Cambridge, MA Parking Rules: Driveway Rules (2026)

1. 1(c) is direct: no on-grade open parking space may be located within a required front yard setback at all, closing off the common workaround of paving over the front lawn for extra spaces. 48. 45, "Drainage, Surfacing, and Maintenance," then governs the surface itself: every unlandscaped section of an off-street lot must be graded, surfaced, and kept up to the satisfaction of the Superintendent of Buildings to prevent dust, erosion, or excess water running onto a public way or an adjoining lot, with durable pervious materials such as modular paving blocks or brick specifically favored.

2 separately requires wheel bumpers, curbs, or similar barriers to stop vehicles overhanging sidewalks and rights-of-way, except for one-, two-, or three-family dwellings. 7 additionally requires any front-yard on-grade parking area to visually separate itself from the street with a change of ground material plus a fence, planting, wall, or stone marker at the front lot line. 1(g) where site-specific factors justify it, but the front-yard ban and surfacing duty otherwise apply citywide.