Boston Snow Emergency Guide 2026-27

Featured image: Cars buried by plowed snow on a Boston street after the January 2015 blizzard. Photo: Fuhvah via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Boston snow emergency parking rules decide whether a car survives a winter storm with a plow drift or a tow ticket. With the 2026-27 winter approaching, this guide collects what the City of Boston says drivers, renters and property owners must do when the mayor declares a snow emergency, based on the city’s own published rules as of Oct. 21, 2026.

The short version: when an emergency is declared, cars must come off posted snow emergency arteries, discounted garage parking opens for residents, space savers become legal for a limited time, and sidewalks must be shoveled within hours of the snow stopping.

What happens when Boston declares a snow emergency

The city bans parking on major roads and arteries during a declared snow emergency so plows and emergency vehicles can get through. According to the City’s snow emergency parking page, a car left on a posted snow emergency artery during that period will be ticketed and towed.

The way to tell whether a street is covered is the street sign. Boston.gov tells drivers to check the signs posted on the block, and the city also publishes a parking restrictions map on its “What to do with your car when it snows” page.

Enforcement usually comes in stages. During the Jan. 25, 2026, snow emergency, for example, Boston Police announced a two-phase timeline: at 8 a.m. officers began loudspeaker announcements on posted routes telling drivers to move cars off arteries and street corners, and at 9 a.m. tagging and towing began. That storm was also paired with a cold emergency, during which Boston Centers for Youth and Families community centers opened as warming centers during normal hours. Timelines are set storm by storm, so the hours in a future emergency may differ.

Discounted garage parking for Boston residents

Drivers who lose their street spot can use participating lots and garages at reduced rates. The city says discounted parking begins two hours before a declared snow emergency and must end within two hours after the emergency is lifted. A car left longer is charged the garage’s standard rate.

Eligibility varies by garage. Some accept any Boston resident, while others serve only certain neighborhoods. Most require a City of Boston resident parking sticker or other proof of Boston residency. Examples from the city’s current list:

200 Stuart Street Garage: free for Bay Village permit holders and $10 per 24 hours for other Boston residents.
Motor Mart Garage, 201 Stuart St.: $10 per 24 hours with a resident permit or proof of residency.
Channel Center Garage, 116 West First St.: $10 per day, credit cards only, with each new day starting at 3:30 a.m.; oversized vehicles are not allowed.
100 Clarendon Street Garage: $14 per 24 hours, for Back Bay, Bay Village and South End residents only.
Auditorium Garage, 50 Dalton St.: $13 per 24 hours for Back Bay, Bay Village and South End residents, charged again each time a car exits and re-enters.
Harvard’s Soldiers Field Park Garage, 111 Western Ave.: free for Allston residents, first come, first served.
Municipal lots at 398 Market St. and 125 Harvard Ave.: no charge.

Rates and participating garages can change from season to season, so drivers should confirm the “fee and information” notes on the city’s list before a storm. The city’s 2025-26 Winter Weather Guide also says Boston Public Schools lots are not open for evening and overnight parking during snow events.

Space savers: when they are allowed

The cones, chairs and trash barrels Bostonians use to hold a shoveled-out spot are allowed only under specific conditions. Boston.gov says a space saver may be used only when the city has declared a snow emergency, and it must be removed from the street within 48 hours after the emergency ends.

Space savers are banned entirely in the South End and Bay Village, according to the city.

Sidewalk shoveling rules and fines

Property owners must clear snow, sleet and ice from sidewalks and curb ramps next to their property. The city’s rules give owners three hours after the snow stops, or three hours after sunrise if snow fell overnight. The cleared path should be at least 42 inches wide so people using wheelchairs and strollers can pass. The city says it tries to be reasonable about when it starts the clock and that its goal is safe passage, not fines.

The city’s posted fine schedule for failing to clear a sidewalk is:

$200 for commercial properties
$100 for residential buildings with more than 16 units
$50 for residential buildings with 16 or fewer units

Each day a violation goes unaddressed counts as a separate violation. Ice can be leveled and covered with sand, sawdust or similar material instead of being removed to bare pavement, according to the ordinance, Boston Code 16-12.16.

Pushing snow from private property into the street or onto a sidewalk carries its own fines, from $50 to $200 depending on property type and whether more than one cubic yard of snow is involved. Boston.gov also asks residents to clear snow from fire hydrants, storm drains and accessible curb ramps, and to keep stairways and fire escapes free of snow and ice.

Everyday winter parking rules

Even without an emergency, the city asks drivers in its winter guide to park at least 20 feet from intersections and no more than one foot from the curb, and not to block sidewalks, hydrants, ramps, bike lanes or driveways. Those rules give plows room to turn and keep corners clear for pedestrians.

If your car is towed

Drivers who think their car was towed can search the city’s towing database or call the Boston Police Tow Line at 617-343-4629, according to Boston.gov. The city’s towing pages also explain how to get a car back and how to file a claim for damage.

Related Boston coverage

Winter also brings street-rule changes beyond snow. Our coverage of MBTA bus lane camera enforcement explains how cars parked or driving in bus lanes are being ticketed, and our report on the Blue Hill Avenue bus lanes hearing covers a street where parking and transit rules are being debated.

Additional details

A discrepancy to note: the posted city fine table above differs from the figures printed in the online text of Boston Code 16-12.16, which lists $100, $150 and $250 for the same three property types. Residents who receive a citation should check the amount on the notice itself.
Under the ordinance, tenants are responsible for shoveling only if a written lease expressly requires it; otherwise the duty falls on the owner or manager.
The city enforces the shoveling rule on public sidewalks, not on parking lots, internal walkways, common areas or park interiors.

Sources

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Boston Snow Emergency Parking Rules: Garages, Space Savers and Shoveling Fines