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How to apply for an accessible parking spot

Last updated:

If eligible, you can apply to have an accessible parking spot on your street. You can apply in a few different ways.

Step
1

BEFORE YOU GET STARTED ONLINE

You can apply for an accessible parking spot whether you’re a driver or a passenger. You may be eligible for an accessible parking spot if:

  • You are a full-time, year-round resident or property owner of Boston (you can apply whether you rent or own your home)
  • You have a disability that will last at least one year and severely limits your ability to walk
  • You have a valid Disabled License Plate, Disabled Veteran Plate, or a Disabled Parking Placard from the Registry of Motor Vehicles, and
  • You have a car registered at your Boston address that you use daily for personal transportation.

You are NOT eligible for a parking space if:

  • You have a short-term disability that will last less than a year (you aren’t eligible if your disability doesn’t severely limit your ability to walk)
  • You don’t have a car registered at your Boston address (Spaces for only “pick-up and drop-off” purposes will not be installed)
  • You have a driveway, garage, or other off-street parking that you use
  • You owe the City money for outstanding parking tickets or taxes, or
  • There are “No Parking” or “No Stopping” signs posted on your street.
Step
2

PREPARE YOUR DOCUMENTS

You will need to include digital photos or scanned copies of your:

  • Vehicle registration at your Boston address
  • Disabled Parking Placard showing your photo, ID number, and expiration date
  • Your Massachusetts driver’s license

If you drive your car, even if it’s just some of the time:

  • Ready digital files of your vehicle registration, Disabled Parking Placard, and driver’s license
  • Have your doctor fill out the medical form, and create a digital copy

If you are only a passenger in the car (you don’t have a license, you never drive, or you are under the age of 16):

  • Ready digital files of your Disabled Parking Placard, the driver’s license of the person who regularly drives you, and the primary driver’s vehicle registration 
  • Have your doctor fill out the medical form, and create a digital copy

Please make sure your forms are filled out completely and your photos or scanned documents are clear. Please don’t send in X-rays or medical records. You just need the doctor to fill out the medical section of your application.

Step
3

SEND YOUR INFO TO BOSTON CITY HALL

Fill out the online On-Street Accessible Parking Space form

You will be asked to upload your: 

  • vehicle registration
  • disabled parking placard 
  • driver’s license, and
  • completed medical form.

Any additional or missing documents can be emailed to disability@boston.gov or faxed to 617-635-2726.

Your application may take up to eight (8) weeks to process. Once we've made our decision, we'll send you an approval or denial by mail.

Step
1

Before you get started by mail or fax

You can apply for an accessible spot whether you’re a driver or a passenger. You may be eligible for an accessible parking spot if:

  • You are a full-time, year-round resident of Boston (you can apply whether you rent or own your home)
  • You have a disability that will last at least one year and severely limits your ability to walk
  • You have a valid Disabled License Plate, Disabled Veteran Plate, or a Disabled Parking Placard from the Registry of Motor Vehicles, and
  • You have a car registered at your Boston address that you use daily for personal transportation.

You CANNOT get a parking spot if:

  • You have a short-term disability that will last less than a year (you aren’t eligible if your disability doesn’t severely limit your ability to walk)
  • You don’t have a car registered at your Boston address (you can't get a space for “Pick-up and Drop-off” purposes)
  • You already have a driveway, garage, or other off-street parking that you use
  • You owe the City money for outstanding parking tickets or taxes, or
  • There are “No Parking” or “No Stopping” signs posted on your street.
Step
2

Prepare your documents

If you drive your car, even if it’s just some of the time:

  • Print out and complete the driver application
  • Have the medical section filled out by your doctor.

If you are only a passenger in the car (you don’t have a license, you never drive, or you you are under the age of 16):

You also need to give us copies of your:

  • Car registration at your Boston address
  • Disabled Parking Placard showing your photo, ID number, and expiration date
  • Your Massachusetts driver’s license

Please make sure all your forms are easy to read and your photos are clear.  Also, please don’t give us X-rays or medical records. You just need the doctor to fill out the medical section of your application.

Step
3

Send your info to Boston City Hall

Accessible Parking Space applications can be submitted by:

  • email
  • fax, or
  • mail

You can email your attached application and documents to disability@boston.gov or fax your application and documents to 617-635-2726.

You can mail your application to our office in City Hall. Mail your completed application and all forms to:

Disabilities Commission
1 City Hall Square, Room 967
Boston, MA 02201

Your application may take up to eight (8) weeks to process. Once we've made our decision, we'll send you an approval or denial by mail.

Step
1

Before you get started in person

You can apply for an accessible spot whether you’re a driver or a passenger. You may be eligible for an accessible parking spot if:

  • You are a full-time, year-round resident of Boston (you can apply whether you rent or own your home)
  • You have a disability that will last at least one year and severely limits your ability to walk
  • You have a valid Disabled License Plate, Disabled Veteran Plate, or a Disabled Parking Placard from the Registry of Motor Vehicles, and
  • You have a car registered at your Boston address that you use daily for personal transportation.

You CANNOT get a parking spot if:

  • You have a short-term disability that will last less than a year (you aren’t eligible if your disability doesn’t severely limit your ability to walk)
  • You don’t have a car registered at your Boston address (you can't get a space for “Pick-up and Drop-off” purposes)
  • You already have a driveway, garage, or other off-street parking that you use
  • You owe the City money for outstanding parking tickets or taxes, or
  • There are “No Parking” or “No Stopping” signs posted on your street.
Step
2

Prepare your documents

If you drive your car, even if it’s just some of the time:

  • Print out and complete the driver application
  • Have the medical section filled out by your doctor.

If you are only a passenger in the car (you don’t have a license, you never drive, or you you are under the age of 16):

You also need to give us copies of your:

  • Car registration at your Boston address
  • Disabled Parking Placard showing your photo, ID number, and expiration date
  • Your Massachusetts driver’s license

Please make sure all your forms are easy to read and your photos are clear.  Also, please don’t give us X-rays or medical records. You just need the doctor to fill out the medical section of your application.

Step
3

Give us your application

You can drop off your application and documents at the Disabilities Commission:

1 City Hall Square, Room 967
Boston, MA 02201
Office hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 5  p.m.

Your application may take up to eight (8) weeks to process. Once we've made our decision, we'll send you an approval or denial by mail.

Keep in mind

Appealing a denial

You have 60 days to appeal to the Disabilities Commission if we deny your application. Call 617-635-3682 (TTY: 617-635-2541) for more information.

GETTING A DISABLED PLATE OR PLACARD

You need a disability plate or placard to request an accessible parking spot. Learn more about your options.

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