Resident Parking Permits
The program gives Boston residents preferential access to on-street parking spaces in City neighborhoods.
“Resident Parking Only” parking restrictions are in place on multiple streets in most neighborhoods of Boston. The program prevents long-term parking by non-residents on residential streets.
PERMIT AUTO-RENEWAL CYCLES
Parking permits do not have expiration dates attached to them and will not have expiration dates printed on the physical sticker. Please refer to the 'Permit Auto-Renewal Cycles Table' below to see when the City will be conducting a compliance audit for your Resident Parking Permit neighborhood.
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Have questions? Contact:
Parking Clerk -
Please note:
The City of Boston is currently not accepting applications for new resident parking permit locations at this time.
About the program
When you need a permit
Resident parking restrictions apply to all vehicles not registered in the neighborhood. These include:
- vehicles that belong to friends and family of local residents, and
- vehicles owned by residents, but registered to an address outside of the neighborhood.
A small number of “Visitor Parking” spaces with short-term time limits exist. But, the vast majority of parking spaces are reserved for residents.
For streets with restrictions, you can only park when the restrictions are active if you have a valid Resident Parking Permit. Each sign will have the neighborhood across the top. Any vehicle parked must have a valid Resident Parking Permit for the same neighborhood. If you park on the street without a valid permit, we will ticket you.
For Example:
Let’s say you see a sign that says, “Resident Permit Parking, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m., Mon. to Fri.” That means that, Monday through Friday, only vehicles with a valid permit can park between the hours of 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
- Signs that do not have time restrictions mean they are in effect all day and night.
- Signs that do not have day restrictions mean they are in effect seven days a week.
VISITOR PARKING
All areas with “Resident Parking Only” restrictions also have visitor parking spaces. There are two types of visitor parking:
- Two Hour Limit: You can only park for two hours during specific hours. There is no parking limit before or after the times posted on the sign. Restrictions apply to both visitor cars and vehicles displaying resident permits.
- Two Hour Limit Except Resident Sticker: You can only park for two hours during specific hours. There is no parking limit before or after the times posted on the sign. This restriction does not apply to if you have a valid Resident Parking Permit.
Business vehicles meeting our commercial vehicle criteria can park in “Resident Parking” or “Visitor Parking” zones. But, they must be performing legitimate work in a local building for a limited time.
Keep in mind:
- There is no charge for Resident Parking permits.
- You need to place the permit sticker in the rear window of your car on the passenger side. If your window is tinted, display your sticker on the side window of the front passenger side.
- New college students face the same requirements as new residents.
Resident Parking Permits for Military Personnel
Please note that military personnel must meet unique criteria to apply for a resident parking permit
Auto-Renewal
RESIDENT PARKING PERMIT NEIGHBORHOOD RENEWAL CYCLES
Please note: Resident Parking Permits do not have expiration dates printed on them. The City conducts neighborhood-wide audits to confirm that permit holders remain eligible on an approximately two-year cycle. If determined to be no longer eligible with the program requirements, the City will notify you and terminate your permit. Otherwise, your permit will be automatically renewed and will remain active.
| Neighborhood | Approx. Renewal Cycle |
|---|---|
| Allston/Brighton | March 31, 2026 |
| Back Bay | May 31, 2026 |
| Bay Village | January 31, 2026 |
| Beacon Hill | December 31, 2025 |
| Charlestown | September 30, 2026 |
| Chinatown | May 31, 2027 |
| Dorchester | January 31, 2026 |
| East Boston | January 31, 2027 |
| Fenway/Kenmore | June 30, 2026 |
| Hyde Park | January 31, 2026 |
| Jamaica Plain | February 28, 2027 |
| Leather District | May 31, 2027 |
| Mattapan | December 31, 2025 |
| Mission Hill | June 30, 2027 |
| Motorcycle | May 31, 2027 |
| North End | November 30, 2026 |
| Roslindale | January 31, 2026 |
| Roxbury | May 31, 2027 |
| South Boston | December 31, 2025 |
| South End | April 30, 2027 |
| West End | December 31, 2025 |
| West Roxbury | May 31, 2027 |
Renew or Apply for a permit sticker
Many of the City’s residential streets are now “Resident Parking Only.” If you live in one of these neighborhoods, you need a permit to avoid getting a ticket. When you are approved for a permit, you will receive a sticker to place on your car.
Boston-Based Business Permits
The City of Boston issues a limited number of Boston-Based Business Permits to provide eligible local residents and business owners with parking access to designated "Resident Parking Only' parking spaces on local streets in their neighborhood. Eligible households may only be issued one Boston-Based Business Permit for their neighborhood.
There are three types of Boston-Based Business Permits
Who's Involved:
-
Have questions? Contact:
Parking Clerk -
Please note:
The City of Boston is currently not accepting applications for new resident parking permit locations at this time.
