Worcester, MA Parking Rules: EV Charging (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Chapter 13, § 37A
- Added by
- Amendment 1517 (Feb. 24, 2026)
- Fine per violation
- $40
- Who administers spaces
- Dept. of Transportation and Mobility, DPW
- Overstay after full charge
- Prohibited
Summary
Worcester reserves signed municipal EV charging spaces for electric vehicles that are actively charging. Parking a gas vehicle there, or leaving an EV plugged in after it finishes charging, violates Section 37A of Chapter 13 and draws a forty-dollar fine.
When official signs are erected giving notice thereof, no person shall stop, stand or park any vehicle, other than an electric vehicle, within either on-street or off-street municipal parking facilities specifically designated for the use of electric vehicle charging stations. These designated locations are reserved exclusively for electric vehicles that are actively charging at the station. Parking at an electric vehicle charging station without connecting to the charging station or remaining connected after the vehicle is fully charged is prohibited.
Full Breakdown
Section 37A, "Parking in Electric Vehicle Spaces Prohibited," was added to Chapter 13 by Amendment 1517 (passed by the City Council February 24, 2026). Where official signs are posted, no vehicle other than an electric vehicle may stop, stand or park within an on-street or off-street municipal parking facility designated for electric vehicle charging stations. " Enforcement authority to designate which municipal lots carry EV charging spaces, and to write implementing rules, sits jointly with the Department of Transportation and Mobility and the Department of Public Works under subsection (2).
The same amendment inserted chapter-wide definitions of "electric vehicle" (a battery electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle drawing propulsion energy from an external charging source) and "electric vehicle charging station," and it updated the chapter's general definition of "vehicle" to expressly include electric vehicles and bicycles.
Violations & Fines
Section 36(i), as amended by the same Amendment 1517, sets a forty-dollar fine for each violation of Section 37A. As with other Chapter 13 parking fines, an unpaid ticket increases by five dollars if not paid within 21 days, and by a further fifteen dollars once the parking administrator notifies the Registrar of Motor Vehicles under G.L. c. 90, section 20A1/2.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I park a gas car in a Worcester EV charging spot?
Can I leave my EV parked there after it's done charging?
Which city department controls Worcester's EV charging spaces?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Worcester
Compare Worcester to another location·View the Massachusetts parking rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.