Garage Parking FAQ

Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about the parking garage at ECU. If you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us, (252) 328-6294 or email parking@ecu.edu.

Where is the parking garage?

The Main Campus Student Center parking garage remains ECU’s sole facility, located at 501 E. 10th Street behind the Student Center, with entry via Student Center Drive. It offers 724 spaces (709 standard, 15 ADA-compliant), up slightly from prior estimates, and includes two electric vehicle (EV) charging stations near the entrance with a 4-hour usage limit to ensure equitable access.

Do I have to pay to park in the garage?

Yes, parking requires either an annual garage permit or hourly payment of $2 per hour, charged 24/7. Parking and garage operations are fully self-funded through these revenues, without reliance on tuition, fees, or state allocations. For hourly use, obtain a time-stamped ticket at entry and pay using parkmobile (location 2032) or pay at stations on each floor or the exit machine; 20 minutes are allotted to exit post-payment. Lost tickets incur a $25 fee. Overnight parking is prohibited.

How do I get a garage parking permit/access card?

Annual garage permits can be purchased by staff, faculty, and students. You will get an access card after registering your vehicle and paying the annual fee.  (See garage permit page for details). If you have already registered and paid the annual fee for parking in another zone and are interested in upgrading to the garage, visit or contact the parking office for information about the exchange.

Are there any places to park on campus without a permit, other than the parking garage? Is there Visitor Parking?

Yes, pay by space parking is in the following areas at a cost of $1/hour. Parkmobile app accepted.

  • Corner of 5th Street & Harding Street near the main entrance to campus.
  • Between Jenkins Art Building and Garrett Residence Hall.  Enter campus from 5th Street onto Founders Drive. Turn right onto Faculty Way. Lot entrance is beside Jenkins Art Building.
  • East of the Croatan and Rivers Buildings.  Enter off of Maple Street; or, turn onto campus at the light on 10th Street and College Hill Drive and turn right to travel beside Fletcher Music to reach the parking areas.

Why do I have to pay to park? What does ECU Parking do with all of the fees and fines collected?

Based on North Carolina laws, state funds cannot be used for parking facilities at state universities; instead, parking costs must be covered by revenue from parking fees. At East Carolina University (ECU), faculty, staff, and students may purchase annual parking permits for a fee, while hourly paid parking is available to all. These fees fund the maintenance, construction, paving, striping, signage, staffing, and other operational costs of campus parking lots. A portion of the parking fees supports ECU Transit, which provides bus services for students from perimeter parking areas. Additionally, North Carolina law requires that 80% of parking fines collected be allocated to the public school system.

Without regulated parking enforcement, finding available spaces could disrupt classes and campus operations. Zoned parking optimizes space usage based on proximity to buildings and their functions. ECU’s strategic plan promotes a pedestrian-friendly campus, encouraging transit use or walking by locating most parking on the perimeter.

Why does it say the parking garage is full, when it looks like there are open spaces?

The Main Campus Student Center parking garage offers a total of 720 parking spaces, comprising 705 standard spaces and 15 ADA-compliant spaces. Approximately 50 individuals hold garage permits, necessitating reserved availability to accommodate their access. When the garage displays a “Full” sign, the parking attendant may grant entry only to permitted vehicles to ensure compliance with permit holder privileges.

Why are the parking garage gates sometimes open?

The university reserves the right to open parking garage gates if needed. Gates will be left open for one of several reasons:

  • If there is a technical issue with the payment or ticketing system, or the gates are malfunctioning, they will be left open.
  • If the parking office has limited staffing and is unable to assist garage patrons, the gates may be kept open.
  • Special events, such as a few days at the beginning of fall semester when heavy traffic is expected, gates may be kept open as a courtesy.

Is there ADA parking in the garage?

Yes, there are 15 ADA spaces in the garage. These can be used by permit holders or those paying hourly.

Are there vehicle charging stations in the garage?

Yes, there are 2 charging stations near the entrance to the garage.

How to purchase your annual permit and register your vehicle(s):

  • Visit Parking & Transportation in PiratePort. You will need your Pirate ID and passphrase.
  • Click Account button to update or verify your information

    Please include a valid telephone number

  • You will need your license plate number, vehicle year, make, model and color
  • If everything is up to date, scroll down to the bottom of the page and click Order Permits and follow the directions

We ONLY accept Visa, MasterCard, and Discover online and in our office. If you wish to pay by cash or check, visit the Parking & Transportation Office at 305 East 10th Street during cashier hours, Monday-Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm.

You will NOT receive a parking decal. Your license plate is now your permit to park. Your “permit” is active within a few minutes of payment!

Temporary Permits

Students are allowed up to two monthly permits or eight weekly permits for the academic year in the designated student lot for which they are registered, and as long as permits are available.  This is ONLY for short-term parking. This is NOT to replace a parking permit.

  • Monthly permits $20
  • Weekly $10
  • Day $5

Yearly permit holders

If you have an active yearly permit, you can add a temporary vehicle online for free if you have been in an accident or if you are driving a different vehicle.

ADA Designation

ECU is committed to accessibility and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Please see the ADA web page to learn more about the process to have ADA designation added to your ECU parking registration.

Stolen License Plate

Permits associated with license plates that have been lost or stolen will be deactivated and flagged for towing. The individual whom a permit is registered to is responsible for all non-moving traffic violations involving a vehicle carrying a permit issued to him or her.  License plates that are stolen must be immediately reported to the ECU Police Department. Any vehicle found displaying a lost, stolen, or forged license plate will be immediately towed, and the owner will be reported to the proper authorities.

Citations

Citations not paid or appealed in 10 business days will be transferred to the cashiers office and added to your tuition.  If a citation has been transferred from our office you will have to pay it at the cashiers office in the Old Cafeteria Complex or online in Pirateport through your tuition.  For more information, visit Citations.