Parking Rules in Lowell, MA

Lowell maintains 47 local ordinances across all categories, and 4 of those deal specifically with parking rules. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Lowell falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

RV & Boat Parking

Lowell Code of Ordinances sec. 266-73.1 prohibits parking any recreational vehicle, auto home, mobile home, boat trailer, semitrailer or combined vehicle-and-trailer on any City street between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. on any day, and at any time on Sunday, except during active loading or unloading.

Key details: Code Section: sec. 266-73.1. Prohibited Hours: 6:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m. daily; all day Sunday. Covered Vehicles: RV, auto/mobile home, boat trailer, semitrailer, trailer.

Subject to ticketing and towing under sec. 266-50; the Schedule of Basic Parking Fines (sec. 266-132) sets a $250 fine for an illegally parked residential commercial vehicle (violation code 34), which the ordinance applies to the vehicles in 266-73.1.

Compared to other cities, Lowell takes a harder line on rv & boat parking. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Overnight Parking

Lowell has no blanket year-round overnight street-parking ban for passenger cars, but Code sec. 266-74 bars long-term 'storage' or abandoned parking (a vehicle posted and left over 72 hours is deemed abandoned), several streets have 10:00 p.m.-to-6:00/8:00 a.m. bans, and snow emergency bans clear all streets within 6 hours of declaration.

Key details: Storage/Abandoned: sec. 266-74 (72 hours after posting). Snow Emergency: All vehicles off street within 6 hours. Overnight No-Park Streets: Schedule O (10:00 p.m. bans).

Storage/abandoned vehicles after 72-hour posting are subject to fines and towing under secs. 266-132 ff. Snow-ban violators are ticketed and towed at the owner's expense. State abandonment removal follows MGL c. 90, sec. 22C.

Commercial & Oversized Vehicles

Lowell Code sec. 266-73.1 prohibits on-street parking of any commercial vehicle (as defined in 540 CMR 2.05, including commercial-plate vehicles) between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. and all day Sunday, carrying a $250 fine. Heavy trucks (12,000+ lbs, 24+ ft, or 3+ axles) are also barred at all times from streets in Schedule A except for actual deliveries.

Key details: Definition: 540 CMR 2.05 (sec. 266-1). Overnight Ban: 6:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m. and all Sunday (sec. 266-73.1). Fine: $250 residential commercial vehicle (sec. 266-132).

Schedule of Basic Parking Fines (sec. 266-132): $250 for a residential commercial vehicle (violation code 34), plus towing under sec. 266-50. Section 266-133(B) adds $5 per violation after notice to the Registrar (MGL c. 90, sec. 20A).

Compared to other cities, Lowell takes a harder line on commercial & oversized vehicles. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Street Parking Limits

On-street parking in Lowell is regulated by Code of Ordinances Chapter 266 (Vehicles and Traffic), which sets 15-minute, 30-minute, one-hour and two-hour zones (enforced 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. except Sundays and holidays) plus streets where parking is prohibited at all times. Vehicles parked in violation may be towed at the owner's expense.

Key details: Code Chapter: Chapter 266, Article V. Time-Zone Hours: 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m., except Sundays and holidays. Enforcing Agency: Lowell Police Department / Parking Department.

Vehicles parked in violation may be moved/towed at the owner's expense under sec. 266-50; basic parking fines are set in the Schedule of Basic Parking Fines (sec. 266-132). Unpaid fines referred to the Registrar add a $5 charge per MGL c. 90, sec. 20A.

The Bottom Line

Lowell is tougher than many cities when it comes to parking rules. Out of the 4 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Lowell, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

This guide is based on Lowell's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.