Snow Rules: City-by-City in Massachusetts
Today’s snowstorm is creating a lot of … confusion. The governor has banned private cars from the road, and almost every city has declared a snow emergency. What does that mean, though?
Well, every city and town in Massachusetts is different. In Boston, parked cars are banned from main arteries. In other cities, parking is banned on all streets. Others have no restrictions at all.
The process of digging out is also very different city-by-city. Can you save your parking space, or are parking savers banned? Do you need to shovel out your sidewalk by law?
Here’s a handy guide to city and town snow restrictions in Massachusetts. Of course, I couldn’t list every Massachusetts city on here. If I’ve missed yours, I apologize (let me know, though, and I’ll be sure to add it to the next update).
| Snow Emergency Parking Bans | Parking Space Savers | Shoveling Requirements | |
| Boston | No parking on major arteries as signed | Allowed for 48 hours after snow emergency ends | Required 3 hours after snowfall ends or sunrise |
| Brookline | No parking on any street. | Not allowed | Required 30 hours after snowfall |
| Cambridge | No parking on 82 designated streets as signed | Not allowed | Required 12 hours after snowfall or 1pm |
|
Dedham |
No parking on designated streets. Parking only allowed on even-numbered side of street in even-numbered months, odd-numbered side for odd-numbered months. | Unknown | Unknown |
| Everett | No parking on designated streets. Parking only allowed on even-numbered side of street in even-numbered years odd-numbered side for odd-numbered years. | Unknown | Unknown |
| Lowell | No parking on any street. | Not allowed | Required 24 hours after snowfall |
| Lynn | No parking on any street. | Not allowed | Unknown |
| Malden | No parking on designated streets. Parking only allowed on even-numbered side of street. | Unknown | Required 24 hours after snowfall |
| Medford | No parking on main arteries as signed. No parking on even or odd side of street depending on year. | Not allowed | Required 6 hours after snowfall ends or sunrise |
| Newton | No parking on any street. Overnight parking banned November 15 – April 15 | Not allowed | Required 30 hours after snowfall |
| Quincy | No parking on main arteries as signed. No parking on even- or odd- side of street depending on year. | Unknown | Requirements vary by zone. No shoveling requirement for certain residential zones. |
| Revere | No parking on designated streets. | Unknown | Unknown |
| Salem | No parking on any street. | Not allowed | No requirement |
| Somerville | No parking on even-numbered side of street | Unknown | Required 6 hours after snowfall ends or sunrise |
| Waltham | No parking on any street. | Not allowed | No requirement |
| Watertown | No parking on any street. No overnight parking during winter. | Not allowed | Unknown |
| Woburn | No parking on any street. | Not allowed | Unknown |
| Worcester | No parking on any street. | Not allowed | Required 10 hours after snowfall |