Street sweeping, ticketing enforcement for expired inspection stickers and vehicle registration to resume

Mayor Martin J. Walsh, the Boston Transportation Department (BTD) and the Public Works Department today announced updated street enforcement regulations for the City of Boston. Beginning Monday, March 1, street sweeping will resume in the North End, South End and Beacon Hill, and will resume citywide on April 1. Street sweeping ticketing enforcement will also resume on those dates respectively, and vehicles in violation will be subject to towing. Additionally, the Boston Transportation Department will resume ticketing enforcement for expired inspection stickers and vehicle registration on March 1. Mayor Walsh paused enforcement of certain violations at the beginning of the pandemic in an effort to ensure residents could minimize their need to go out to slow the spread of COVID-19. 

“With spring approaching, we are asking residents to move their vehicles during posted street sweeping times to ensure our Public Works Department is able to fully clean streets citywide,” said Mayor Walsh. “Thank you to all of our residents for your continued cooperation to keep our streets clean.”

Failure to move a vehicle during posted street sweeping hours results in a $40 fine; the fine is $90 in Charlestown, and $90 for overnight street sweeping. An expired inspection sticker or vehicle registration will result in a $40 fine. View a complete list of parking codes and fines in the City of Boston. To learn more about the daytime and nighttime street sweeping program, including when the Public Works Department cleans a particular neighborhood, you can sign up for street sweeping alerts and No-Tow reminder service online.

As a reminder, residents with resident parking permits will continue to be allowed to park at meters within their neighborhood without having to abide by the time limits or pay the meter.

“Clean streets are an important quality of life issue for our residents,” said Commissioner Greg Rooney. “We appreciate the public’s assistance as we resume this essential basic city service.”

BTD will not ticket for expired disability placards/plates if they expired during the public health emergency, given potential challenges for people to renew at this time. The Registry of Motor Vehicles is only processing requests for disability placards/plates by mail.

To support the medical community, BTD has identified facilities offering free, reduced rate or reserved parking for medical professionals. To receive discounted parking, medical staff will need to present a hospital ID. See the list of participating facilities.

The City of Boston and its municipal partners in Brookline, Cambridge, Everett, and Somerville are offering all grocery store and pharmacy workers in metro Boston a free 90-day pass for the public bike share system, Bluebikes. To support employees of small businesses, the City of Boston is also offering free 90-day passes to people who work in retail shops or restaurants in Boston. More information is available at boston.gov/bike-share.

The Boston Transportation Department will continue to evaluate additional parking enforcement changes throughout the phased reopening. For more information, please visit boston.gov/transportation. 

Our mission is to plan, build, maintain, and operate our streets in a manner that increases access to opportunities, promotes safety and resilience, and fosters the highest quality of life for everyone living, working, and visiting our City.