Chelsea, MA Parking Rules: Commercial & Oversized Vehicles (2026)
Key Facts
- Weight threshold
- over 2½ tons carrying capacity
- Restricted streets
- 23 named streets/segments citywide
- Beacon St. ramp cap
- 8 tons
- Fourth St. ramp cap
- 10 tons
- Time-limited streets
- Beacon St. 7pm-7am; Carter St. 7am-11pm
- Fine
- $25 (Sec. 11-2 schedule)
- Adopted
- Ord. of 5-6-2019
Summary
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.
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 Street, between Chestnut Street and Broadway, between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. ... (c)Exemptions. Parts a—d of this Section shall not apply to heavy commercial vehicles going to or coming from places upon said streets for the purpose of making deliveries of goods, materials or merchandise to or similar collections from abutting land or buildings or adjoining streets or ways to which access cannot otherwise be gained; or to vehicles used in connection with the construction, maintenance, and repair of said streets or public utilities therein; or to Federal, State, Municipal or public service corporation owned vehicles.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 26).
Full Breakdown
Section 7-27 of Chelsea's Traffic and Parking Regulations restricts heavy commercial vehicles over 2½ tons carrying capacity from operating on a list of streets that runs from Nichols Street and Spencer Avenue through Second, Chestnut, Park, Pearl, Cross, Broadway, Webster, Stockton, Library, Beacon, Medford, Tremont, Carter, Essex, Marlborough, Cottage, Watts and Maverick Streets. m. The section also lays out the city's designated truck route linking the Tobin Bridge, Route 1, the Northeast Expressway and Route 16, and caps trucks exiting the Beacon Street off-ramp at eight tons and those exiting the Fourth Street off-ramp at ten tons.
Subsection (c) exempts heavy trucks making local deliveries or collections on the restricted streets themselves, vehicles used for construction or utility work on those streets, and federal, state, municipal or public-service-corporation vehicles. Under subsection (d), the restriction only applies where official traffic signs are posted at each entrance to an excluded street or designated truck route location. The regulation was adopted by ordinance on May 6, 2019.
Violations & Fines
A vehicle found parked in violation is enforced under the citywide parking fine schedule (Section 11-2), which lists a $25 fine for 'Commercial Vehicles - Night Parking; Height and Weight.' The owner or registrant is held prima facie responsible if the driver cannot be identified (Section 11-1), and unpaid fines increase $10 after 21 days and a further $15 once referred to the Registry of Motor Vehicles (Section 11-3).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a delivery truck use a restricted street in Chelsea?
What route must trucks use to cross the Tobin Bridge in Chelsea?
What is the fine for an unauthorized heavy truck parked in Chelsea?
Does the truck restriction apply everywhere, all the time?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chelsea
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Commercial & Oversized Vehicles in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle commercial & oversized vehicles.