During DECLARED SNOW EMERGENCIES, the City’s parking regulations are as follows:
- “Winter” is defined as the entire winter season, from November through March or April.
- There shall be no parking on any Emergency Artery throughout the declared snow emergency. (See below regulations)
- Winter parking restrictions on all other roadways will be in effect throughout the declared snow emergency.
- All violators will be subject to being ticket and towed.
- Permit Parking restrictions shall NOT be enforced throughout the declared snow emergency.
- If the winter begins in an odd year (for example, November 2021), cars may only park on the ODD side of the street unless there is an exemption. See below for exempted streets.
- If the winter begins in an even year (for example, November 2022), cars may only park on the EVEN side of the street unless there is an exemption.
- You may park in a city lot during snow emergencies, but your car must be moved by 7 a.m. the morning after the storm.
- Make sure your car is not blocking access for emergency vehicles or snow removal vehicles; emergency vehicles and snow removal vehicles need a minimum of 12 feet. Vehicles blocking access to emergency response will be subject to towing and a fine.
- Park your car at least 20 feet from the street corner so plows can push snow away from the crosswalks. Vehicles parking to close to an intersection will be subject to towing and a fine.
- Under City Ordinance, residents who have driveways, garages, or other off-street parking facility may not park on the street for a period of time longer than one hour between 12 a.m. to 7 a.m. and could face a fine.
- Any motor vehicle parked on a public way for a period of 48 consecutive hours without being moved is subject to towing and a fine.
During DECLARED SNOW EMERGENCIES, there is NO PARKING on designated Emergency Arteries (see below). Please read posted signage and avoid parking in these areas. Cars on these streets during snow emergencies will be towed. The following streets are designated as Emergency Arteries:
Boston Avenue
Central Avenue
College Avenue from George Street to Boston Avenue
Forest Street
Fulton Street
George Street
Governors Avenue
Grove Street
Hadley Place
Hancock Street
Harvard Avenue
Harvard Street
High Street
Lawrence Road
Main Street
Medford Street
Mystic Avenue from Main Street to Crescent Street
Playstead Road
Riverside Avenue
Salem Street
Spring Street
Washington Street
Webster Street
Willis Avenue
Winthrop Street
Woburn Street
The following streets are STATE ROADS. The City of Medford does not enforce parking on these streets. Please visit the DCR website, here, for the state’s snow emergency parking regulations.
Fellsway
Fellsway West
Route 16 / Mystic Valley Parkway
Elm St.
Highland Ave
South Border Road
East Border Road
Woodland Road
Mystic River Road
Parking Regulations – Exemptions
During DECLARED SNOW EMERGENCIES, odd/even parking restrictions apply (see above), unless your street was granted an exemption by the Traffic Commission (see below). Exempted streets are:
- Alexander Ave: #117 thru #145 odd side parking every year
- Auburn St: High St. to Prescott St., park on residence side
- Bennett St: odd side parking every year
- Bennett Pl: odd side parking every year
- Bow St: #14 thru #52 even side parking every year
- Brooks Park: parking on residence side only
- Gaston St: odd side parking every year
- Hillsdale Rd: Osgood to Somerville line – odd side parking every year
- Lookout Rd: even side parking every year
- Maple Ave: odd side parking every year
- Metcalf St: even side parking every year
- Newburn Ave: #74 thru #86 even side parking every year
- Second St: Bradbury to Middlesex – parking on residence side every year
- Third St: Bradbury to Middlesex – parking on park side every year
- Touro Ave: odd side parking every year
- Wellesley St: Main to Dartmouth – even side parking every year.
OTHER PERTINENT LAWS
Any motor vehicle parked on a public way for a period of 48 consecutive hours without being moved is subject to towing and a fine. Please do not leave your vehicle snow bound.
ALSO, no public parking spaces may be reserved or saved. Saving a parking space is a sensitive subject in many neighborhoods. Officially, no objects can be placed on a City street to reserve a parking spot. The Medford Police Department suggests the public exercise due restraint, fairness and common sense over disputed PUBLIC parking spaces. During snow emergencies, we will not have the resources to remove items from the street so we please ask you all to comply with the ordinance.
If your car was towed during a snow emergency, please contact: Stephen’s Automotive Transport – 60 Union Street, Medford at 781-396-8697.
Snow Removal Regulations
It is the residents’ responsibility to:
- Clear sidewalks within 8 hours of daylight after snowfall.
- Keep the sidewalks clear of snow and ice to a minimum passage of 36 inches and treat the sidewalk with calcium chloride pellets or other suitable material to prevent ice build-up.
- Clear within 36 inches of fire hydrants within or abutting the sidewalk that abuts the owner’s property
- NOT shovel or throw snow or ice into the street
Failing to comply with this snow removal ordinance is a fineable offense. You will be fined $50 for the first offense, $100 for the second offense, and $200 for the third and subsequent offense. Upon the third offense within a five-year period, the DPW Commissioner may choose to remove the snow and ice and charge the property owner for the cost of removal. The city may place a lien against the property owner for the expense incurred.
To report a sidewalk, please call the Building Department at either of the following numbers: 781-393-2507 and 781-393-2510
Additionally, we ask the public’s assistance with the following:
Clear openings at corners, crosswalks and curb cuts so pedestrians can cross safely.
Dig out fire hydrants and catch basins.