Parking Rules in Chelsea, MA (2026)
7 verified parking rules for Chelsea, Massachusetts, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Driveway Rules
Chelsea bans parking in a required front yard outright unless the zoning board of appeals grants a special permit, and keeps every other outdoor space at least five feet from side and rear lot lines. Sec. 34-106 also requires most off-street parking areas to be paved and properly drained, with grass allowed only for spaces the chapter does not actually require.
Chelsea Front-Yard Parking & Paving Rules
Some RestrictionsChelsea Code of Ordinances § 34-106(c)(1), (d)(2), (g)(1)
(c)Location of parking uses.(1)Generally. ... Outdoor parking spaces shall not be allowed within any required front yard, nor within five feet of any wall containing ground floor or basement windows, nor within five feet of any side or rear lot line. ... (2)Front yards. Parking areas within required front yards shall not be permitted except when a special permit is granted. ... (1)Surface. A pa...
Commercial & Oversized Vehicles
Chelsea bars heavy commercial vehicles with a carrying capacity of more than 2½ tons from more than twenty named streets and segments citywide, from stretches of Broadway and Everett Avenue to Beacon and Carter Streets. The city also designates a fixed truck route over the Tobin Bridge and Northeast Expressway, with per-ramp weight caps.
Heavy Truck Parking Restrictions in Chelsea, MA
Significant RestrictionsChelsea Traffic and Parking Regulations § 7-27
Section 7-27. - Operation of heavy commercial vehicles. (a)The use and operation of heavy commercial vehicles having a carrying capacity of more than 2½ tons, are hereby restricted on those streets or parts of streets described in this regulation, in the manner outlined, and during the period of time set forth.a.Nichols Street, between Eustis Street and the Everett city line; ... q.Beacon Stree...
Street Parking Limits
Chelsea bars parking within 20 feet of an intersection, in front of a driveway plus two feet on either side, or more than 12 inches from the curb, among 20 lettered prohibitions the Traffic and Parking Commission enforces citywide under the regulations it adopted October 24, 2017.
Chelsea On-Street Parking Prohibitions
Some RestrictionsChelsea Traffic and Parking Regulations § 5-1
No driver shall allow, permit or suffer any vehicle registered in his name to stand or park in any street, way, highway, road or parkway under the control of the City of Chelsea in violation of any of the Parking and Traffic Regulations adopted by the Traffic Commission ... (e)Upon a roadway where parking is permitted unless both wheels on the right side of the vehicle are within twelve (12) in...
Overnight Parking
Chelsea requires a digital residential permit to park on any city street between midnight and 5:00 a.m., seven nights a week, under Section 13-4.1 of its Citywide Parking Program. Nine listed streets tighten that to sticker-only parking from 2:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.
Overnight On-Street Parking Rules in Chelsea, MA
Significant RestrictionsChelsea Traffic and Parking Regulations § 13-4.1
Section 13-4.1. - Restricted parking zones. The following parking restrictions shall be enforced year-round, except on holidays or as indicated below: A.CITYWIDE. Digital permit parking shall be required on all streets Citywide during the hours of 12:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. seven days a week, except for the following streets which are sticker parking only from the hours of 2:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.
Abandoned Vehicles
Abandoned vehicles on public ways subject to state law MGL c. 90 §22C (72-hour threshold). Chelsea enforces through its ISD and Police Department. Inoperable or unregistered vehicles must be stored off-street.
Chelsea Abandoned Vehicle Ordinance
Some RestrictionsMGL c. 90, § 22C
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 ...
Loading Zones
Only commercial vehicles may stop in a marked Chelsea commercial loading zone, and even they must clear it within 30 minutes unless they are actively loading or unloading. Property owners and businesses can petition the Parking Clerk to create a new loading zone or a companion 15-minute parking zone.
Chelsea Commercial Loading Zone Rules
Some RestrictionsChelsea Traffic and Parking Regulations § 5-2
Section 5-2. - Commercial loading zones. (a)Commercial Loading Zones. No person shall park a vehicle other than a commercial vehicle upon any street in a commercial loading zone. No person shall park a commercial vehicle upon any street in any commercial loading zone for a period of time longer than thirty (30) minutes and except while actually engaged in loading or unloading. ... Application: ...
Snow Removal Parking Rules
When the Director of Public Works declares a snow emergency because of threatening weather or plow-blocking parked cars, Chelsea bans all parking along 22 named emergency artery streets, from Beacon Street to Williams Street, until the director lifts the order, and violators are towed.
Chelsea Snow Emergency Tow Zone Rules
Significant RestrictionsChelsea Traffic and Parking Regulations § 10-10
Further subject to being towed or removed and other penalties, as set forth in Section 10-5 of this Article X, shall be any vehicle upon any way in violation of the following: If it is the judgment of the Director of Public Works of this city, or in the absence by reason of illness the inability to act of said Director, then of the Assistant Director of Public Works of the city, that threatenin...