Driveway rules in Worcester County are set by each municipality. Worcester requires a driveway/curb cut permit from the DPW, and blocking a sidewalk triggers a citation under Worcester Revised Ordinances Chapter 13. MassDOT approval required for state routes.
Worcester County does not regulate driveways — rules are entirely municipal because county government was abolished in 1998. In the City of Worcester, new or modified curb cuts require a permit from the Department of Public Works & Parks plus zoning review by the Department of Inspectional Services under Worcester Zoning Ordinance Article IV. Historic district curb cuts (Crown Hill Local Historic District, Massachusetts Avenue Local Historic District, Elm Park Local Historic District) require Worcester Historical Commission approval. Worcester Revised Ordinances Chapter 13 §33 prohibits blocking sidewalks or crosswalks — $50 ticket plus tow. Parking on unpaved front yards is prohibited in Worcester under the Zoning Ordinance and triggers Inspectional Services enforcement. Unregistered vehicles stored visibly violate Worcester Revised Ordinances Chapter 9 (junk and unregistered vehicles). Fitchburg, Leominster, Gardner, Milford, and Auburn have similar curb cut processes through their DPW departments. MassDOT approval is required for curb cuts on state-numbered routes traversing Worcester County including Route 9, Route 12, Route 20 (Boston Post Road), Route 122, Route 140, and Route 146. Inoperable vehicle rules also apply statewide under MGL c. 90 §22C (72-hour abandonment threshold).
Unpermitted curb cut in Worcester: $100-$500 plus restoration order. Blocking sidewalk: $50 citation plus tow ($150+). Unpaved front yard parking: code enforcement notice and zoning violation $100-$300. Inoperable vehicle storage: $100-$500 under Chapter 9.
See how Worcester County's driveway rules rules stack up against other locations.
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