Southborough, MA Special Events & Permits: Block Party Permits (2026)

Temporary street closings are handled in Article II of the Select Board's traffic regulations in Chapter 207. Section 207-3 gives the Chief of Police the authority to close temporarily any street or highway in an impending or existing emergency or for any lawful assemblage, demonstration or procession. The section prints no application form, fee, notice period or neighbor signature requirement, and the word block party does not appear in the Town's code. The decision rests with the Chief of Police.

Section 207-4 covers parking for the same occasions. The Chief of Police is authorized to prohibit, temporarily, parking on any street or highway or part thereof in an impending or existing emergency or for a lawful assemblage, demonstration or procession, and vehicles parked where parking is temporarily prohibited can be moved by or under the direction of an officer. Section 207-2 makes officers designated by the Chief of Police responsible for enforcing the regulations and authorizes them to direct traffic.

A procession of the kind that moves along a street is treated differently. Under § 127-1 of the Town Meeting enactments, no person shall form or conduct any parade in any public street, public sidewalk or public way, or any procession other than a military or funeral parade or procession, without first obtaining a written permit from the Select Board. Chapter 127 was amended 11-1-2021 by Special Town Meeting Article 2.

Section 207-5 exempts drivers actually engaged in work upon a street closed to travel or under construction or repair, officers performing public duties and emergency vehicle drivers in an emergency, but it states that these exemptions do not protect a driver from the consequences of reckless disregard of the safety of others.