Moving to Medford

Stay Connected

There are many ways to stay connected with the latest news and events happening in Medford. Our events calendar is updated regularly with public meeting notices and other fun City events.

Be sure to sign up for City alerts to be notified about news and events via call, email, or text. Our monthly newsletter is another way to learn about recent and upcoming news - sign up here.

For the fastest notifications, follow us on social media! Our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram handles are below:

Parking in Medford

There are a few different ways to park in Medford depending on your needs. If you live on a street that is resident permit parking then you will need a Resident Parking Permit to park on the street If you are a Medford business owner looking to park at your business, you will need a Business Parking Permit. Commuters looking to park in commuter lots will need Resident Commuter Permits. There are also discounted parking permits available for seniors over the age of 65.

Visitor Parking Permit

Visitor Parking

Click here to see the full list of Visitor Parking Guidelines, as of December 1, 2022. (*Note* scroll down the page to view visitor parking instructions.)
Visitor parking permits are FREE for seniors 65 years and older regardless of resident parking permit status.
Visitor parking permits may be obtained by Medford residents to allow visitors parking on permitted residential streets for up to 48 hours.
Visitor parking permits may also be used by Medford residents for up to 2 weeks while waiting for a new vehicle registration from the RMV.
NOTE: ONLY TWO VISITOR PASSES CAN BE ISSUED TO A HOUSEHOLD. This is done to to limit fraud and ensure that there are ample parking spaces available on resident permit parking streets.
Visitor parking permits must be obtained in-person at City Hall - Room 110 (behind the main staircase).
Please bring a Massachusetts Driver's License, Massachusetts State Identification Card, or Temporary Massachusetts Driver's License with your Medford address printed by the RMV (signed on the back address changes will not be accepted for Visitor Parking Permits) and one of the following: Tax Statement, Lease Agreement, Deed, Utility Bill, or Vehicle Registration (each document must indicate the City of Medford address of the residence).
Permit rate: 2 free visitor permits are issued per residence with a Resident Parking Permit. 2 visitor parking permits will be issued per residence without a Resident Parking Permit at the cost of $5.00 each.
Click here to see the full list of Visitor Parking Guidelines, as of December 1, 2022. With questions, contact the Traffic Commission at (781) 391-6409
All parking permits and Visitor Parking Permits are valid for a period of one calendar year (January 1 until December 31)

Resident Parking Permit

Residential Parking Permit

Various streets in the city are designated as Resident Parking Permit (RPP). If you live on a street with this designation you will need to obtain a Resident Parking Permit which will allow you to park on the street. A list of RPP streets can be found here.
Resident parking permits can be obtained at this link or in-person at City Hall - Room 110 (behind the main staircase).
If obtaining a permit in-person, please bring a current valid vehicle registration with your Medford address printed by the RMV and one of the following: Massachusetts Driver's License, Deed, Lease Agreement, or Utility Bill.
Resident Permit Parking fee for people under 65 years of age: $10.00
Resident Parking Permits are FREE for Seniors ages 65 and older.
All parking permits and Visitor Parking Permits are valid for a period of one calendar year (January 1 until December 31)

Commuter Parking

Resident Commuter Parking

Resident Commuter parking permits allow Medford residents to park in designated MBTA commuter lots or streets.
Commuter parking permits can be obtained at this link or in-person at City Hall - Room 110 (behind the main staircase).
If obtaining a permit in-person, please bring a current valid vehicle registration with your Medford address printed by the RMV and one of the following: Massachusetts Driver's License, Deed, Lease Agreement, or Utility Bill.
Residential Commuter Parking Permit Rate: $100.00
All parking permits and Visitor Parking Permits are valid for a period of one calendar year (January 1 until December 31)

Trash & Recycling

The City’s trash + recycling pickup is conducted by Waste Management. To reach them directly: Call 800-972-4545 or visit https://www.wm.com/us

Transportation

There are plenty of ways to explore our beautiful city and the surrounding areas. Visit our Transportation page for more detailed information. Here are a few ways to get around Medford:

Walking

Shared Streets Program
- The Massachusetts Department of Transportation granted funding to Medford to support Shared Streets initiatives. Medford’s allotment of the state grant supported outdoor dining options for Medford restaurants, including installation of jersey barriers, temporary ADA ramps, safety measures, and equipment for beautification. Shared Streets concepts prioritize public streets for pedestrians, bicyclists, and lower-speed vehicles. Read more here.
Parks
- Medford has over 20 parks for the community to enjoy. The City is constantly working to improve our parks to suit the needs of our residents. Click here to view the list of parks projects that are planned or completed.

Biking

Medford has been adding BlueBike docking stations in high density areas throughout the City. Current locations are at the MBTA Wellington Station, Tufts Square, Main St. at Brooks Park (near George St.), and Medford Square (opposite Riverside Plaza), with plans to add more in the near future.

