Boston Area Overnight Parking Ban Map

Many towns in the Boston area have overnight parking bans, but only a few of these towns are known to strictly enforce the ban. This suggests that these bans are unnecessary and outdated.

The fact that multiple towns do not ban overnight parking indicates that such a scenario is feasible. If Winchester wanted to have overnight parking, it would simply be a matter of choosing this option and then deciding how best to implement it.

List of Towns

Below is a list of other towns in the Boston area and their regulations regarding overnight parking. Many of these parking bans are not strictly enforced and the police hand out tickets only if a neighbor complains.

All year bans

• Arlington: 1-7AM | https://www.arlingtonma.gov/departments/police/traffic-parking/overnight-parking | rarely enforced
• Bedford: 1-6AM for any length of time | https://www.bedfordma.gov/266/Parking-Ban
• Belmont: 1-7AM https://www.belmont-ma.gov/parking/pages/parking-rules-regulations | rarely enforced
• Brookline: 2-6AM | https://www.brooklinema.gov/2431/Parking | strictly enforced!
• Framingham: 1-8AM | https://www.framinghamma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/101/Parking-Policy | 2 hour limit
• Melrose: no specified time limit | 2-6AM | https://www.cityofmelrose.org/parking-office
• Milton: 1-5AM | https://www.townofmilton.org/431/Parking-Program) | rarely enforced
• Needham: 1-6AM | https://needhamma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2440/No-All-Night-Parking-revision-Final
• Saugus: 2-6AM | https://www.saugus-ma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif1181/f/uploads/traffic.pdf
• Sudbury: 1-7AM | https://cdn.sudbury.ma.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/270/2014/08/1956SudburyZoningBylawsRevisedIncludesZoning.pdf (Article V Section 3, p.48)
• Wellesley: 2-5AM | https://wellesleyma.gov/faq.aspx?TID=26
• Winchester: 1-7AM | https://www.winchester.us/FAQ.aspx?TID=22) | only enforced in winter, and rarely enforced

Winter Parking bans

Note: some of the towns allow residents who rely on on-street parking to apply for permits to park overnight on the street during the winter.

• Acton: Nov 1 – Apr 1 | 1-6AM | https://www.acton-ma.gov/127/Parking
• Billerica : Nov 15 – Mar 15 | 12-6AM | 2 hour limit | https://www.town.billerica.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/10152/91210_RW-Traynham_Winter-Guide–BrochureHRPRF
• Burlington: Dec 1 – Apr 1 | 2-8AM for any length of time | https://www.burlington.org/AlertCenter.aspx?AID=A-reminder-about-Winter-Parking-Ban-94
• Concord: Nov 1 – Apr 1 | 1-6AM | https://concordma.gov/271/Snow-Operations
• Dracut: Dec 1 – Mar 15 | 12-6AM | no specified time limit | https://www.dracutma.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=320
• Lexington: Dec 1 – Apr 1 | 2-6AM | https://www.lexingtonma.gov/500/Winter-Overnight-Parking-Ban
• Lynnfield: Nov 1 – Mar 31 | 1-7AM | https://ecode360.com/28618322
• Maynard: Dec 1 – Mar 15 | 2-6AM | https://townofmaynard-ma.gov/184/Winter-Municipal-Parking-Program
• Methuen: Dec 1 – Apr 1 | 1-6AM | https://www.methuen.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=59 | only enforced when snowplows are active
• Natick: Nov 1 – Apr 30 | “no parking overnight” | https://www.natickma.gov/1063/Snow-Ice-Policy
• Newbury: Dec 1 – Apr 1 | 12-6AM | https://www.townofnewbury.org/parking-clerk
• Newton: Dec 1 – Mar 31 | 2-6AM | https://www.newtonma.gov/Home/Components/News/News/34/| rarely enforced (usually main streets only)
• Norwood: Nov 15 – Apr 1 | 12-6AM (https://www.norwoodma.gov/news_detail_T13_R767.php)
• North Reading: Nov 15 – Apr 15 | 1-6AM | https://www.northreadingma.gov/public-works-department/pages/winter-parking-ban
• Reading: dates decided on yearly basis | 1-6AM | no specified time limit | https://www.readingma.gov/855/Reading-Resident-Parking-Sticker-Depot-P
• Stoneham: Dec 1 – Apr 1 | 1-6AM | https://www.stoneham-ma.gov/250/Winter-Parking-Regulations-Other-Tips
• Tewksbury: Nov 1 – Mar 31 | 12-6AM | https://www.tewksbury-ma.gov/334/Overnight-Parking-Ban
• Watertown: “usually” Sunday following Thanksgiving – 1st weekend of April | 1-6AM https://watertown-ma.gov/637/Parking-FAQs | strictly enforced!
• Wenham: Nov 2 – Mar 31 | 12-6AM | https://www.wenhamma.gov/newsdetail_T2_R760.php
• West Newbury: Dec 1 – Apr 30 | “overnight” | https://westnewburysafety.org/forms-and-resources/winter-parking-ban-information/ | does not appear to be enforceable
• Wilmington: Dec 1 – Apr 1 | 1-6AM | https://www.wilmingtonma.gov/public-works/pages/parking-bans | up to $50 fine
• Woburn: Nov 15 – Mar 31 | 2-6AM | unable to verify the ban on the official town website, last announcement is dated 2020: https://woburnma.gov/news/2020/10/winter-parking-bad-in-effect-starting-november-15th/

