Snow Info: Emergency Policies, Parking Rules, Shoveling Requirements

Once a snow emergency is declared, the City will send alerts to residents through multiple communication channels, including: 

• By phone, text, and/or email to registered users through our City Alerts system
• On the City website at www.somervillema.gov and its snow alert page at www.somervillema.gov/snow
• Flashing blue lights at 22 key intersections in Somerville
• Announcements via City Cable TV/GovTV
  • Channels 22 and 8 for Comcast/Xfinity customers
  • Channels 613, 614, 13, and 8 for RCN/Astound customers
• Local and regional print, radio, and TV news media

• Postings on City of Somerville social media feeds, including:

  • Facebook: www.facebook.com/SomervilleCity and www.facebook.com/311Somerville
  • Twitter: @SomervilleCity and @311Somerville
  • Instagram: @somervillecity
  • Bluesky: @cityofsomerville.bsky.social
• You can also call or contact 311 (617-666-3311) if you have questions or want to check the City’s snow emergency status. 

Why sign up for City Alerts? 

Know what’s happening in your neighborhood and beyond. City Alerts share timely information about emergencies, construction and road closures in your area, and other important community news. You can choose to receive alerts either by email, phone, text, or all three in multiple languages.  

We use a tool called Everbridge share important information with the community. You can sign up for alerts or update your preferences on this page or by selecting your preferred language below:  

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Disclaimer: Database glitches resulting in your not receiving messages pertaining to parking restrictions, including snow emergencies, do not automatically qualify you for dismissal or reimbursement of tickets and/or tow fees. Please review signage on your street, pay close attention to temporary signage, and review our parking policies and snow emergency policies.

How does a snow emergency impact parking? 

Park on the odd side during Winter 2025/26 snow emergencies, unless otherwise posted: 

• When winter begins in an odd-numbered year – like this winter, the winter of 2025/26 – parking is only allowed on the odd-numbered side of the street during a snow emergency.
• NOTE: There are a small number streets where exceptions to this rule occur. These exceptions are noted by signs on that street. Please take note if you park on one of these streets during a storm. For an explanation of why some streets have posted exceptions to the general rule, click here. 

Once a snow emergency is declared, you have four hours to move your car: 

• You have four hours after a snow emergency is declared to move your car to the odd-numbered side of the street, or to one of the municipal lots (map) available for resident use during a snow emergency.
• Parking is not allowed in school lots during snow emergencies.
• You can park at meters on the odd-numbered side of a street during a snow emergency, as long there is no sign stating otherwise.

Municipal lots: 

• During declared snow emergencies, you may park in City-owned parking lots. This includes City buildings and metered municipal lots in City business districts. You may not park in school lots.
• See this map of available municipal lots to know where you can park.
• If you do use City lots, please note that all cars must be moved within two hours of the end of the emergency.
• Snow emergencies can be lifted at any time, including during work hours, so if you are unable to move your car out of a City lot at potentially short notice, please consider finding alternative parking. 

Meters and time-parking rules are not enforced during snow emergencies: 

• You do not have to pay for meters or stick to meter time limits during a snow emergency. Just be sure if your metered space is on the street, that it's the odd-numbered side of the street, unless otherwise posted.
• During snow emergencies, the City also does not enforce an ordinance prohibiting cars from being parked in the same spot for more than 48 hours. 

Tufts University parking: 

Tufts offers free, covered, off-street parking for Somerville residents who live in Wards 6 and 7. During declared snow emergencies, Somerville residents who live in Wards 6 and 7 can park in the Dowling Garage at 419 College Avenue in Medford. 

• Important: Vehicles must be registered with the Tufts Transportation Office using the Snow Emergency Parking Form.
• Parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis and is not guaranteed.
• Vehicles must exit the garage within two hours after the snow emergency concludes. Staying beyond the two-hour limit will result in parking charges.
• For more information, contact Tufts Community Relations at 617-627-3780 or communityrelations@tufts.edu.

After a snow emergency: 

• You must move your car from City parking lots within two hours after the snow emergency ends! Do not park in a City lot during a snow emergency if you will not be able to dig out and move your car on short notice.
• Enforcement of permit parking rules will resume within 24 hours after a snow emergency ends.
• Enforcement of the rule prohibiting cars from remaining in the same spot for more than 48 hours will resume within 48 hours after a snow emergency ends.
• You must shovel your car out within 48 hours after a snow emergency ends. Visit the Teen Snow Shoveling  Program page if you need help shoveling. If you are able, consider helping neighbors who struggle to shovel.

Ticketing and towing information - don't let it happen to you! 

The City truly does not want to ticket or tow your car! But the roads must be kept clear for emergency vehicles and plows. Follow the guidance below to make sure you don't get ticked or towed during a snow emergency.  

Fines include: 

• Failure to move your car to the proper side of the street: $100
• Tow zone/plow obstruction: $100
• Parked within 10 feet of fire hydrant or designated fire lane: $100
• Parked within 20 feet of an intersection (state law): $100 

What to do if you are towed:

• The towing charge is $132 (subject to change), along with a $35 storage fee per day.
• You must call the tow company – Stephen’s Towing – directly at 781-395-0808 if your car gets towed.
• Cars are towed to the Dilboy Stadium parking lot in Somerville on Route 16 (110 Alewife Brook Parkway). 

Parking space savers are not allowed: 

• The City prohibits the use of “space savers,” or objects put on the street to reserve parking spaces.
• Objects used to save parking spaces may be collected and disposed of.

