Tips for avoiding parking tickets
Parking in Boston can be difficult. We hope the information below will help clear up some of the confusion.
Always check for parking signs
An arrow on a parking sign will point in the direction of restricted parking. If a sign doesn’t have an arrow, or there are two arrows pointed in opposite directions, it means the whole street is affected by the parking restriction.
-
Still have questions? Contact:
Parking Clerk
-
1 City Hall Square
Room 224Boston, MA 02201-2007
-
Still have questions?
Contact us at 617-635-4410.
Pay attention to the signs
‘No Stopping’ and ‘No Standing’
In a “No Stopping” zone, you can’t park your car or stop to make a drop off, a pick up, or load your car.
In a “No Standing” zone, you can’t park your car, but you can make a drop off, a pick up, or load your car. Commercial vehicles can’t load or unload in a “No Standing” zone.
street cleaning signs
Street cleaning takes place on most streets from April 1 until November 30. On some main roads, street cleaning happens all year.
You can check the street cleaning schedule online and sign up for alerts.
‘Resident Parking Only’
If you see a “Resident Parking Only” sign in a neighborhood, it means you need a resident parking permit sticker for that neighborhood. Commercial vehicles can park for up to three hours on streets with resident parking.
Parking meter rules in Boston
At most meters, you can only park in the spot for two hours. After two hours, you need to move your car to another City block.
If you use the ParkBoston app, you can extend your time at a meter through the app, but only up to the time limit of your metered spot. Learn more about ParkBoston.
During rush hour, many metered streets in downtown Boston become an extra travel lane. Please check the meter and signs posted on the street for a schedule.
Other tips
Don't park on sidewalks and crosswalks, or block intersections
You can’t park vehicles — including motorcycles — on any part of the sidewalk or crosswalk on a Boston street. You can’t park a car within 20 feet of an intersection, unless it’s at a metered parking spot.
keep your car inspection current
If you drive a car with an expired sticker, you are breaking the law. Also, a parked car with an expired sticker can get a ticket.
Snow emergencies and travel bans
We restrict parking on most main streets during major snowstorms so plows, ambulances, and other emergency vehicles can use the roads.
We will announce a snow emergency and list streets where you can't park on our Winter in Boston page. You can also sign up to get alerts when a snow emergency is declared or lifted.
Parking ticket help
Parking ticket help-
Still have questions? Contact:
Parking Clerk
-
1 City Hall Square
Room 224Boston, MA 02201-2007
-
Still have questions?
Contact us at 617-635-4410.
