Featured image: Snow in Central Square, Cambridge, in February 2015. Photo: Peter Enyeart via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0).
Cambridge residents have a full season of deadlines ahead: street cleaning and yard waste pickup run through Dec. 31, 2026, snow emergency parking bans start with the first big storm, and trash runs a day late in every holiday week. This 2026-27 season calendar puts the City of Cambridge’s official rules and dates for street cleaning, snow emergencies and parking bans, and trash and recycling holidays in one place, month by month.
For deeper detail on each topic, see our companion guides on Cambridge street cleaning and leaf season, the Cambridge snow emergency parking ban and 2027 resident parking permits. All dates were checked against City of Cambridge pages on Oct. 22, 2026.
Cambridge 2026-27 season at a glance
| When | What changes |
|---|---|
| Week of Nov. 23 | Thanksgiving, Nov. 26: trash and recycling run one day behind; that day’s street cleaning moves to Monday, Nov. 30 |
| Dec. 1 | The city’s Winter Warming Center for unsheltered adults opens at 437 Green St., 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., through April 30 |
| Week of Dec. 21 | Christmas, Dec. 25: collections one day behind; street cleaning moves to Tuesday, Dec. 29 |
| Dec. 31 | Last day of residential street cleaning and of curbside yard waste pickup for 2026 |
| First two weeks of January 2027 | Christmas trees collected on trash day, bare and unbagged |
| Any storm, December to March | Snow emergency parking bans declared as needed |
| April 1, 2027 | Street cleaning and yard waste pickup resume |
Street cleaning through Dec. 31
Every residential street in Cambridge is swept on both sides once a month from April through December, on the day and time posted on that block. Look up your dates with “My Schedule” at CambridgeMA.gov/StreetCleaning, where you can also sign up for text or email reminders and add the schedule to a digital calendar.
The fine is $100 per violation. For the 2026 season the city said cars would not be towed during street cleaning, but tickets would be issued to cars left on the street. Wait until the posted window ends before parking again, because sweepers may make a second pass. Sweeping is canceled only for extremely heavy rain or snow, according to the city.
Snow emergency parking bans, winter 2026-27
During substantial storms the city may declare a Snow Emergency Parking Ban. Cars must come off every street signed “No Parking during Snow Emergency,” or they will be ticketed and towed. After big storms the city may restrict more streets for snow removal and shows them on a separate Snow Parking Restrictions map.
- Free garages: residents with a Cambridge Resident Parking Permit can park free in five garages during a ban: One Kendall Square, Green Street, CambridgeSide, 52 Oxford and First Street. If a ban starts between 6 p.m. and 7 a.m., free parking starts at 6 p.m. Cars must leave within two hours after the ban is lifted.
- Alerts: bans are announced at 617-349-4700, on the city homepage and Snow Center, and on 22-CityView. Sign up for Cambridge Emergency Alerts to get a text, email or call.
- Sidewalks: owners must clear snow within 12 hours after it stops falling during the day, or by 1 p.m. after overnight snow, and remove ice within 6 hours, to a width of at least 3 feet. The fine is $50 per day.
- No space savers: saving a shoveled spot with an object is illegal, and crews may remove the object.
Trash and recycling holiday schedule
Cambridge’s rule is simple: in any week with a holiday, trash, recycling, food waste and yard waste collection runs one day behind schedule for the rest of the week. The city’s Curbside Collections schedule document lists the holidays and routes, and the “Get Rid of It Right” tool shows your pickup day.
- Carts may go out after 6 p.m. the night before or by 7 a.m. on collection day; bagged trash only on the morning of pickup.
- Containers must be off the curb by 6 p.m.
- Report a missed pickup after 4 p.m. on collection day or before 9 a.m. the next day.
- During snow, clear a path to carts so crews can reach them.
Yard waste and leaves until Dec. 31
Yard waste is collected weekly through Dec. 31 for households that get city recycling. Set it out in paper lawn bags or barrels with a “Yard Waste Only” sticker; no plastic bags. After Dec. 31, the city asks residents to hold yard waste until pickup resumes April 1, 2027. Free stickers are available at DPW, 147 Hampshire St.
Additional details
- DPW contact: 617-349-4800 or theworks@cambridgema.gov. The Recycling Center at 147 Hampshire St. is open Tuesday and Thursday 4 to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Low-income homeowners who are over 60 or have a disability may qualify for the city’s Snow Exemption Program; the Council on Aging, 617-349-6220, also runs a Student Shoveler Program.
- Find local businesses in our Cambridge business directory.
- Across the river: Boston snow emergency parking rules.
More local guides: all Boston Report local guides and the Boston Snow Day & Storm Center.
Sources
- City of Cambridge: Street Cleaning
- City of Cambridge DPW: Street Cleaning and Yard Waste Pickup Resume April 1 (March 24, 2026)
- City of Cambridge: Snow Center
- City of Cambridge: Curbside Collections
- City of Cambridge: Yard Waste Pick Up
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