Special Events & Permits in Medford, MA (2026)
3 verified special events & permits rules for Medford, Massachusetts, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Parade Permits
A funeral, procession or parade with 200 or more persons or 50 or more vehicles needs a permit from the chief of police under Revised Ordinances § 78-8 before it may occupy or march along any Medford way, except for military, police or fire forces.
Medford Parade and Procession Permit
Some RestrictionsMedford Revised Ordinances § 78-8
No funeral, procession or parade containing 200 or more persons or 50 or more vehicles, excepting the military forces of the United States, the military forces of the commonwealth, and the forces of the police and fire departments shall occupy, march or proceed along any way except in accordance with a permit issued by the chief of police and such other regulations as set forth in this chapter ...
Parklets
Medford lets restaurants convert an on-street parking space into 'parklet seating,' outdoor dining built into the paved roadway, under the outdoor dining licensing article rewritten in 2023. The annual license fee is tiered: a platformed parklet level with the curb costs half of a non-platformed parklet, and the city charges an additional fee for every parking space beyond the first one the parklet occupies.
Medford Parklet Seating License and Fees
Some RestrictionsMedford Revised Ordinances §§ 14-483, 14-485
Parklet seating: A type of public street seating that is located in the paved roadway, typically in the parking lane or other unused lane of the roadway. ... the fee for parklet seating with a platform that brings the seating area level with the curb is one half the fee of parklet seating without a platform bringing the seating area to street level; ... and an additional fee is applied per park...
Sidewalk Dining & Cafés
Restaurants that want tables on a Medford sidewalk need an annual outdoor dining license from the building commissioner, valid only from March 1 through October 31 each year. The 2023 rewrite of Article VIII of Chapter 14 defines 'sidewalk seating' as public street seating on a paved surface meant for pedestrians and requires a fresh application, fee, and multi-department review every season.
Medford Sidewalk Outdoor Dining License
Some RestrictionsMedford Revised Ordinances §§ 14-482, 14-483
The purpose of this article is to provide for the licensing of outdoor dining areas of appropriate design, configuration, and appearance that will be an amenity to the city during the spring, summer and fall. Subject to the requirements of this article, the building commissioner may issue annual outdoor dining licenses which shall be for the period from March 1 to October 31. Licenses issued sh...