How to apply for a valet parking permit

The Transportation Department starts issuing permits on July 1 and they expire on June 30. You need to renew your permit every year.

We decide on how much space to give you based on your seating capacity, among other reasons. We use this as a general guideline:

• 100 seats or fewer: Two parking spaces
• 101 to 150 seats: Three parking spaces
• 151 to 200 seats: Four parking spaces

Cars can stay in a Valet Parking Zone for the length of time listed on the permit, but different facilities have different restrictions.

• Hotels need to make an effort to keep at least one space in the valet zone open at all times.
• Restaurants can only stay parked in a valet zone spot for 15 minutes at a time while picking up and dropping off cars.
• Hospitals can keep a vehicle parked in the valet zone for as long as it takes while helping a patient.

When you apply, we let the city councilor in your district know. They may hold a public meeting to discuss your application.

Special one-day permits for valet parking are available, but you need to apply for the permit at least five days before an event. Contact the Transportation Department at 617-635-4680 or btd@boston.gov for more information on the one-day permit.

Print out and complete the valet parking application. The application is at the bottom of the document. For your application, we need to know:

• information about the establishment and the company running the valet parking service, including names and addresses
• the location of the valet parking zone, and the space it takes up in feet
• the days and hours you plan to run the valet service
• an estimate of how many cars you think you will valet park, and how many valet attendants you need
• a plan and description of how your valet attendants will get cars to the parking lot, and
• a letter from the owner of the off street parking location you’re using for your valet service that says you have an agreement. The letter needs to include the location of the parking lot, the number of parking spots, and the number of spaces at the parking lot that will be set aside for the valet service.

For permit renewals, we’ll need to see evidence of how you used a parking lot in the previous year.

Bring your completed application and information to the Transportation Department:

Room 721, 1 City Hall Square
Boston, MA 02201
Office hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

We review your application with other City agencies, including the Boston Police Department and the Licensing Board. If we approve your application, we’ll send you a notice that includes a schedule for you to pay the Valet Parking Permit fees.

We charge you $40 per foot of space you take up each year. We also charge you $150 every five years for each valet sign we post on the street.

Once you pay your fees, we install the signs for valet parking outside of your establishment.  If you don’t renew your permit, we’ll take down the signs after your current permit expires.

The Transportation Department starts issuing permits on July 1 and they expire on June 30. You need to renew your permit every year.

We decide on how much space to give you based on your seating capacity, among other reasons. We use this as a general guideline:

• 100 seats or fewer: Two parking spaces
• 101 to 150 seats: Three parking spaces
• 151 to 200 seats: Four parking spaces

Cars can stay in a Valet Parking Zone for the length of time listed on the permit, but different facilities have different restrictions.

• Hotels need to make an effort to keep at least one space in the valet zone open at all times.
• Restaurants can only stay parked in a valet zone spot for 15 minutes at a time while picking up and dropping off cars.
• Hospitals can keep a vehicle parked in the valet zone for as long as it takes while helping a patient.

When you apply, we let the city councilor in your district know. They may hold a public meeting to discuss your application.

Special one-day permits for valet parking are available, but you need to apply for the permit at least five days before an event. Contact the Transportation Department at 617-635-4680 or btd@boston.gov for more information on the one-day permit.

Print out and complete the valet parking application. The application is at the bottom of the document. For your application, we need to know:

• information about the establishment and the company running the valet parking service, including names and addresses
• the location of the valet parking zone, and the space it takes up in feet
• the days and hours you plan to run the valet service
• an estimate of how many cars you think you will valet park, and how many valet attendants you need
• a plan and description of how your valet attendants will get cars to the parking lot, and
• a letter from the owner of the off street parking location you’re using for your valet service that says you have an agreement. The letter needs to include the location of the parking lot, the number of parking spots, and the number of spaces at the parking lot that will be set aside for the valet service.

For permit renewals, we’ll need to see evidence of how you used a parking lot in the previous year.

Send your completed application and information to:

Transportation Department, Room 721
Off-Street Parking Division
1 City Hall Square, Boston, MA 02201
ATTN: Valet Parking Permit

We review your application with other City agencies, including the Boston Police Department and the Licensing Board. If we approve your application, we’ll send you a notice that includes a schedule for you to pay the Valet Parking Permit fees.

We charge you $40 per foot of space you take up each year. We also charge you $150 every five years for each valet sign we post on the street.

Once you pay your fees, we install the signs for valet parking outside of your establishment.  If you don’t renew your permit, we’ll take down the signs after your current permit expires.