Reserve a parking spot for your moving truck

Please note:

• Moving truck permits are just for moving trucks, not personal vehicles.
• For moving PODS and containers, you must apply in person.

A standard moving permit reserves two parking spaces for one day from 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. You can only apply online if your moving date is at least two weeks away (15 days), and no more than eight weeks away.

You can check to see if the space you want is available. Search our database of Street Occupancy Permits before coming to City Hall.

Starting March 22 through December 1, 2021:

Moving permits will NOT be issued to locations that are already designated for the City of Boston's outdoor dining program. You must find an alternate location if you wish to obtain a moving permit.

Please note:

• The street space you want to reserve needs to be an actual parking spot. The spot can be residential, commercial, metered, or something else, but it must be legal to park a vehicle there.
• From August 31 to September 2, some common moving locations are blocked off to allow for moving truck drop-offs. They don't require a permit.
• You must come in person for permits for overnight storage or moving containers. You also need to give us a letter of authorization from the company that owns those containers. The company must hold a bond with the City.

A one-day permit for a moving truck for two non-metered spaces costs $69 and includes two signs. One-day permits for two metered spaces cost an additional $40. You can pay with Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, or a debit card.

 Apply for a one-day permit

Timeline

After your application is submitted and approved, we will mail you your permit through the US Postal Service. We mail the permit to the address you provide when you create your account. Please note: This address may be different than your billing address, or the permitted address.

You should receive your permit within 10 days of it being approved.

You or someone you know needs to post signs on the street at least 48 hours before the start time of the permit (7 a.m.). We recommend posting these signs three days before your move.

We also give you a flier to alert your neighbors. Please make copies and place them in doorways and on cars within a half-block of the parking spaces you are using. You need to do this every day for at least two days before your move. If the spaces are metered, you only need to flier one day before your move.

Make sure to clean up any debris left behind and remove any signs or fliers after your move. If you have questions about your application, please email movingtrucks@boston.gov or call the Office of the Parking Clerk at 617-635-2560.

Please note: Moving truck permits are just for moving trucks, not personal vehicles.

A standard moving permit reserves two parking spaces for one day from 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. If your moving day is at least three days away, but no more than eight weeks away, you can apply in person. You can apply for a permit for up to five days in a row. 

Do you need a permit for more than five days? After that first five-day period, we require a 48-hour break where the public can use the space again. After that, we are able to issue another permit for up to five days.

Starting March 22 through December 1, 2021:

Moving permits will NOT be issued to locations that are already designated for the City of Boston's outdoor dining program. You must find an alternate location if you wish to obtain a moving permit.

Please note:

• The street space you want to reserve needs to be an actual parking spot. The spot can be residential, commercial, metered, or something else, but it must be legal to park a vehicle there.
• From August 31 to September 2, some common moving locations are blocked off to allow for moving truck drop-offs. They don't require a permit.
• You must come in person for permits for overnight storage or moving containers. You also need to give us a letter of authorization from the company that owns those containers. The company must hold a bond with the City.
• You can check to see if the space you want is available. Search our database of Street Occupancy Permits before coming to City Hall.

Moving truck permits can be bought at the Office of the Parking Clerk, on the second floor of City Hall. The windows are to the far left.

The street space you want to reserve must be an actual parking space. This space can be residential, commercial, metered, or something else, as long as it is legal to park a vehicle there. To get approval, you need to tell us:

• the date of your move
• the address you will park in front of, and
• if there is metered parking.

A one-day permit for a moving truck for two non-metered spaces costs $69, and includes two signs. One-day permits for two metered spaces cost an additional $40.

Payment options:

You can pay with cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, or a pinless debit card. We are no longer accepting personal checks for moving truck permits, effective February 10, 2020.

If you use a credit card or pinless debit card, there is a non-refundable service fee of 2.5% of the total payment, with a $1 minimum. This fee is paid to the card processor and not kept by the City.

PLEASE NOTE:

If your debit card requires you to enter your pin to process a payment, you CANNOT use it to pay your fee.

You or someone you know needs to post signs on the street at least 48 hours before the start time of the permit (7 a.m.). We recommend posting these signs three days before your move.

We also give you a flier to alert your neighbors. Please make copies and place them in doorways and on cars within a half-block of the parking spaces you are using. You need to do this every day for at least two days before your move. If the spaces are metered, you only need to flier one day before your move.

You are responsible for removing any posted signs or fliers after they are no longer needed. You also must clean up any debris from your move. If you have any questions, please email movingtrucks@boston.gov or call the Parking Clerk's Office at 617-635-2560.