Parking Rules in Boston, MA (2026)
10 verified parking rules for Boston, Massachusetts, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
RV & Boat Parking
Boston's dense urban streets severely limit RV and oversized vehicle parking. Commercial vehicle overnight parking is prohibited, and RVs face similar restrictions on residential streets.
Boston RV & Boat Parking Rules
Heavy RestrictionsCity of Boston Traffic Rules and Regulations (March 1, 2025), Article IV, Section 7 — Parking of Trailers or Semi-Trailers
Section 7. Parking of Trailers or Semi-Trailers. No person shall park or stand any trailer, semi-trailer including but not limited to a boat trailer, camping trailer or utility trailer on any part of any street, way, highway, road, or parkway under the control of the City, unless such trailer or semi-trailer is attached to a motor vehicle capable of towing it. Section 8. Parking Motor Vehicle a...
Driveway Rules
Boston fines residents who park cars in a required front, side or rear yard of a home in a residential zoning district. Inspectional Services enforces the ban with escalating civil fines and a possible written warning on a first offense.
Boston Front, Side and Rear Yard Parking Ban
Some RestrictionsBoston Code of Ordinances § 16-46.3(B)
(B) Yard parking. Any person who violates any Section of the Boston Zoning Code, as it may be amended, through the use and occupancy of land, buildings or structures in a residential zoning district as defined in the Boston Zoning Code for the purpose of parking motor vehicles on any front yard, side yard or rear yard as defined in Boston Zoning Code Article 2A shall be in violation of this S...
Commercial & Oversized Vehicles
Boston prohibits overnight street parking of commercial vehicles and requires Boston-Based Business Permits for local business owners needing daytime access to resident parking zones.
Boston Commercial Vehicle Parking Restrictions
Heavy RestrictionsCity of Boston Traffic Rules and Regulations (March 1, 2025), Article IV, Section 14 — All-Night Commercial Vehicle Parking Prohibited
Section 14. All-Night Commercial Vehicle Parking Prohibited. No Operator shall park or stand any commercial vehicle or semi-trailer having a capacity of one (1) ton or over for more than one (1) hour between nine (9:00) PM. of one (1) day and eight (8:00) A.M. of the following day, or at any time on Sunday, on any part of any street, way, highway, road, or parkway under the control of the City,...
Street Parking Limits
Boston operates a robust Resident Parking Permit program at no cost, with neighborhood-specific permits and active enforcement by the Boston Transportation Department.
Boston Street Parking Rules
Heavy RestrictionsBoston Resident Parking Permits — Resident Parking Only Restrictions
"Resident Parking Only" parking restrictions are in effect on multiple streets throughout Boston neighborhoods. The program prevents long-term parking by non-residents on residential streets. [...] Resident parking restrictions apply to all vehicles not registered in the neighborhood. These include: vehicles that belong to friends and family of local residents, and vehicles owned by residents, ...
Overnight Parking
Boston requires a resident parking permit to park on most residential streets 6 PM to 8 AM. Snow emergencies trigger tow-and-plow on posted routes with 48-hour tow windows.
Parking: Overnight Parking
Heavy RestrictionsMGL c.90 § 22C — Abandoned motor vehicles after 72 hours
Section 22C. If the superintendent of streets or other officer having charge of the public ways in a city or town reasonably deems that any motor vehicle apparently abandoned by its owner and standing for more than seventy-two hours upon a public or private way therein or on any property therein without the permission of the owner or lessee of said property or if a captain or lieutenant of the ...
EV Charging
Boston's Zoning Code treats electric vehicle charging as an accessory parking use, but caps it at four Direct Current Fast Charging stations, with no cap on Level 1 or Level 2 chargers. Non-residential lots and buildings with three or more units must reserve one ADA-accessible charging space with an access aisle, prioritized on a use-last basis.
Boston Accessory EV Charging Station Rules
Some RestrictionsBoston Zoning Code Art. 8, § 8-3
Accessory Electrical Vehicle Charging. Vehicle charging infrastructure accessory to a lawful parking use and including no more than four Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) stations or any number of level 1 and level 2 electrical vehicle charging stations as defined by the US Department of Energy. For charging stations associated with non-residential uses or residential uses with three or more ...
Abandoned Vehicles
Massachusetts law allows removal of vehicles abandoned on public ways after 72 hours. Boston enforces through its Transportation Department with towing to city-contracted lots.
Boston Abandoned Vehicle Ordinance
Some RestrictionsMGL c.90 § 22C — Abandoned motor vehicles; removal and disposal
Section 22C. If the superintendent of streets or other officer having charge of the public ways in a city or town reasonably deems that any motor vehicle apparently abandoned by its owner and standing for more than seventy-two hours upon a public or private way therein or on any property therein without the permission of the owner or lessee of said property [...] is worth less than the cost of ...
Loading Zones
Parking in a marked Boston loading zone draws a $90 fine per violation, rising with an $18 late penalty if unpaid within 21 days. The Commissioner of Traffic and Parking designates the zones annually, charging property along the curb $10-$40 per foot depending on the zone and use.
Boston Loading Zone Parking Fine Rule
Some RestrictionsBoston Code of Ordinances §§ 6-6.3(M), 18-1.12(E)
(M) The fine for parking a vehicle in violation of the prohibition against parking in a loading zone shall be $90 for each such violation. A penalty of $18 shall be assessed if the fine remains unpaid 21 days after issuance of a notice of such violation. ... (E) Loading zone designation. The fee for the annual designation of a loading zone by the Commissioner of Traffic and Parking under Se...
Preferential Parking Districts
Boston restricts on-street parking inside designated Residential Parking Districts (RPDs) to vehicles displaying a valid, current Transportation Department sticker in the rear window. Parking without one draws a $60 fine under Code of Ordinances § 6-6.3(F), rising to $73 if unpaid 21 days after the notice, and $100 inside the Fenway/Kenmore RPD during Fenway Park Events.
Boston Residential Parking District Sticker Rule
Significant RestrictionsBoston Code of Ordinances § 6-6.3(F)
The fine for parking a vehicle in violation of the prohibition against parking within Residential Parking Districts, unless said vehicle displays in the rear window a valid and current sticker as issued by the Transportation Department for the district in which the vehicle is parked, shall be $60 for each such violation. A penalty of $13 shall be assessed if the fine remains unpaid 21 days afte...
Snow Removal Parking Rules
Boston can tow any vehicle that interferes with plowing or snow removal from a street under Code of Ordinances § 11-6.43, and separately fines $45 for parking in violation of a declared snow or weather emergency under § 6-6.3(Q). Owners of towed vehicles are liable for removal and storage costs, and unpaid emergency fines add a $15 penalty after 21 days.
Boston Snow Removal Towing & Emergency Parking
Significant RestrictionsBoston Code of Ordinances § 11-6.43
For the purpose of plowing or removing snow from a street the Commissioner of Public Works or such subordinate or subordinates ... may remove, or cause to be removed, to some convenient place, including in such term a public garage and an open-air parking space, any vehicle in such street interfering with the plowing or removal of snow therein, except a vehicle owned by the commonwealth or a po...