part-time non-resident students are eligible for this permit. Motor vehicles bearing such a permit may park in areas designated by a red parking sign. This parking is valid from 7:00am through 12:00am (midnight). In addition, between the hours of 4:00pm to 12:00am (midnight) vehicles may park in designated red or blue lots. The permit is only valid when hung from the rear-view mirror (red side out). This permit costs $50 and is valid from September 1, 2009 through August 31, 2010.

Residential Permit (Green)

Students living on campus in residence halls with 24 or more earned credits are eligible for this permit. Students who are not eligible for a green permit are encouraged to apply for a Civic Center permit. Motor vehicles bearing a resident permit may park in areas designated by a green parking sign. The permit is valid
only when hung from the rear-view mirror (green side out). This permit costs $100 and is valid from September 1, 2009 through August 31, 2010.

24-hour-parking is restricted to the following lots:
North #1, Green Street, Upper Weston, Upper Cedar, part of McKay rear
(staff parking spaces are not 24 hour parking) and McKay lower.

GCE Student Permit (Evening/Summer Only) (Gold)

GCE students who only attend classes in the evening and summer are eligible for
this permit. This permit is only valid between the hours of 4:00pm to 12:00am (midnight). Motor vehicles bearing a GCE permit may park in designated red or blue
lots during these hours. The permit is only valid when hung from the rear-view mirror (gold side out). This permit is free of charge and is valid from September 1, 2009 through August 31, 2010.
* ONLY during Summer classes, the GCE permit is valid from 7:00am - 12:00am (midnight) *

Civic Center Permit (Light Green)

All students are eligible for this permit. Motor vehicles bearing such a permit may
park at the Civic Center 24 hours. During weekends, Friday 5:00pm through Sunday 12:00am (midnight), vehicles with this permit may also park in Overnight (Resident) Parking Lots. The permit is valid only when hung from the rear-view mirror (light green side out). This permit is free of charge and is valid from September 1, 2009 through
August 31, 2010.

Staff Permit (Blue)

All full or part-time employees of the college are eligible for this permit. This permit is only valid when hung from the rear-view mirror (blue side out). The hang-tag permit is transferable between vehicles. Employees of the College Bookstore, Food Service, city employees at McKay School, and staff of affiliated programs are also eligible. Motor vehicles bearing such a permit may park in lots designated by a blue parking sign. The parking permit is valid from 7:00am - 12:00am (midnight) only. This permit is free of charge and valid from September 1, 2007 through August 31, 2010.

Overnight Parking

Overnight parking will be permitted in all commuter and staff lots with the exception of Power Plant, Condike, Highland, Sanders, and Miller, which will remain faculty/staff or reserved parking 24 hours. Vehicles must display a valid parking permit and must be moved to lots approved for their permit or to the Civic Center by 7:30am on class days. Failure to move by 7:30am will result in ticketing and towing of your vehicle.

Replacement Permits

Permits that are lost, stolen, destroyed, or otherwise compromised may be replaced at Housing and Residential Services. There is a $10 fee for a replacement permit. The original permit will be inactivated. If an inactivated 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.

Motorcycle Parking

These vehicles will be parked only in areas designated for them. Motorcycles are not required to display a permit.

Handicapped Parking

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

Vehicles displaying a valid handicapped license plate or official placard from a Registry of Motor Vehicles are allowed to park in designated handicapped parking spaces. Vehicles also need to display a valid Fitchburg State College parking permit.

Vendor Permits

Vendor Permits can be obtained from Housing and Residential Services. All vendors or outside contractors doing business with Fitchburg State College are eligible for this permit which should be hung from the rearview mirror while the motor vehicle is parked on college property in the performance of their official business.

Visitor Permits

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 Housing and Residential Services in advance.

Overnight Guest Parking

Overnight guest parking permits can be obtained from Housing and Residential Services during business hours, and from Campus Police after business hours. Resident students must accompany their guests requiring overnight parking privileges and must have with them their Fitchburg State College One Card. The guest must present their vehicle registration and a picture I. D. to obtain the permit. Overnight guests, along with the host, are responsible for all parking regulations including the snow removal policy.

Temporary Permits

Students or employees with the temporary use of a car not normally driven and registered for a valid permit with the college are eligible for this permit. Non-permitted vehicles can park at the Civic Center without a permit.

