Somerville, MA Parking Rules: Preferential Parking Districts (2026)

Under the Traffic Commission's residential permit parking rules, a resident whose motor vehicle, other than a commercial vehicle, is registered and principally garaged in Somerville may apply for a residential parking permit by submitting the vehicle owner's name and address, the principal operator's name, address and license number, and the vehicle's make, model, color and plate number, along with a current Registry of Motor Vehicles registration showing the Somerville address and a current utility bill. Once the Parking Clerk confirms eligibility, the resident gets one residential permit plus up to two visitor passes, usable only while an actual visitor is present, visible from outside the car, and limited to two days per week except Sunday; a lost pass can be replaced up to twice a year.

New buildings are cut off from the program: no permit issues for a residential address that did not have its first certificate of occupancy before January 15, 2020, on properties shown on the city's Map A, tracked by the Inspectional Services Department. The Director of Parking can waive that restriction for residents with disabilities holding a state handicapped plate or placard, residents of a deed-restricted affordable unit verified by the Housing Division or Somerville Housing Authority, or residents with extenuating circumstances backed by a written recommendation from the Director of Housing Stability.

A street only becomes part of the residential permit program in the first place if 51% or more of its residents sign a Department of Traffic & Parking petition, one signature per household, which the Traffic Commission then approves by majority vote after three weeks of newspaper advertising before signs go up.