Boston, MA Parking Rules: Loading Zones (2026)
Key Facts
- Violation fine
- $90 per loading-zone violation
- Late penalty
- $18 if unpaid within 21 days
- Zone A designation fee
- $20 per foot of curbing
- Zone B designation fee
- $10 per foot of curbing
- Valet loading zone fee
- $40 per foot of curbing
- Sign erection fee
- $150 (includes 5 years maintenance)
Summary
Parking in a marked Boston loading zone draws a $90 fine per violation, rising with an $18 late penalty if unpaid within 21 days. The Commissioner of Traffic and Parking designates the zones annually, charging property along the curb $10-$40 per foot depending on the zone and use.
(M) The fine for parking a vehicle in violation of the prohibition against parking in a loading zone shall be $90 for each such violation. A penalty of $18 shall be assessed if the fine remains unpaid 21 days after issuance of a notice of such violation. ... (E) Loading zone designation. The fee for the annual designation of a loading zone by the Commissioner of Traffic and Parking under Section 2A of Chapter 263 of the Acts of 1929 shall, in Zone A be $20 for each foot of curbing abutting on said zone and in Zone B be $10 for each foot of curbing abutting on said zone; provided that where a loading zone is permitted for valet parking the fee shall be $40 for each foot of curbing abutting on said zone.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-2: Current through Ordinance 2025 C. 14, passed 11-5-2025).
Full Breakdown
Boston's Transportation Department (successor to the Traffic and Parking Commissioner) designates loading zones annually under Section 2A of Chapter 263 of the Acts of 1929. The designation fee runs $20 per foot of curbing in 'Zone A' or $10 per foot in 'Zone B,' rising to $40 per foot if the zone is set aside for valet parking; a separate $150 charge covers erecting the sign marking the zone, which includes five years of maintenance. Exact zone locations and effective hours aren't spelled out numerically in this chapter: they're set by the Commissioner and published in the city's Traffic and Parking Regulations.
On the enforcement side, parking a vehicle in violation of a posted loading-zone restriction carries a $90 fine per violation, the same base amount Boston charges for parking violations in 'Zone A' generally, though it's less than the $100 fine for parking near a fire hydrant or blocking a fire lane. If that $90 fine goes unpaid for 21 days after the violation notice is issued, an additional $18 penalty is added, mirroring the late-penalty structure used across Boston's whole parking-fine schedule.
Violations & Fines
Illegally parking in a marked loading zone draws a $90 fine per violation under § 6-6.3(M), escalating with an $18 penalty if it remains unpaid 21 days after the notice is issued: enforced by the Transportation Department's parking enforcement under the same fine schedule that governs Boston's other posted parking prohibitions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the ticket for parking in a Boston loading zone?
Who decides where loading zones go in Boston?
What does it cost to get a loading zone designated on my block?
Is the loading-zone fine the same as other parking violations?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Boston
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Loading Zones in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle loading zones.