Snow Policies

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. 

General Parking Information

During DECLARED SNOW EMERGENCIES, the City’s parking regulations are as follows:

• “Winter” is defined as the entire winter season, from November through March or April.
• There shall be no parking on any Emergency Artery throughout the declared snow emergency. (See below regulations)
• Winter parking restrictions on all other roadways will be in effect throughout the declared snow emergency.
• All violators will be subject to being ticketed and towed.
• Permit parking restrictions shall NOT be enforced throughout the declared snow emergency.

• When parking, especially on narrow side streets, please make sure to park as close to the curb as possible, and make sure that there is enough access on the street for emergency vehicles. If emergency vehicles are not able to access the street, your vehicle may be subject to ticketing and towing.

• If the winter begins in an odd year (for example, November 2023), cars may only park on the ODD side of the street, unless there is an exemption. See below for exempted streets.
• If the winter begins in an even year (for example, November 2024), cars may only park on the EVEN side of the street, 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.

During DECLARED SNOW EMERGENCIES, there is NO PARKING on designated Emergency Arteries (see below). Please read posted signage and avoid parking in these areas. Cars on these streets during snow emergencies will be towed. The following streets are designated as Emergency Arteries:

• Boston Avenue
• Central Avenue
• College Avenue from George Street to Boston Avenue
• Forest Street
• Fulton Street
• George Street
• Governors Avenue
• Grove Street
• Hadley Place
• Hancock Street
• Harvard Avenue
• Harvard Street
• High Street
• Lawrence Road
• Main Street
• Medford Street
• Mystic Avenue from Main Street to Crescent Street
• Playstead Road
• Riverside Avenue
• Salem Street
• Spring Street
• Washington Street
• Webster Street
• Willis Avenue
• Winthrop Street
• Woburn Street

The following streets are STATE ROADS. The City of Medford does not enforce parking on these streets. Please visit the DCR website, here, for the state’s snow emergency parking regulations.

• Fellsway
• Fellsway West
• Route 16 / Mystic Valley Parkway
• Elm St.
• Highland Ave
• South Border Road
• East Border Road
• Woodland Road
• Mystic River Road

Parking Regulations – Exemptions

During DECLARED SNOW EMERGENCIES, cars may park ONLY on the EVEN side of the street on secondary roads (because this winter begins in an even year – 2024), unless your street was granted an exemption by the Traffic Commission (see below). Cars parked on the odd side during snow emergencies will be towed. Exempted streets are:

• Alexander Ave: #117 thru #145 odd side parking every year
• Auburn St: High St. to Prescott St., park on residence side
• Bennett St: odd side parking every year
• Bennett Pl: odd side parking every year
• Bow St: #14 thru #52 even side parking every year
• Brooks Park: parking on residence side only
• Gaston St: odd side parking every year
• Hillsdale Rd: Osgood to Somerville line – odd side parking every year
• Lookout Rd: even side parking every year
• Maple Ave: odd side parking every year
• Metcalf St: even side parking every year
• Newburn Ave: #74 thru #86 even side parking every year
• Second St: Bradbury to Middlesex – parking on residence side every year
• Third St: Bradbury to Middlesex – parking on park side every year
• Touro Ave: odd side parking every year
• Wellesley St: Main to Dartmouth – even side parking every year.

TOW COMPANY INFORMATION

Export Tow – 50 Mystic Avenue, Medford. 781-395-0808

Stephen’s Automotive Transport – 60 Union Street, Medford. 781-396-8697

Generally, cars located and towed east of Medford Street, east of Main Street, east of Forest Street to the Malden/Somerville line will be towed by Export Tow. Cars located and towed west of Medford Street and Main Street, west of Forest Street to the Somerville/Winchester/Arlington lines will be towed by Stephen’s Automotive Transport.

PARKING AND TOW COMPLAINTS

We thank everyone for their expected cooperation during a snow emergency. The authority to issue citations and tow a motor vehicle lies solely with the Medford Police Department.

If you have a complaint related to a citation or a tow please contact the Medford Police Department Traffic Division at traffic@medfordpolice.com.

We ask that you please refrain from complaining or arguing with the tow company employees, the City of Medford Parking Department, or the Mayor’s Office and staff. These entities have no control over who is issued citations or which vehicles are towed.

OTHER PERTINENT LAWS

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. Please do not leave your vehicle snow bound.

Also, no public parking spaces may be reserved or saved. Saving a parking space is a sensitive subject in many neighborhoods. Officially, no objects can be placed on a City street to reserve a parking spot.  The Medford Police Department suggests the public exercise due restraint, fairness, and common sense over disputed PUBLIC parking spaces. During snow emergencies, we will not have the resources to remove items from the street so we ask you to comply with this ordinance.

Shoveling Regulations

It is the residents’ responsibility to:

●      Clear sidewalks within 8 hours of daylight after snowfall.

●      Keep the sidewalks clear of snow and ice to a minimum passage of 36 inches and treat the sidewalk with calcium chloride pellets or other suitable material to prevent ice build-up.

●      Clear within 36 inches of fire hydrants within or abutting the sidewalk that abuts the owner’s property

●      NOT shovel or throw snow or ice into the street

Failing to comply with this snow removal ordinance is a fineable offense. You will be fined $50 for the first offense, $100 for the second offense, and $200 for the third and subsequent offense. Upon the third offense within a five-year period, the DPW Commissioner may choose to remove the snow and ice and charge the property owner for the cost of removal. The city may place a lien against the property owner for the expense incurred.

To report a sidewalk, please call the Building Department at either of the following numbers: 781-393-2507 and 781-393-2510.

Additionally, we ask the public’s assistance with the following:

• Clear openings at corners, crosswalks, and curb cuts so pedestrians can cross safely.
• Dig out fire hydrants and catch basins.

The Medford DPW will plow and/or treat roads during any snow event. While we do our absolute best to avoid plowing extra snow onto sidewalks and driveways in this process, sometimes it is unavoidable as we work to keep streets passable during all stages of a storm.

Whether the snow is from Mother Nature, from a plow, or another source, it is still the responsibility of the resident to clear the area. Don’t throw snow from your sidewalks into the street− this is against the law ($50 fine 1st time, $100 fine 2nd time).

For people on foot, with strollers, and in wheelchairs, ice can be worse than snow and can cause dangerous falls. You are as responsible for ice on your sidewalks as you are for snow. You must address or treat it within 6 hours.

• Stock up on ice melter before a storm. Make sure to sprinkle some down before the storm comes.
• Use ice melter on your driveway entrance and sidewalks early and often to prevent snow from packing down and forming into ice.
• Make sure to wipe your feet after applying it so you don’t track it into your house.

• Use ice melter with calcium chloride (CaCl2). It’s better for the environment and only a small amount is required to melt ice. Potassium chloride (KCl) also works, but be aware that it can damage concrete.
• Biodegradable cat litter is another good option.
• If using rock salt (NaCl or sodium chloride), use care and follow the instructions on the packaging as it is not appropriate in some sensitive areas.

Each winter, the City publishes a list of individuals or businesses available to assist residents who are unable to shovel during and after winter storms.

Shovelers can volunteer or be paid for their services (payment is arranged directly between the resident and the shoveler). 

To be added to the list, please send your name, contact information, neighborhood(s) you are available to shovel, and a completed CORI form to Pam Kelly, Director of Elder Affairs, at pkelly@medford-ma.gov. CORI forms are available at medfordma.org/forms, by calling Human Resources at 781-393-2406, or by contacting Pam Kelly at pkelly@medford-ma.gov or 781-396-6010.