Parking

Mark Kostovski, Director

About Us

The Department of Transportation & Mobility's (DTM) Parking & Curbside Management group deals with all parking options and parking-related issues across the City.

Top Services

• To request services or report problems, call 311 or submit your request online through Worcester 311.

Where Do I Park?

Municipal parking facilities are conveniently located within a short walking distance of notable downtown destinations such as the Canal District, DCU Center, Hanover Theatre, Mechanics Hall, Palladium, Polar Park, Public Library, Union Station and Worcester District Court to name a few.

Programs & Initiatives

Have a Question?

• Are the City of Worcester parking lots and garages near downtown and other areas of interest?

  Yes. There are city-owned parking garages and parking lots in the downtown area and other parts of the City.

• Are there time limits for on-street parking?

  Yes, there are limits for parking sessions. Each zone has a time allotment. If you continue to park in that spot after a specific amount of time (e.g., 15 minutes, 30 minutes, etc.) you may receive an over-time ticket. You must move your vehicle to another location when your time has expired.

• Can I add more time to my session?

  Yes, after you make your initial transaction, you can extend your time from any parking kiosk or on the Passport Parking App on your phone up to the maximum time limit. However, you may not go over the time limit, the posted limits of 1 hour and 2 hours are strictly enforced. The purpose of creating a time limit is to allow other motorists to find parking so they can patronize local businesses. If you need longer-term parking, there are municipal parking lots and parking garages located throughout the City that charge affordable rates. Please see our Municipal Garages and Municipal Lots pages for more information.

• How do pay stations work?
  1. Enter your vehicle license plate number via the numeric keypad, then press "Done."
  2. Scroll through the hourly choices and make your selection.
  3. Pay for parking using credit card, bills and/or coins.
  4. Verify payment acceptance.
  5. Retrieve your receipt/change in the bottom ticket chute (lift the door).

  NOTE: Hit the red "Cancel" button at any time to return to the main screen. You do NOT need to display the receipt on your dash/window.

• I appealed a parking ticket in writing and was denied. How do I request a hearing?

  Contact the Parking Administration Office at 508-799-8656 or you can request a hearing via email at Parking@worcesterma.gov.

  You have 10 days from the date of the denial letter to request the hearing.

• I just moved to a street that has signs stating "Resident Parking Permit Only." Why did I get a ticket?

  Resident Parking by Permit Only is a City of Worcester Ordinance, which means you must have a permit issued by the City of Worcester to park on that street even if you live on that street. If you don't have a permit, then you may receive a parking ticket. To obtain a permit, you can apply online, by mail or in person. For more information, go to the Residential Parking Program. If you have questions regarding the Residential Parking Program, please call 508-799-8656, between the hours of 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

• I think the kiosk is broken/malfunctioning. What should I do?

  Report any errors you experience or inaccurate parking tickets you received to Worcester 311 at 311 within 72 hours of receiving a ticket between the hours of 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday - Friday. If the kiosk is confirmed defective, mail the ticket to the Parking Administration with the words "Non-Functioning" on the front of the ticket. Include your name and address with the ticket in order to receive a confirmation letter for the dismissed ticket.

  NOTE: An overtime parking violation may be issued if your vehicle is parked in a zoned space over the allotted time, even if the kiosk is defective.

• If I have a handicap placard, can I park anywhere?

  No. A handicap placard allows you to park only in a handicap designated space and at any on-street metered/pay-by-plate parking space without paying. All other on-street parking restrictions must still be followed, including Prohibited Zones, Tow Zones, Commercial Loading Zones and Passengers Zones. To obtain a handicap placard you must apply at any Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles. For more information, contact them at 1-800-858-3926.

• What happens if I lose my garage ticket?

  You will be assessed a $20 parking fee.

• What type of payment is accepted for on-street parking?

  Pay station payment options include Coins, AMEX, Discover, MasterCard and Visa. You can also park and pay by phone using the Passport Parking App.

• When are parking regulations and on-street parking enforced?

  On-street parking payment is enforced from 8 a.m., to 8 p.m. Monday - Saturday. Parking on Sunday and holidays are free of charge. In the Canal District, enforcement is in effect until 9:00 p.m. and two hour time limits will be enforced on Sundays.

• Why did I get a ticket while unloading my vehicle in a "Commercial Loading Zone?"

  Commercial Loading Zones are for commercial registered vehicles only. Only vehicles with a commercial registration may park in this zone and are given a 30 minute time limit for loading/unloading.