Chelsea, MA Public Conduct: Public Alcohol Use (2026)
Key Facts
- 1st offense fine
- $100.00
- 2nd offense fine
- $200.00
- 3rd+ offense fine
- $300.00
- Covered locations
- Streets, sidewalks, parks, city buildings, buses
- Restaurant exception
- Licensed outdoor cafes exempt
- Nonprofit exception
- One-day M.G.L. c.138 §14 permit events
Summary
Chelsea bans drinking or possessing an open container of alcohol on streets, sidewalks, parks, playgrounds and other public property citywide under section 16-98. Fines start at $100.00 for a first offense and climb to $300.00 for a third, though the ban does not reach licensed restaurant outdoor cafes or permitted one-day nonprofit events.
(b)Prohibited acts.(1)The following acts are prohibited while in, upon or within the boundary of any street, passageway, sidewalk, footway, bridge, park, playground, recreation area, boat landing, building, cemetery, parking lot, or any public land or building owned or under the control of the city ... a.Consumption and use. No person shall consume or use an alcoholic beverage as defined M.G.L. c. 138, § 1, or possess an opened container of such alcohol beverage ... (4)Exception. Nothing in this section ... shall prohibit the distribution, use, possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages on public property provided such distribution, use, possession or consumption is occurring within an outdoor seating area for a restaurant licensed by the licensing commission to serve alcohol pursuant to M.G.L. c. 138 ... or by a non-profit holding an outdoor activity or enterprise issued a one-day permit pursuant to M.G.L. c. 138, § 14. (c)Penalties.(1)Fines.a.Any person violating any of this section shall be liable for a fine not exceeding:1.$100.00 for the first offense;2.$200.00 for the second offense;3.$300.00 for the third and each subsequent offense;
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 26).
Full Breakdown
c. 138, § 1, while on any street, passageway, sidewalk, footway, bridge, park, playground, recreation area, boat landing, building, cemetery, parking lot, or other public land or building owned or controlled by the city, as well as on any bus or other passenger conveyance run by a common carrier. The city council adopted the ban after finding that public alcohol use, consumption and possession is a nuisance that threatens public health, safety and welfare and harms the interests of private property owners and the wider community.
The ordinance also authorizes police to seize alcohol being used in violation of the section and hold it until any resulting charge is resolved, though carrying empty containers to a redemption or recycling center is expressly not a violation. c. c. 138, § 14. c. 40, § 21D.
Violations & Fines
Drinking or holding an open container of alcohol on a Chelsea street, sidewalk, park, playground or other public property draws a $100.00 fine for a first offense, $200.00 for a second, and $300.00 for every offense after that under section 16-98. Police may seize the alcohol pending court action, and unpaid fines can be pursued by indictment or noncriminal complaint under M.G.L. c. 40, § 21D.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drink alcohol on a Chelsea sidewalk or in a park?
Are restaurant outdoor cafes in Chelsea exempt from the open-container ban?
Can Chelsea police seize alcohol under the open-container law?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chelsea
Compare Chelsea to another location·View the Massachusetts public conduct overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Public Alcohol Use in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle public alcohol use.