Train

Thanks to the Green Line Extension project, the MBTA Green Line now runs in Medford! The Green Line has stops throughout Medford, Somerville, and Boston and connections to the Blue, Red, and Orange lines. View the Green Line schedule here. Medford stops are at the following locations:
- Medford/Tufts
- Ball Square
The MBTA Orange Line also stops in Medford at Wellington.
There is also a West Medford stop on the Lowell line of the Commuter Rail, which runs between Lowell and North Station in Boston. View the schedule here.

Bus

There are also multiple MBTA bus routes that run north through Medford to communities like Burlington and Arlington, as well as buses that run regularly into downtown Boston. The following MBTA bus lines run through Medford:
- 80
- 94
- 95
- 96
- 101
- 134
- 354

If you encounter an issue with any of our roads or sidewalks, SeeClickFix is the best way to flag this to the City. SeeClickFix is a community-driven tool and request management system that bridges the gap between residents and the City of Medford to increase resident engagement and improve City services. Please note that SeeClickFix is NOT intended for emergency use and is not an alternative to 911. Learn more about SeeClickFix or submit your request here.

Register to Vote and Meet Your Officials

In order to register to vote you must meet all of the following requirements:

A United States Citizen
A resident of Massachusetts
18-years-old on or before the next election

You may register to vote online here or in person at multiple locations in Medford and around the state. More information about voting in Medford is available on the Elections Commission page.

Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn is currently serving a two-year term as the Mayor of Medford. More about the Mayor, her office, and her initiatives can be found on the Mayor's Office page.

The Mayor is also the Chair of the School Committee, a seven member board that oversees the policy and operations of the Medford School District.

By City Charter, the Medford City Council consists of 7 elected at-large members, elected every two years. More information on members, meetings, and agendas can be found on the City Council page.

Get Involved

The best way to learn about Medford and meet other residents is to get involved in the community! There are a number of positions available on various city boards and commission. Learn more about our boards and commissions here and click here to apply. Visit our Volunteering page for other opportunities.

Setting Up Utilities and Paying Your Bills

Electric

National Grid
Eversource
Medford CEA - this is a program offered by the city of Medford to provide new electricity supply options and more renewable energy to Medford residents and businesses. It does not replace National Grid or Eversource, but offers alternatives for the Supply portion of your bill.

Internet

Water & Sewer

Pay bills, including parking tickets and water/sewer bills, at our Pay a Bill page.

Street Sweeping

Medford conducts street sweeping twice a year, in the fall and spring. Visit our Street Sweeping page for the latest updates on this year's sweeping dates. Medford conducts street sweeping in two ways:

1. Main Roads (also called “main drags”). Main streets and major roadways are swept twice per week beginning on April 1 each year. (See schedule and information below)

2. Public side streets and secondary roads. Secondary/side streets are swept twice per year, once in the spring (typically in May) and once in the fall (typically in November).

As a reminder, STREET PARKING IS RESTRICTED on the day your street is assigned to be swept.

Parking Information

Parking is allowed on the major roads from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. during the “Big Sweep” Street Sweeping schedule.
There is NO PARKING on the designated street while sweeping is taking place between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.; cars should not be returned to the street until 6:00 p.m. Cars that remain parked on the streets designated for that day will be ticketed and towed.
Ticketing appeals should be directed to Medford Parking Department

Weather Permitting

If severe weather conditions exist, your street will be rescheduled at the end of the regular sweep schedule. Any date revisions will be posted at this website, and on our social media pages.

Snow

A Snow Emergency may be declared at the City’s discretion. City staff will monitor all available forecasts and information prior to declaring a Snow Emergency. If a Snow Emergency is declared, the City will announce this in several ways, including:

Sending citywide Reverse911 phone calls, emails, and text messages. (Sign up for Alerts at www.medfordma.org/alerts)
Posting information to the homepage of the City’s website
Communicating through local media
Posting on the City’s social media feeds.

When a snow emergency is declared, the City will enforce the following street regulations. For a complete list, including a list of arteries and exemptions, visit our Snow Policies page.

Since this winter (2022-2023) begins in an EVEN year, you may only park on the EVEN side of your street during a snow emergency, unless there is an exemption.
You may park in a city lot during snow emergencies, but your car must be moved by 7 a.m. the morning after the storm.
Make sure your car is not blocking access for emergency vehicles or snow removal vehicles; emergency vehicles and snow removal vehicles need a minimum of 12 feet. Vehicles blocking access to emergency response will be subject to towing and a fine.
Park your car at least 20 feet from the street corner so plows can push snow away from the crosswalks. Vehicles parking to close to an intersection will be subject to towing and a fine.
Under City Ordinance, residents who have driveways, garages, or other off-street parking facility may not park on the street for a period of time longer than one hour between 12 a.m. to 7 a.m. and could face a fine.
Any motor vehicle parked on a public way for a period of 48 consecutive hours without being moved is subject to towing and a fine.

back to the top

In This Section

Navigate To