Bristol County, MA Parking Rules: Overnight Parking (2026)
Key Facts
- Fall River
- Winter ban 1-6 AM Dec-Mar
- New Bedford
- Snow emergency bans posted
- Taunton
- Follows posted signs
- Resident Permits
- Several neighborhoods
- Tow
- $150 to $250+
Summary
New Bedford and Fall River ban on-street overnight parking during declared winter snow emergencies. Taunton has no blanket overnight ban but enforces posted signs. All three permit resident permit parking in some neighborhoods.
Section 22C. If the superintendent of streets or other officer having charge of the public ways in a city or town reasonably deems that any motor vehicle apparently abandoned by its owner and standing for more than seventy-two hours upon a public or private way therein or on any property therein without the permission of the owner or lessee of said property or if a captain or lieutenant of the state police reasonably deems that any motor vehicle apparently abandoned by its owner and standing for more than seventy-two hours upon any property under their respective jurisdictions, is worth less than the cost of removal and storage and expenses incident to disposition pursuant to sections seven to eleven, inclusive, of chapter one hundred and thirty-five, sections eighty-nine to ninety-four, inclusive, of chapter ninety-two, or sections forty-five to forty-eight, inclusive, of chapter twenty-two C, he may, without incurring liability on his part or on the part of the city, town or the commonwealth, take possession of such motor vehicle and dispose thereof as refuse. Any such superintendent or other officer of a city or town may, likewise, without liability, take possession of any such motor vehicle deemed worth more than the cost and expense as aforesaid, and deliver the same to the officer or member of the police department of the city or town, designated by the rules of said department as custodian of lost property [...].
Full Breakdown
Fall River City Code prohibits on-street parking during declared snow emergencies and winter parking bans (typically Dec 1 to Mar 31 on designated streets from 1 AM to 6 AM). New Bedford imposes similar winter parking restrictions with alternate-side or full bans posted street by street. Taunton has no blanket overnight ban but enforces posted hourly and resident-permit signs. Violations during declared snow emergencies commonly result in $50 to $100 tickets plus towing at owner expense. Several neighborhoods in Fall River (north end) and New Bedford (West End, South End) operate resident permit parking zones with overnight exceptions for registered residents. Vehicles without current plates cannot be parked on any public street per MGL ch. 90.
Violations & Fines
Winter parking ban ticket: $50 to $100 plus tow. Expired registration on street: $35 and tow. Resident-permit zone without permit: $25 to $50.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are typical penalties for violating overnight parking rules?
Sources & Official References
- [1]MGL c. 90, §22C
- [2]Source
Other rules in Bristol County
How Bristol County compares: Cities with the Strictest Overnight Parking Rules·Compare Bristol County to another location·View the Massachusetts parking rules overview
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