We are all in it together when bad weather strikes, so please be considerate - shovel out your own space (or visit the  Teen Snow Shoveling Program page if you need help this winter) and don't take a spot shoveled out by someone else. 

All property owners are responsible for removing all ice and snow from sidewalks and accessible ramps that abut their property. This applies to both residents and businesses. Sidewalks must be cleared within six daylight hours after the snow stops. Failure to shovel properly or in a timely manner may result in a ticket. 

• Need help? The City offers a Teen Snow Shoveling Program to support seniors as well as persons with disabilities or medical conditions. 

To comply with all city snow shoveling rules: 

• Sidewalks must be cleared within six daylight hours after the snow stops.
• Shovel a path at least 36 inches (three feet) wide down to the pavement on sidewalks and ramps.  
• Do not shovel snow onto city streets unless the temperature is 40 degrees or warmer and during daylight hours. In these situations, break up snow and ice and spread it evenly on the street so that it melts more quickly.
• These rules apply to all snowfall or ice, not just when a snow emergency is declared. 

Don't get a ticket! 

• Not complying with the above rules can result in a fine of $100 for a first offense for owners of one- two- and three-unit houses, $200 for a second offense, and $300 for all subsequent offenses.
• Fines for commercial property or residential buildings with more than four units are $150 for a first offense and $300 for all subsequent offenses. 

Don't get liened!

• The City may impose additional fines and place liens on properties where the City has to clear the sidewalks.
• In designated areas, City crews may also clear sidewalks in front of private properties beginning 24 hours after the snow stops falling. Snow removal will be prioritized following the guidelines under “Plowing Procedures” below. 

Report un-shoveled sidewalks:

• Report sidewalks which have not been shoveled or cleared  by calling 3-1-1 or 617-666-3311, emailing 311Updates@somervillema.gov, or downloading and using the 311 app.
• You may also report issues via the City's social media channels, which you can find here.  

Snow Shoveling Support Program:

• The Teen Snow Shoveling program is a paid opportunity for youth to help local seniors, persons with disabilities, and persons with medical conditions after a snowstorm. Seniors and other qualified persons pay a subsidized fee to youth for shoveling services for both their own property and for their adjacent sidewalks.
• Seniors interested in signing up to receive the al a carte service should contact Debby Higgins at the Somerville Council on Aging by emailing dhiggins@somervillema.gov or calling 617-625-6600 x 2321. Youth looking to sign up should contact Youth Services Coordinator Dan Harris by emailing dharris@somervillema.gov or calling 617- 625-6600 x2406. 

Fire Hydrants and Catch Basins:

• City crews work to shovel out fire hydrants and catch basins as part of their normal operations. We greatly appreciate any assistance in shoveling hydrants (3 feet in all directions) and catch basins in your neighborhood. Remember to always take breaks when you shovel.

The Somerville Public Works Department and its contractors clear all 462 streets in the city, as well as sidewalks abutting public property, walkaways in parks and open spaces, crosswalks, curb cuts and intersection pedestrian landings. Plow drivers do their best to avoid pushing snow into driveways and onto sidewalks, but doing so is often unavoidable -- especially in more densely-populated areas. 

Snow removal is prioritized as follows to ensure the fastest snow removal: 

• Streets
• Municipal and school parking lots and access routes
• Public bus stops (281 stops, divided into 4 Routes), ramps, and bridges
• City squares including traffic islands
• Public sidewalks abutting municipal property including schools
• Public sidewalks and crosswalks abutting bus stops
• Public sidewalks abutting private properties.
  • If sidewalks abutting private property remain un-cleared after 24 daylight hours from the end of the snow emergency (or accumulation of snowfall if no emergency was declared), the City may dispatch crews or contractors to the address for snow and ice removal. Additional fines may be assessed and charged via a lien placed on the property in question.
• State property 

During snow emergencies, our crews work around the clock to ensure our streets remain safe and accessible for all residents. Please note that many factors may contribute to some amounts of snow accumulating on your street before a plow can return to re-plow, particularly in storms with larger accumulations and/or with heavier snow.  

Snow removal requests received via social media and through 311 are tracked in real-time and communicated to the Department of Public Works. Requests are prioritized based on severity and emergencies first and foremost. However, we do our best to respond to each and every request as possible. If you would like to log a request or ask a question of our City crews, please contact 311, or contact us through one of our social media feeds. 

Community Path during snow and winter weather events

The Somerville DPW and its contractors work to keep the community path safe and accessible throughout the winter season. However, during significant winter weather events or snow emergencies, select portions (notably the viaduct over the MBTA tracks in East Somerville) or the entirety of the path may need to be temporarily closed.

For more information on temporary closures and other winter impacts visit somervillema.gov/glx. 

Read Our Extreme Cold Safety Tips

Need shelter? Find out about our Emergency Warming Center

Be a good neighbor: 

• Please consider checking on seniors or persons with disabilities during and after snowstorms to ensure they are safe; have all the basic supplies, food, and medication they need; and that they have heat and are safe if there are power outages.
• If you are physically able, please consider clearing storm drains in advance of storms, or shoveling out fire hydrants after snowfall. Always take breaks when you shovel.
• If you have a driveway, please consider sharing it with tenants, neighbors, or friends during snow emergencies to free up spaces on the street (they might even help you shovel out as a thank you).
• If you feel comfortable and safe doing so, if you see a neighbor parking on the wrong side of the street, consider sharing snow emergency parking information with them and encouraging them to sign up for City Alerts.