Parking

On-Campus Parking

All persons parking on Harvard property must purchase a parking permit regardless of work shift or parking location. Parking regulations are in force at all times, including nights, Sundays and holidays. Parking is permitted only in areas designated for that use. Parking in roadways, loading zones, fire lanes, on the grass, or at building exits is prohibited whether or not it is so posted. Parking privileges are not transferable and will be revoked in the event of any application, permit, or vehicle misrepresentation. All vehicles not displaying a valid Harvard University Parking Permit will be subject to ticketing and/or towing without notice at the owner's risk and expense.

If you only drive to campus on nights and weekends, consider getting a night permit. Night permits cost $125 for the year and allow you to park worry-free in most Harvard lots after 5pm, on weekends and during university holidays. Some parking spaces are reserved 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and you can be towed from them even if you have a parking permit. Parking guards are especially vigilant during the first few weeks of the each semester, so don't delay in getting your parking pass.

In early September there are two lotteries for daytime parking spots. Resident parking permits provide non-assigned, 24-hour parking at designated locations for $90 per month. Commuter parking is about $375 from September through June 15 but only allows parking between 7am and midnight. More information about parking lotteries is available at registration.

Off-Campus Parking
So what do those "parking by permit only" signs on the streets in residential areas mean exactly? Simply that you must have a resident parking permit to park your car there. If you don't have a driveway, you have to register your car under your local address with your city of residence in order to receive a parking sticker. If you live in Cambridge, you will receive a Cambridge resident sticker valid in Cambridge and nowhere else.

You must carry insurance to qualify for a local parking permit and to avoid the tickets you would receive for parking without such a sticker. Since changing your vehicle registration means your car will be subject to the state excise taxes and local insurance rates, you may see a significant increase in cost of insurance.

Parking stickers: Once your car is registered at your local address, take your car registration, a current utility bill (as proof of residency), and a few dollars ($8 in Cambridge) to yourlocal parking office. The Cambridge Department of Traffic and Parking (349-4700) is at 238 Broadway. The Somerville office (625-6600) is at 133 Holland Street. Boston residents may obtain a sticker at the Parking Clerk in Room 224 of Boston City Hall, Government Center (635-4682). With a city parking sticker, you have considerable latitude in parking throughout that city.

Parking Limitations
Street cleaning. From April to November in most cities, and year-round in a few, there is a weekly or monthly street cleaning. On a designated day parking is banned on one or both sides of the street. The day is usually posted on signs on the street and there will often be loudspeaker announcements the morning of the cleaning. The city will tow your car if it is in the way when the truck comes by.

Snow emergencies. In the event of significant snowfall, a snow emergency may be declared, whereby parking is restricted to ensure that streets are passable for plows and emergency vehicles. On some streets no parking is allowed at all. On most it is limited to one side of the street. Check with your local administration to see what the regulations are. Often parking is disallowed on either the even- or odd-numbered side of the street. Again, if your car is where it shouldn't be, expect it to be towed and incur hefty fines.

Time limits. In order to prevent people from "storing" their cars on the street, many areas limit the time a car can be left in one the same spot. Technically, therefore, you are expected to move your car every few days even if you are not using it. In reality, this is rarely enforced, except after snowstorms. If your car is still buried by snow three days after a snowstorm, it is easy to tell that it has not been moved. Take the time to clean the snow off your car just after a snowstorm even if you're not planning to go anywhere.