Cambridge Parking Permit 2027 Fee

Featured image: Massachusetts Avenue and Brattle Street in Harvard Square, Cambridge. Photo: Rhododendrites via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).

The Cambridge resident parking permit will cost $75 for the 2027 season, three times the current $25 fee, the City of Cambridge says. The change follows a 2026 Cambridge City Council policy order. Online renewals open Dec. 1, 2026. The city is also adding a hardship fee waiver, ending the automatic waiver for residents 65 and older, cutting the number of permits per person and piloting free visitor permits. Here is what Cambridge, Massachusetts drivers need to know before renewing.

What changes for 2027 Cambridge resident parking permits

Fee: the standard annual Resident Parking Permit (RPP) rises from $25 to $75. The city says the money will help cover growing administrative and operational costs.
Hardship waiver: residents of any age who would face financial hardship paying $75 can apply for a waiver and pay $0.
Seniors: the automatic waiver for residents 65 and older ends. They will pay $75 unless they qualify for the hardship waiver or another exemption.
Disability plates and placards: residents with a valid disability plate or placard still get a free permit.
Limit: two permits per resident, down from four.
Visitor permits: a pilot will offer visitor parking permits at no cost to eligible residents in the 2027 season, one per household.

Key dates to renew your Cambridge parking permit

Dec. 1, 2026: online renewals open at CambridgeMA.gov/RPP. December is online only and renewals only.
January 2027: first-time applicants can apply online.
Jan. 4, 2027: in-person service begins at the Department of Transportation, City Hall Annex, 344 Broadway.
Jan. 4 to March 31, 2027: either a 2026 or a 2027 permit is valid.
April 1, 2027: only a 2027 permit is valid in “Parking by Permit Only” areas. Cars without one can be ticketed.

Last season, the city said residents had to renew online by early March to be sure the permit arrived by mail before April 1. If you apply online, you cannot pick the permit up. Apply in person if you need it sooner.

Who needs a Cambridge resident parking permit

A permit is required to park in areas signed “Parking by Permit Only,” and it must be renewed every year. Permits expire March 31. The city sets these rules:

You cannot get a permit if you have unpaid parking tickets in your name.
The permit is only for a vehicle intended for personal use.
You need proof of Cambridge residency. Online applicants upload it as an electronic copy.
You cannot change your license plate during a renewal. Apply for a new permit instead.
Stick the permit on the inside lower corner of the windshield on the driver’s side.

2026 rules vs. 2027 rules

Item	2026 season (current)	2027 season
Standard resident permit	$25	$75
Residents 65 and older	Free with proof of age	$75 unless they qualify for a waiver or exemption
Disability plate or placard	Free	Free
Financial hardship	No separate waiver listed	Waiver available, $0
Permits per person	Up to four	Up to two
Visitor permit	One per household, included with the first resident permit, or $25 for households without a car	Free pilot for eligible residents, one per household

Source: City of Cambridge Apply for/Renew a Parking Permit page and 2027 fee announcement, checked Oct. 22, 2026.

Visitor parking permits

Each household may get one visitor parking permit. Under the current rules, it comes with the first resident permit issued to the household, and households without a car can buy one for $25. Replacing a lost visitor permit costs $50, with one replacement per year. The 2027 pilot will make visitor permits free for eligible residents; the city’s announcement does not list the eligibility rules, so check the RPP page before applying.

Paying online

The city’s online portal accepts American Express, Discover, Mastercard and Visa, or a direct payment from a bank account. Card payments carry a 2.95% service fee with a $2.25 minimum. Bank account payments carry a 40-cent fee.

More Cambridge guides

Cambridge snow emergency: free garages for permit holders
Cambridge street cleaning and yard waste guide
Kendall Square biotech layoffs and lab vacancy
Elsewhere in Massachusetts: Worcester winter parking ban rules

Additional details

A replacement resident permit currently costs $25, with one replacement per year. The fee is waived if you return the original permit in the same permit year.
Resident permit holders can use free garage parking during a declared snow emergency. That program is only for Cambridge residents with a permit from the Department of Traffic, Parking and Transportation.
In 2026, the city mailed permits only starting Jan. 2.
Traffic, Parking and Transportation phone: 617-349-4700.

Sources

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Cambridge Resident Parking Permit Rises to $75 for 2027: Waivers, Visitor Permits and Renewal Dates