General Regulations

In order to be good neighbors and community members, Champlain College sets strict regulations for vehicles and parking. Please familiarize yourself with these general regulations, and contact us if you have any questions.

All Vehicles Must Be Registered 24/7

  • ALL Champlain College students and employees must obtain a permit for their cars each semester, regardless of where or when they park.
  • Vehicles must be parked in their permitted zone.
  • Failure to park in your permitted zone will result in fines and/or towing.
  • Permits are issued by zone, and only those vehicles with a valid permit for a particular zone may park in that zone.
    • Ex: Residential students with Zone 2 permits may not park in Zone 5 at any time.
    • Download a PDF of the official Campus Parking Map to know where you can park.

First-Year Parking Is Not Permitted

First-time, first-year students (less than two full-time, post High School, college semesters) are not permitted to bring a vehicle to campus. A waiver of this first-year parking restriction is available based on specific criteria. See the policy, waiver information, and form at champlain.edu/firstyearparking.

The good news is, at Champlain College, you don't need a car to get the full college experience! In fact, over 80% of our residential students do not have a car on campus. 

See champlain.edu/transportation for ALL of the available transportation options to get you to, from, and around Burlington, including CarShare, buses, bikes, and more. No car, no problem!

No Parking at 194 Saint Paul Street Apartments

There is no parking permitted on-site within the parking garages OR in the surrounding neighborhood area of 194 Saint Paul Street, 24 hours/7 days a week. This restriction was put in place by the Vermont Superior Court during the appeal by the neighbors for the construction of the building, and is non-negotiable. All residents must obtain a Zone 2 permit and park at Lakeside Avenue. There are two 15-minute loading/unloading spaces (one in each garage) which are permitted to be used for unloading groceries etc. If you need quick access to your car for internships or jobs, 194 Saint Paul may not be the right choice for you.

City Streets

A long way back in history, Champlain College made an agreement with the City of Burlington that we would control where our employees or students parked, and we agreed to a small number of locations where Champlain affiliates could park. As part of that agreement, ALL other streets in Burlington are considered prohibited parking and are enforced daily by Champlain College parking enforcement. For example, parking on South Willard St (south of Tower Terrace), South Union St, Bayview St, etc. is prohibited and you WILL get ticketed for parking there.

For parking purposes, students and employees are not considered members of "the Public" but are instead considered members of our Champlain Community, held to the same agreement with the City.

Students and Employees are prohibited from parking on any Burlington street that is not specifically zoned for Champlain College affiliates, regardless of whether there are signs in that location or not.

Weekend and Evening Parking

Employees and students who have a Champlain parking permit are allowed to park in any "unrestricted" zoned lot or street after 4:00 PM until 8:00 AM Monday through Friday and all day on weekends. But, they must still display a Champlain Parking Permit at all times.

Keep in mind, some lots are still prohibited as noted below in "Prohibited Areas", and restricted spaces (such as Disabled spaces) within open lots are still considered restricted. 

Parking is enforced 24/7. The College reserves the right to close these lots during certain times of the year to accommodate parking for campus events.

Prohibited Areas

Standard parking regulations apply to vehicles parked on campus. No vehicle may be parked in driveways, fire lanes, handicapped parking or reserved spaces (unless the operator has a permit for such spaces), non-designated parking spaces, on lawns or courtyards, or by blocking a legally parked vehicle. Vehicles in violation will be towed at the owner's expense without notice.

It is prohibited to park in the following lots/areas (unless the operator has a permit for such spaces):

  • Perry Hall (unless displaying a dashboard permit from the Admissions Office)
  • Boardman Hall (unless displaying a Zone 5 permit)
  • Cushing Lot
  • IDX/Pearl Lot
  • Rozendaal Courtyard
  • Finney Quad

Parking Is Enforced 24/7

Employees and students who have a Champlain parking permit are allowed to park in any "unrestricted" zoned lot or street after 4:00 PM until 8:00 AM Monday through Friday and all day on weekends. But, they must still display a Champlain Parking Permit at all times.

From 8:00 AM–4:00 PM, Monday through Friday, the 115 and 175 Lakeside Ave lots are the ONLY locations a residential student may park. Residential students who require a car for employment or medical reasons may be issued a permit for parking in certain Zone 5 lots on Main Campus on a first-come, first-served basis.

In cases of medical need, proof may be required in the form of a doctor's documentation. In cases of employment need, a letter from the employer stating the hours of work, plus a pay stub confirming hours worked, may be required for approval. These exceptions will be reviewed on a semesterly basis or as individual circumstances change.

More Information About Parking at Champlain College

Please Note That Parking Space Is Not Guaranteed

When you purchase a parking permit, you are paying for the right to park in one of several zone-specific Champlain lots. On-street parking within your designated zone is not guaranteed, as members of the general public are welcome to park there and we do not have the authority to control them.

