The City of Somerville is encouraging the community to get ready now for potential snowstorms by signing up for City Alerts and reviewing protocols for snow emergencies. Preparing now will help keep the community safe, as well as reduce ticketing or towing for snow emergency parking violations and ticketing for failure to follow shoveling requirements.

All information below can also be found at somervillema.gov/snow. 

Alerts

Snow emergencies are announced in various ways, including through phone, text, and email alerts. Those who live, work, or own a business or property in Somerville are urged to sign up for City Alerts. Alerts are also available in multiple languages. Sign up at somervillema.gov/alerts. 

In addition to Somerville City Alerts, snow emergencies are announced the following ways:

• City website: somervillema.gov
• City social media feeds: somervillema.gov/social
• City TV: somervillema.gov/somerville-city-tv
• Flashing blue lights at major intersections
• Information is shared with local media
• Street Parking

Because this winter begins in an even-numbered year, snow emergency parking is on the even side of the street all winter. There are a small number of exceptions to the park even rule, which will be noted by signs on that street.

Once a snow emergency is declared, everyone has four hours to move their car to the even-numbered side of the street, or to municipal lots that are available for use during a snow emergency. Parking is not allowed in school lots during snow emergencies. 

Parking is allowed at meters on the even-numbered side of the street during a snow emergency, as long as there is no sign stating otherwise. Meters and time-parking rules are not enforced during snow emergencies. The city does not enforce an ordinance prohibiting cars from being parked in the same spot for more than 48 hours during snow emergencies.

Vehicles may be ticketed and towed if in violation of snow emergency parking rules. 

Municipal Lot Parking

Municipal lots are available for parking during snow emergencies. Once the emergency is lifted, all cars must be moved from the lots within two hours.

For the 2024-2025 snow season the following lots are available for parking:

Municipal Buildings

• City Hall Concourse (93 Highland Ave.)
• All metered municipal parking lots
• Municipal Parking Lots
• Buena Vista Lot, Buena Vista Road (via Holland St. or Meacham Rd.)
• Cutter Square Lot (Elm St./Summer St. at Cutter Ave.)
• Day Street Lot (Day St.)
• Dilboy Pool Lot (110 Alewife Brook Pkwy.)
• Foss Park Lot (Foss Park at Broadway)
• Grove Street Lot A (Grove St. at Highland Ave., referred to as “Rite Aid Lot”)
• Grove Street Lot B (Grove St. east side, between Highland Ave. and Elm St., “Grove Street Lot”)
• Magoun Square Lot (Broadway at Medford St.)
• Mount Vernon St. Lot (Broadway between Mount Vernon St. and Mt. Pleasant St.)
• Union Square Lot (off Washington St., entrance at Washington St./Bonner Ave.)
• Founder’s Ice Arena (Rear – 581 Somerville Ave.)
• Winter Hill Lot A (Broadway, north side between Fellsway West and Wheatland St.)
• Winter Hill Lot B (Broadway, north side)

Again, parking is not allowed in school lots during snow emergencies.

Snow Shoveling Support Program

The Somerville Youth Shoveling program returns for the 2024-2025 snow season. This is a paid opportunity for youth to help local seniors and homeowners with disabilities or medical conditions after a snowstorm. 

Seniors interested in signing up to receive the service can contact Debby Higgins at the Somerville Council on Aging by emailing dhiggins@somervillema.gov or calling 617-625-6600 ext. 2321. Youth looking to sign up can contact Youth Services Coordinator Dan Harris by emailing dharris@somervillema.gov or calling 617- 625-6600 ext. 2406. 

Snow Shoveling Requirements

Property owners are responsible for removing ice and snow from sidewalks and accessible ramps that abut their property. The City places buckets of sand where possible in neighborhoods, which may be used to prevent slipping on your public walkways.

To comply with all city shoveling rules:

• Sidewalks need to be cleared within six daylight hours after the snow stops.
• Shovel a path at least 36 inches wide and down to the pavement on sidewalks and ramps.
• Do not shovel snow onto city streets unless the temperature is 40 degrees or higher, it is during daylight hours, and snow and ice are broken up and spread evenly on the street so they will melt quickly.

These rules apply to all snowfall, not just when a snow emergency is declared. Failure to comply with the above rules may result in increasing fines issued daily until the walkway is clear.