Southborough, MA Parking Rules: Curb Color Rules (2026)

Chapter 207 of the Southborough Code, the Select Board's Traffic Code, controls who can paint a curb. Section 207-1 defines an official curb marking as that portion of a curbing, the painting of which has been authorized by the Select Board and which has the written approval of the Department of Public Works, Commonwealth of Massachusetts. An editor's note in the code says that state agency is now the Department of Transportation. Two approvals are therefore required: the Select Board's authorization and the written state approval.

Section 207-10 then closes the door on private painting. No person or corporation may place, maintain or display upon or in view of any street any unofficial device, sign, signal, curb marking or street marking that purports to be, imitates or resembles an official one, that attempts to direct the movement of traffic, or that hides an official sign, signal, marking or device from view. The Chief of Police is empowered to remove every such prohibited marking, or cause it to be removed, without notice, so a property owner or business gets no warning period.

Official markings are placed and maintained by the Superintendent of Streets under § 207-9(A), and they must conform to the standards prescribed by the state. Drivers must obey them: § 207-8 bars any driver from disobeying an official marking, marker or legend unless a police officer directs otherwise. A curb painted without approval carries no parking authority in Southborough, and a painted curb never replaces the Select Board's schedule of restricted streets.