Public street
Consider a City moving truck permit when reliable curb access matters.
Boston curb access, explained
Boston Moving Permits: What to Do Before Moving Day
On a Boston block, the distance from truck to door can matter as much as the drive. A reserved curb space keeps that distance predictable. Here’s when a reservation helps, what the City charges, how early to apply, and what to do after the signs arrive.
- Permit statusOptional, but it reserves legal curb space
- Online window15 days to 8 weeks before the move
- Standard hoursTwo spaces from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tell us about your move
Share your contact information. We’ll follow up about the date, addresses, inventory, and access at both properties.
Prefer to talk? Call (617) 952-1505
Start with the curb
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Do you need a moving permit in Boston?
Boston does not require every moving truck to have a permit. A City reservation is still useful when the truck needs dependable access to a public curb. Without one, the crew can use an available legal space, but no space is held for your move.
Picture the block at the hour your truck is expected. If parking is scarce, meters line the street, or the next open space would create a long carry, reserving the curb is usually the safer plan. A private driveway or a building’s own loading area may not need a City reservation, although the property can have separate rules.
Private property
Confirm permission with the owner or manager and follow the building’s loading plan.
Match the reservation to the actual loading point
The useful space is the one that keeps the truck near the entrance the crew will use. Confirm the address, side of the street, legal parking area, and building entrance before submitting the application.
From application to move day
How to reserve space for a moving truck
The application is straightforward once you have the right curb and date. The process changes slightly depending on how soon you are moving and whether you need a standard truck reservation or a moving container.
Check the exact curb
Confirm that the requested area is a legal parking space and look for an existing street occupancy permit that could conflict with your date.
Choose online or in person
Apply online when the move is 15 days to 8 weeks away. Apply in person when it is 3 days to 8 weeks away or when you need up to five consecutive days.
Submit the location and date
Use the address where the truck will park, not simply the apartment number or mailing address. Check whether the requested spaces contain meters.
Receive the permit and signs
Boston mails approved online permits and signs. They usually arrive within 7–10 business days; if the envelope is late, contact the Parking Clerk before your posting deadline.
Post and monitor the signs
Put the signs up at least 48 hours before the 7 a.m. start; Boston recommends three days. Keep them visible and in the approved positions.
Share the plan
Send the mover and building manager the permit location, hours, entrance instructions, elevator schedule, and a contact for move day.
Moving containers follow a different path. Boston requires an in-person application for most moving containers and publishes separate instructions for PODS. Check the current procedure with the City before arranging the container.
Check current City instructions
Current City fee and timing
What a Boston moving permit costs
The standard one-day reservation covers two parking spaces from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The City charges more when those spaces contain meters because the reservation takes the meters out of service.
- The two required signs are included in the listed permit price.
- A card service fee of 2.5%, with a $1 minimum, applies to card payments.
- Personal checks are not accepted for in-person moving truck permits.
Boston moving truck reservation
| Two non-metered spaces | $69One day, 7 a.m.–5 p.m., including two signs |
|---|---|
| Two metered spaces | $109 total$69 permit and signs, plus $40 for the two meters |
| Online application | 15 days–8 weeks aheadApproved materials are mailed to the address supplied in the application |
| In-person application | 3 days–8 weeks aheadAlso used for moving containers and reservations lasting up to five consecutive days |
Fees and timing were checked against Boston.gov on August 13, 2026. Confirm the current amount and application rules with the City before paying.
Street conditions shape the plan
The same permit can solve different Boston access problems
A permit will not make a narrow street wider or a busy block quiet. What it does is hold a legal place for the truck. That can change the carry to the door, the route through the property, and whether the crew can work within the building’s move window.
Back Bay and Beacon Hill
Narrow streets, one-way traffic, meters, and older entries make the exact truck position especially important.
South End and the North End
Dense curb use and limited loading areas reward early coordination with the property and nearby occupants.
Fenway and central Boston
Metered spaces, active construction, and overlapping street permits can affect where a reservation is available.
Allston and student moves
Busy turnover dates can put several trucks on the same block, so signs and move timing deserve extra attention.
The curb is only one approval
A parking reservation does not replace building requirements
The City controls the public curb. Your building controls its doors, elevator, loading area, and move hours. Treat these as two related plans and finish both before move day.
