Boston Moving Parking Permits: How to Save Your Truck a Spot

A Boston moving parking permit is the cheapest insurance you can buy for moving day. Without one, your truck circles the block, double-parks, or lands half a street away, and every extra trip down the sidewalk adds time to an hourly bill. Boston does not require a permit to move, but it is the only way to guarantee the curb in front of your door.

The catch is that Boston, Cambridge, and Somerville each run their own system, with different fees, deadlines, and sign rules. Here is how each one works and the small mistakes that cost people their spot.

How to Get a Boston Moving Parking Permit

Boston’s Office of the Parking Clerk issues moving truck permits. The basics:

What you get: two parking spaces for one day, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost: $69 for two non-metered spaces, including two signs. Metered spaces cost an additional $40.
Apply online: your move must be at least 15 days and no more than eight weeks away.
Apply in person: at the Parking Clerk’s office on the second floor of City Hall, if your move is at least three days and no more than eight weeks away.
Trucks only: the permit covers moving trucks, not personal cars.

Check the current fees and the application on the City of Boston moving truck permit page before you apply.

Post your signs and notices on time

The permit only works if the street knows about it. Post the city’s signs at least 48 hours before the 7 a.m. start time, and the city recommends three days. Place notices on parked cars within half a block of your spaces every day for at least two days before the move. Take a photo of each posted sign with the date visible. If a car stays in your spot, that photo is your proof that you followed the rules.

If a car is parked in your space

Call the Boston Police non-emergency line at 617-343-4911 and give them the plate number. If police cannot reach the owner, they arrange a tow. Build a little slack into your start time so a blocked space does not stall the whole move.

Somerville Moving Permit

Somerville handles moving permits through its Parking Department at 133 Holland St. The rules differ from Boston’s in a few important ways:

Cost: $50 for up to three days, plus $5 per sign. The city recommends two signs per spot.
Metered spaces: $35 per day plus a $35 bagging fee.
How to apply: bring the application to the Parking Department, where it is processed on the spot, or mail it so it arrives at least five business days before your move.
Signs: post them 48 hours before the restriction starts, then call 311 to confirm. Remove them after the move and let 311 know.

The city does not mail permits or signs, so plan a pickup. Details are on the City of Somerville moving page. If you are moving into a triple-decker or an apartment near Davis or Union Square, our movers in Somerville, MA can plan where the truck goes before moving day.

Cambridge Moving Permit

Cambridge calls it a Moving Van Permit, and you apply for it online through the city’s street occupancy permit system. A permit covers a maximum of two consecutive days, so a longer move needs a second application. For help paying in person with cash or a check, contact the city’s Department of Transportation.

Apply as soon as your date is set and confirm the current fee on the City of Cambridge street occupancy permit page. Narrow one-way streets are common around Harvard, Central, and Inman Square, which makes a reserved space even more valuable. Tell our movers in Cambridge, MA about your street during the estimate so the truck size fits the space.

Mistakes That Cost People Their Spot

Most permit problems come from timing, not paperwork. Watch for these:

Missing Boston’s online window. Online applications close 15 days before your move. Inside that window, you have to apply in person at City Hall.
Posting signs late. Boston and Somerville both require signs at least 48 hours ahead. Late signs can leave you with no way to clear the space.
Forgetting the meters. Metered spaces cost extra in Boston and Somerville. Check the curb before you apply.
Waiting until August. Permits are hardest to get around September 1, when thousands of leases turn over at once. Our Boston September 1 moving day guide covers how to plan for that week.
Reserving one end only. If you are moving within Greater Boston, you may need a permit at both addresses, sometimes from two different cities.

A reserved space matters most at buildings without a driveway or loading zone. If you are moving into a Boston walk-up apartment, a close spot saves real time on every trip up the stairs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to move in Boston?

No. Boston does not require a moving permit, but without one you have no guaranteed space and your truck can be ticketed for double-parking. The permit is the only way to reserve the curb.

How far in advance should I get a moving permit in Boston?

Apply online at least 15 days before your move, and no earlier than eight weeks out. If you miss that window, you can still apply in person at City Hall up to three days before the move.

Can I use a moving permit to park my own car?

No. Boston moving permits are for moving trucks only. A personal car left in the reserved spaces can be towed.

Lock In Your Spot Early

A moving permit is a small cost that decides how smoothly the day starts. Apply as soon as your date is set, post your signs early, and photograph everything. When the curb is clear at 7 a.m., your movers can start loading right away. Planning a move in Boston, Cambridge, or Somerville? See how our movers in Boston, MA handle the logistics from permit to final box.