It’s complicated

• Haverhill: Nov 15 – Apr 1 | 6pm – 6am | parking on 1 side of street only (which alternates) | https://www.cityofhaverhill.com/residents/overnight_winter_parking/index.php
• Lawrence: year round | alternate parking on specific streets only | 12-6AM Mon – Fri| https://www.cityoflawrence.com/889/Alternate-Parking

Resident parking permits

• Boston: https://www.boston.gov/departments/parking-clerk/how-get-resident-parking-permit
• Beverly: https://www.parkbeverly.com/residents
• Cambridge: https://www.cambridgema.gov/iwantto/applyforaparkingpermit
• Chelsea: https://www.chelseama.gov/departments/city_clerk/parking.php#outer-77
• Everett: https://cityofeverett.com/city-hall/departments/parking/residential-parking-stickers/
• Lowell: https://www.lowellma.gov/450/Parking-Garages
• Lynn: https://www.lynnma.gov/city_government/departments/parking
• Malden: https://parkmalden.com/residential-parking
• Newburyport: https://www.cityofnewburyport.com/city-clerk/pages/parking-information
• Quincy: https://www.quincyma.gov/departments/traffic_parking_alarm_and_lighting/parking/resident_parking.php
• Revere: https://www.revere.org/departments/parking-clerk
• Salem: https://www.salemma.gov/parking/pages/resident-permit-parking
• Somerville: https://www.somervillema.gov/departments/parking-department
• Swampscott: https://www.swampscottma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif1296/f/uploads/resident_parking_permit_2011.pdf
• Winthrop: https://winthroppublicsafety.com/parking/faqs/

Overnight Parking Allowed 

(No general restrictions)

• Andover: https://andoverma.gov/817/Parking
• Carlisle: no overnight parking restrictions were found on town website (https://www.carlislema.gov/)
• Chelmsford: overnight parking ban removed in 1987 | https://ecode360.com/8276139
• Danvers: the town’s overnight winter parking ban is only implemented during snow removal. | https://www.danversma.gov/Faq.aspx?QID=134
• Dedham: overnight parking allowed on most streets | https://www.dedham-ma.gov/departments/police/parking
• Dover: no overnight parking restrictions were found on town website (https://www.doverma.gov/)
• Lincoln: no overnight parking restrictions were found on town website (https://www.lincolntown.org/)
• Marblehead: overnight parking ban eliminated in 2023 | https://marbleheadcurrent.org/2023/10/24/select-board-approves-as-needed-parking-bans-for-snow/
• Medford: ban eliminated in 2013, certain streets need a permit to park overnight, https://www.medfordma.org/departments/parking.
• North Andover: winter parking rules appear to have been eliminated in 2021 | https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CF49pI6w4HWF6C0KIlJ5WnhReYtkNhbL/view
• Peabody: no overnight parking restrictions were found on town website (www.peabody-ma.gov)
• Tyngsborough: no overnight parking restrictions were found on town website (https://www.tyngsboroughma.gov/)
• Wakefield: winter parking ban eliminated in 2015 | https://www.wakefield.ma.us/parking-clerk
• Waltham: street parking is limited to no more than 24 hours in the same location: https://www.city.waltham.ma.us/sites/g/files/vyhlif6861/f/uploads/traffic_rules_regulations_2022_0.pdf (Art. 5 Sec. 1 (9))
• Wayland: no overnight parking restrictions were found on town website (https://www.wayland.ma.us/)
• Weston: the list of parking violations do not include overnight parking | https://www.weston.org/881/Violations-Penalties

Do You Have Info Regarding a Local Overnight Parking Ban?

Please let us know in the comments below!