Is Your Space Saver Illegal? What Boston Residents Need to Know!

In the aftermath of this week’s blizzard, Boston residents are employing a variety of creative methods to reserve their freshly shoveled parking spaces, showcasing items ranging from cheerful chef statues to even toilets. However, most municipalities beyond Boston have enacted restrictions on this practice.

According to local ordinances, many towns impose fines as high as $100 for individuals caught attempting to claim a parking spot using makeshift signals like orange cones.

The Haverhill Police Department took to social media to emphasize their position, highlighting that the city will not tolerate space savers and stated, “Winter is a team sport; parking wars are not.”

While the tradition of using space savers is a well-known practice in Boston, it is subject to specific regulations. City residents are permitted to utilize space savers only during officially declared snow emergencies and within a 48-hour window following the cessation of such emergencies.

However, even during a snow emergency, certain areas such as Bay Village and the South End remain exempt from this rule due to their limited parking availability.

In neighboring cities like Cambridge and Somerville, the use of space savers is strictly prohibited. Somerville’s parking guidelines underscore community spirit by encouraging residents to respect each other’s efforts, urging individuals to shovel out their own spaces rather than claiming others’ hard work.

Both Cambridge and Somerville officials have stated that they will remove any unauthorized space savers they encounter.

Further north, Malden issued a reminder about its own ban on space savers. However, after the last significant snow event, the city refrained from acting on space savers for a week, acknowledging the effort involved in shoveling.

Medford, Brookline, Fall River, and Lowell have similarly imposed bans, while New Bedford has escalated enforcement, subjecting violators to steep fines.

On the other hand, Quincy appears to have a more relaxed approach. A discussion on Reddit revealed mixed sentiments, with posts ranging from tales of trash cans being repurposed as space savers to opinions advocating the end of the longstanding parking tradition.