Parking Ticket FAQs

• Where can I park with my disability placard?

Disability placard holders can park in designated accessible parking spaces (HP-DV). (To park in some City of Boston HP-DV spaces, you may also need a Resident Parking Permit. Please double-check the signage to ensure you meet the space’s regulations.) Disability placard holders can park at meters. They can also park over the meter/posted time limits without paying fees or penalties. Disability placards must be set out on the rearview mirror when parked.

• Why am I getting a ticket for Expired Registration when my registration is active?

You must display the correct and updated decal on your license plate (even if your car is registered). 

• Is parking free on Sundays and Holidays?

Boston parking meters are free on citywide holidays and every Sunday. On these days, you can stay over the meter limit. You must follow all other parking signs and regulations in the area that are still in effect. To confirm citywide holidays, visit  https://www.boston.gov/departments/311/city-boston-holidays.

• How do I know when the City declares a Snow Emergency?

The Mayor will announce it on local news stations. For the latest updates, you can visit the City’s website (boston.gov), call the Mayor’s Hotline (617-635-4500), or call 311. 

• How far away from the hydrant can you park?

Vehicles must park at least 10 feet away from a hydrant, on either side. 

• Why am I getting a ticket for blocking the driveway of my own property?

It is a violation and hazard to block any driveway, even if it’s your own.

• I paid off the tickets that the RMV told me were marked on my record. Why is the Office of the Parking Clerk telling me that I need to pay more tickets before I can be cleared?

If your vehicle registration at the RMV is marked due to overdue tickets, you must pay off your balance in full. This means you have to pay all parking tickets that you owe us before we can process an electronic RMV release. You need to resolve overdue tickets with other Massachusetts localities with them.

• Why am I getting charged a late fee on my parking ticket?

From the date you received the ticket, you have 21 days to pay or appeal the ticket. After 21 days, your ticket is ‘overdue.’ You can appeal an overdue ticket, and we will add a late fee to the total due. You can find this information on the original ticket. 

• I already mailed in my parking ticket payment before the 21-day deadline. Why am I getting a late penalty notice?

Mailed payments to the Office of the Parking Clerk (P.O. Box 55800) can take up to several weeks to process. This is because of expected and unexpected delays with USPS. We will honor the post-mark date on your mailed payment. This means, if you mailed your payment before the 21-day deadline, we will not charge you the late penalty. You can also disregard the late notice you received. An overpayment may happen if you make an extra payment while your check is processing.

We recommend you pay using one of these more efficient methods:

1. Online on our ticket portal (boston.gov/tickets)
2. Over the phone (617-635-3888)
3. In person at Office of the Parking Clerk (Boston City Hall, Room 224)

• I overpaid or paid twice for my parking tickets. How can I request a refund?

Please email us at parkingrefunds@boston.gov to request a refund. We will then provide a form for you to complete to help our office review and process your refund request. 

• How many unpaid tickets do I need before I get booted?

Five overdue parking tickets on your vehicle’s record will put you on the City of Boston’s boot list. Once on the boot list, your vehicle may be towed at any time. 

• Why am I getting a ticket when my car was disabled and was waiting for a tow?

Please submit an appeal online at boston.gov/tickets or in person at the Office of the Parking Clerk (Boston City Hall, Room 224). In your appeal, please provide the following information as evidence:

1. A tow receipt (that matches the date of the ticket)
2. The location where you received the tickets
3. Your plate number
4. Your email address
5. Any other evidence or photos

• I parked my car, but it’s no longer at that location. What could have happened? 

Your vehicle can be towed if it was on the boot list or if it was parked in violation with the following regulations:

1. Street cleaning
2. No stopping or standing
3. Snow emergency
4. Construction or moving permit signs.

As a reminder, if you are on the boot list, it is because you have five or more overdue tickets. To confirm if your vehicle was towed, call and speak to a parking agent by dialing 617-635-4410 and pressing 2, then 0. Or, you can search the City's towed vehicle database. Visit the City's towed vehicle webpage for more information.

• Can I pay my tickets at the Tow Lot when I am booted or towed?

Yes. You can pay at the Boston Tow Lot at 200 Frontage Road, South Boston.

• Once I pay off the ticket and boot fee with the City, how long until the boot will be removed? 

If your vehicle is booted, you must make a full payment of all outstanding City of Boston parking debt on record. You can do this either in person at either:

1. Office of the Parking Clerk (Room 224, Boston City Hall) or
2. The BTD Tow Lot (200 Frontage Road)

Once payment has been made, the boot will be removed within 90 minutes. You do not have to be with the car for boot removal. Please visit boston.gov to confirm our office hours at City Hall and at the BTD Tow Lot. 

• Will I continue to get parking tickets while my vehicle is booted?

No. You should not get more tickets to the booted vehicle, but please note that it can and may be towed at any time. If you think you got a ticket while booted, please submit an appeal at boston.gov/tickets. In your appeal, please provide all available evidence. 

• My car was towed. How do I appeal the ticket and tow?

You can appeal either:

1. Online at boston.gov/tickets. Please mark that your vehicle has been towed and submit your tow receipt and ticket as evidence.
2. In Person at the Office of the Parking Clerk (Boston City Hall, Room 224). You must appeal in-person within 5 days of the tow date to request a walk-in hearing. Please bring your tow receipt and ticket. 

• I was towed due to an abandoned vehicle violation. How can I dispute this?

You are entitled to a walk-in hearing at the Office of the Parking Clerk (Room 224, Boston City Hall). We recommend reaching out to the BTD Tow Lot (617-635-3900) to confirm the status of your vehicle in advance. Please bring to your hearing the vehicle’s plate number and VIN number.

• I got a parking ticket on my car. How can I appeal it? 

Please appeal the ticket online at boston.gov/tickets. In your appeal, attach any evidence available to help our team to investigate your case. Our customer service staff can also help you submit an appeal either:

1. In person (Boston City Hall, Room 224)
2. By phone - call 617-635-4410

• What can I do if I live outside of Massachusetts or the USA, and can not attend the scheduled hearing in person? 

You can request a zoom hearing at opcvideochat@boston.gov. We review requests on a case-by-case basis.

•  Can I walk in and have a hearing on a ticket that I want to appeal?

Unless you were towed within the last 5 days, you are not able to walk-in for a hearing. You must submit an appeal request and be scheduled for a hearing.

*HP-DV placard holders are entitled to a walk-in hearing. 

• I missed my scheduled hearing date. What can I do? 

You may have a walk-in hearing in person within 90 days of the original hearing date. All in-person hearings are at window 1 at the Office of the Parking Clerk (Boston City Hall, Room 224). Our hours of operation are Monday-Friday 9 am - 4 pm.

• My appeal was denied at my hearing. How can I dispute the decision further?

You will need to file with the Superior Court. You can file at either:

1. The Suffolk Superior Court (3 Pemberton Square, Boston MA) or
2. The Superior Court in your Massachusetts jurisdiction

Find more information at https://www.mass.gov/locations/suffolk-county-superior-court.