From time to time, it is possible that no parking will be available in designated campus zones. In such cases, permit holders should park in the 175 Lakeside Ave lot and use the free shuttle to get to Main Campus or to 194 St. Paul.

Important Phone Numbers

  • Life-threatening Emergencies: 911
  • Burlington Police: 911
  • Burlington Fire Department: 911
  • Champlain College Public Safety: 802.865.6465
  • Champlain College Transportation Office: 802.865.8464
  • UVM Motor Assistance: 802.656.8686
  • Burlington Parking Enforcement: 802.540.2380
  • Spillanes Towing: 802.863.7900

Park Between Lines

The only legal parking space in any College parking lot is between two white or yellow striped lines.

Pay-Per-Use Parking

Regular main campus parking lots are available for short-term parking (time limits apply per day). Between the hours of 8:00 AM-4:00 PM, Monday through Friday, both a valid Champlain Employee/Commuter student permit AND payment using the Parkmobile app are required. See more information here. Residential students (Zone 2 or Zone 5 permits) are NOT permitted to park in metered lots between 8:00 AM-4:00 PM, Monday through Friday. They may park in these lots after 4:00 PM daily and any time on weekends.

Car Alarms

Vehicles equipped with alarms that do not cease emitting intermittent or constant sound for a total of three minutes within any 15-minute period are strictly forbidden. Violators will be ticketed and towed.

Non-Compliance

Failure of a student or employee to register a motor vehicle and/or comply with College parking policies may result in fines, towing charges and loss of permission to park a vehicle in College zones, as well as the possible loss of other privileges, suspension or dismissal. Failure to pay parking fines in a timely manner will affect students' financial standing with the college resulting in a hold on grades, transcripts or the ability to register for classes.

Waiver of Liability

Champlain College assumes no responsibility for the care or protection of any vehicle or its contents at any time it is operated or parked in campus zones. Any damage or theft involving the vehicle (interior or exterior) is the owner's responsibility.

Parking for Break Periods

Parking for break periods shall be allowed in the Zone 2 Overnight Parking areas of 115 and 175 Lakeside only. Vehicles shall not be parked in any other lots during break periods. 115 and 175 Lakeside lots are lit and patrolled daily.

No Idling

Champlain College passed a No-Idling Policy in November 2014. This policy restricts vehicle idling to no more than three minutes, with certain exemptions (similar to the City of Burlington's no idling ordinance which has a 5 minute limit). The idling policy is not enforced at present, but will be used as an education tool. The Green Revolving Fund helped to fund the installation of educational signs on streets and in parking lots which are being rolled out throughout Fall 2015. Why a policy? Idling pollutes, can increase health issues for both the occupants and nearby persons and is a complete waste of gas. Learn more here.

Motorcycle Parking

Motorcycles are not required to obtain a Champlain Parking Permit at this time. There are two official motorcycle parking places, Skiff Hall (3-4 spaces) and Miller Information Commons (MIC) (16 spaces). Payment is NOT required for motorcycles in the motorcycle sections of MIC and Skiff. Mopeds (50cc or less) are allowed to park at any bicycle parking rack on campus as long as they do not block access or walkways. Mopeds must be walked, not ridden, on sidewalks or walkways.

Vehicle Breakdowns

If you are parking in a Champlain College lot and experience car trouble, please contact Campus Public Safety at 802.865.6465 or UVM Motor Assistance at 802.656.8686. They will be able to assist in jump-starts and provide numbers to garages and locksmiths. UVM Motor Assistance reserves the right to refuse this courtesy to owners of vehicles who appear to be abusing it. Please be aware that UVM does not do jump starts for vehicles parked on the street.

Also, if you have mechanical problems and your car cannot be moved, please contact parking@champlain.edu or call 802.865.5496 IMMEDIATELY so that you won't be ticketed.

Snow Emergency

During various times throughout the year, it may be necessary to close lots for snow removal. Parking will be allowed at the 115 and 175 Lakeside Ave Lot. Individuals are responsible for paying attention to weather conditions whether they are planning to use their vehicle or not. During these times, an announcement will be made through email and Champlain College Transportation Facebook page. Vehicles found in the areas designated to be cleared may be ticketed or towed.

Please also observe Burlington City snow removal procedures. The City will tow vehicles parked on the road during a snow ban without prior warning.

Vehicle Safety Tips

  • Always lock your vehicle, even if you plan to be away from it for only a minute.
  • When you park your car, do not leave valuables in plain sight.
  • If you will be returning to your vehicle after dark, try to park under a light or near a building.
  • When driving, keep your doors locked.
  • If you believe that you are being followed, do not drive to your parking area, drive to a place where there are many people and call the local authorities.
  • Report all unusual circumstances to the Campus Public Safety Office immediately.