Ask management whether it needs a certificate of insurance, a named additional insured, elevator padding, a refundable deposit, or a scheduled loading dock. Send those requirements to the moving company early enough to resolve them in writing.
Truck route matters, too
Moving trucks are prohibited on Storrow Drive, where the posted clearance is 10 feet. Give the crew both addresses and any property route instructions rather than relying on a passenger-car map.
City curb reservation
Holds approved public parking spaces for the date and hours shown on the permit.
Certificate of insurance
Shows the mover’s coverage in the format requested by the property. It does not reserve street parking.
Elevator or loading appointment
Controls access inside the property and may be narrower than the City permit window.
Private driveway or loading area
Requires the owner’s or manager’s approval rather than a standard public-street reservation.
Plan the access with the move
What to share with Esquire Moving
Tell us how the truck can reach each property, even if you are still waiting for a permit or a building response. The estimate and move plan should reflect the real entrances, stairs, elevators, parking limits, and carry distances.
- 01
Both addresses and the move date, including the unit, floor, and entrance the crew should use.
- 02
Parking and permit status, with the approved curb location and hours when available.
- 03
Building instructions, including COI wording, elevator times, loading areas, and protection requirements.
- 04
Inventory and special handling, so the crew, truck space, protection materials, and schedule fit the move.
After the permit arrives
Post the signs correctly and keep the space clear
Once the envelope arrives, the job is not finished. Put the City signs at the approved spaces at least 48 hours before the 7 a.m. permit start; Boston recommends three days. The City also requires notice flyers on vehicles within half a block each day for at least two days. For metered spaces, the flyer period is one day.
Photograph the posted signs
Capture the position, date, and nearby curb so you have a clear record of how the approved space was marked.
Call if the space is occupied
Use the Boston Police non-emergency number, 617-343-4911, and provide the vehicle’s plate number. Police arrange any tow.
Remove signs and debris
Take down the signs and flyers when the reservation ends, and leave the sidewalk and curb clear.
For permit or sign questions, contact the Boston Parking Clerk at 617-635-2560 or movingtrucks@boston.gov.
Open the official guide
Common permit questions
Boston moving permit FAQ
Is a moving permit required in Boston?
No. Boston does not require every moving truck to have a permit, but a permit reserves legal curb space for the approved date and hours. Without one, the truck must use whatever legal space is available.
How much is a Boston moving permit?
The City lists $69 for two non-metered parking spaces for one day, including two signs. Reserving two metered spaces adds $40, for a $109 total before any card service fee.
How early should I apply?
Online applications are accepted 15 days to 8 weeks before the move. In-person applications are accepted 3 days to 8 weeks ahead. Applying earlier leaves more time for approval, mailing, and sign posting.
When do the moving permit signs need to go up?
Boston requires the signs to be posted at least 48 hours before the 7 a.m. start and recommends posting them three days ahead. The signs must remain visible in the approved spaces.
What if a vehicle is parked in the reserved space?
Call Boston Police at 617-343-4911, the non-emergency number, and provide the vehicle’s license plate. Police determine the next step and arrange towing when appropriate.
Does a Boston moving permit cover an elevator reservation or COI?
No. The permit reserves public curb space. Your building may separately require a certificate of insurance, elevator appointment, loading dock reservation, deposit, or protective materials.
Can I reserve space for a moving container online?
Boston requires an in-person application for most moving containers and publishes separate instructions for PODS. Check the current procedure on the City’s moving truck permit page before arranging the container.
Will Esquire Moving apply for the permit?
Permit responsibilities can depend on the written scope for your move. Ask who will apply, receive the signs, post them, and remove them, and make sure those responsibilities are confirmed before move day.
Ready to plan the move?
Request an estimate built around the property and access
Share the route, date, inventory, and what you know about parking and building rules. We’ll discuss the remaining details before the move plan is finalized.
- Include stairs, elevators, loading areas, and carry distance.
- Send permit and building instructions when they are available.
- Call (617) 952-1505 if you prefer to discuss the move.
Start your moving estimate
Tell us where and when you are moving, then add the access details that matter to the plan.