Snow Removal Policy for 2009 - 2010

In order to facilitate the removal of snow from the parking areas of the college, 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 5pm - 7pm, and again between 6am - 8am and 11am - 1pm 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 6am - 8am for instructions, and again between 11am - 1pm and 5pm - 7pm for further instructions. Campus 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 College should be as follows:

• When the College 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, public safety, power plant and recreation center staff, etc. are expected to park in the Condike Science 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. Note** If vehicles are left in closed parking lots they may be ticketed and possibly towed at owners 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 Hot line for details, dates and times of the phases. 
• * Please note that the Civic Center Parking lots are included on the list below and 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.

Phase I: North 2 Lot/Clinton Street, Green Street Lot 1, Ross Street, McKay Front, McKay C (rear), Herlihy Lot, Condike Science, Lower Weston, Sanders Lot, Miller Lot, Town House South, Lower Cedar, Power Plant, Conlon Rear, Highland IA, Service Center, Congress, North 4, McKay Rear, *Civic Center- Lower

Phase II: North 1, Green Street 2, Upper Cedar, Upper Weston, McKay Lower, McKay Rear, Condike Science, Cedar Street House, *Civic Center- Upper Lot

Winter storms can be very unpredictable and inconvenient, so we ask everyone to assist by monitoring emails and checking the Snow Hotline for updates as your assistance can make a big difference in the college’s snow removal process.

Disabled Motor Vehicle

If a motor vehicle should become disabled, you must notify Campus Police at
978-665-3111. Every effort must be made to remove disabled vehicles from state property within a reasonable period of time.

Authority to Regulate Parking Fines

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 College 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:

Responsibility for citations are assigned to the permit holder, regardless of ownership of the vehicle. Citations assigned to a non-permitted vehicle are the owners' responsibility.

Citation Payments

The Campus 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 College 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, 8:00am - 5:00pm, or by mailing a check or money order to Fitchburg State College, Parking Services, 160 Pearl Street, Fitchburg, MA 01420.
Checks should be made to the order of Fitchburg State College.

Failure To Pay Fines

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 College 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.

Excessive Violations

Student permit holders who have five (5) for more unresolved violations regardless of the age of the violation will have a hold placed on their Fitchburg State College records (BANNER), which can prevent such functions as registration, issuance of transcripts, and financial transactions.

Student permit holders who have ten (10) or more parking violations, resolved or resolved, 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.

Right of Appeal

Any person receiving a parking violation while parking a motor vehicle at Fitchburg State College has the right to appeal to the College Parking Appeals Officer.
* Appeal forms are available online (Parking Appeal Form).
* You may pick up an appeal form at Housing and Residential Services (located in Aubuchon Hall) or Campus Police (located in Russell Towers).
* Another option is you can submit your appeal via email to parkingappeals@fsc.edu.

All appeals must be made in writing within ten (10) business 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 Officer. All decisions of the Parking Appeals Officer are final.

Civic Center Parking and Shuttle Bus Service

Parking is available to the college community at the Wallace Civic Center, serviced by shuttle bus transportation. When school is in session, the shuttle hours are on Monday - Thursday from 7:00am - 12:00am (midnight); on Friday 7:00am - 6:30pm, and on Sunday 4:30pm - 12:00am (midnight). Exceptions to this are as follows:

• On weekday holidays, the shuttle operates from 4:30pm to midnight.
• There will be no service on the Sundays preceding a Monday holiday.
• During the Thanksgiving recess, service will end at 6:30pm on Wednesday, November 25, 2009.

The shuttle runs continuous fifteen minute loops from the Civic Center through campus. The shuttle service is free of charge.

Please note that the shuttle operates only during the fall and spring semesters.

Restricted Residential Freshmen Parking

All Residential freshmen students will be required to park at the Wallace Civic Center parking lot. A student with less than 24 earned credits and residing on-campus will not be eligible for a parking permit for the main campus. Students must obtain a Civic Center hang-tag at NO CHARGE. Students will be required to obtain this hang-tag as it assists Campus Police and Parking Services in contacting a student, if necessary.

Freshmen with a Civic Center hang-tag will be allowed to park in campus parking
lots during the weekend, as of 5:00pm on Friday. All freshmen must move their vehicles back to the Civic Center by 12:00am (midnight) on Sunday.

Questions...Call Housing and Residential Services

For parking questions and information, please contact Housing and Residential Services & Parking Services on Monday through Friday, between 8:00am to 5:00pm. You can reach our office directly at 978-665-3219 or email parkingservices@fsc.edu.

In an emergency, call Campus Police at 978-665-3111. Campus Police can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Contact Information for Housing and Residential Services

Contact Information for Campus Police