Somerville Moving Permits: How to Reserve a Space for your Moving Truck

Moving to Somerville? You need Somerville Moving Permits

Somerville is more popular than ever. We at Safe Responsible Movers see more and more folks moving to the area every month. However, in an urban area like Somerville, parking spaces can be hard to find, especially for a large moving truck. So if you’re thinking of moving to the Boston’s hip neighbor to the North, consider getting Somerville moving permits for your moving truck. Your Somerville Movers will thank you!

How to get Somerville Moving Permits

Somerville moving permits aren’t too expensive. In fact, You can get a one-day permit for as little as $40, depending on the location. There are two ways to get Somerville Parking Permits, one easy, and the other super-duper-easy. Let’s start with the latter:

The Super-Duper-Easy Way

When booking your movers, just let us know that you’d like us to acquire permits for you. We’ll pull the Somerville moving permits and required tow zone signage and post what’s needed at each address. All you’ll need to worry about is calling the cops on moving day if one of your new neighbors feels a little adventurous and parks in your reserved spot.

We charge $75 to get a permit for one location, $125 for two permit locations, and $150 for three or more. This fee is for us to acquire and post them for you. We’ll add it to the bill at the end of your move, in addition to the cost of your permits. For Somerville parking permits, this is usually about $50. It can be a little more expensive, however, if you’re reserving a metered space.

For example, if you want us to pull and post Somerville parking permits for your new place, but not your old (and it’s a non-metered space), the cost of one permit ($40), two signs ($10) plus our permit acquisition fee for a single permit ($75) would be added to your final bill. In that scenario, you’d be looking at an extra $125 on top of your total labor and travel costs.

The Pretty Easy Way

If you’ve decided to do the move on your own, or you simply want to save the fee, you can get your Somerville parking permits directly from the city, either in person or through the mail.

Getting your Moving Signs in Person

Since you need city hall to approve the permits at least four (4) days before your moving day, getting them in person is the quickest and easiest way to do it. Just make your way to Somerville’s Department of Traffic and Parking, located in Davis Square at 113 Holland Street.

To save time, you can print out the application for permits on the city’s website. Fill it out with the information it asks for – especially the type of container or truck you’ll be using. A standard moving truck is fine, as is a stand-alone container with no wheels. But a detached, wheeled trailer is not allowed under any circumstances. (Unattached trailers violate something called the “unattached trailer ordinance,” which is to make sure that anything with wheels taking up space on the city streets can be moved at a moment’s notice in case of an emergency. Look at this handy cheat sheet from the city more info.)

Getting your Parking Permits via mail

If you’re moving from far away or you’re going to be out of town during the time before your big move, you can also get your permits through the mail. Just print out the permit application, fill out the required information, and then send it along with a check or money order made out to “City of Somerville,” for the amount due to 133 Holland Street, Somerville, MA 02144.

If you get permits in person, the city processes them immediately. You can leave City Hall with permits in hand. But mailed applications take a little longer. The City of Somerville processes them within ten days of receipt. So if you decide to get permits via mail, it is extremely important that you mail your application at least two weeks before you move date. If you do so, you should then receive your permits in plenty of time to post them legally.

Posting the Permits

Once you’ve gotten your Somerville parking permits, you’ll need to post them at least 48 hours in advance of your moving date, when the permits will be valid from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Permits and tow signs (the big red “No Parking” signs are the signs, and the actual permit is a smaller piece of paper detailing the validity of those signs) should be posted on trees, meters, or any place that makes them visible to anyone thinking of parking in the spot.

The permits should also be about forty feet apart. This is so you can safely park the truck. It also ensures that there’s enough clearance for you or movers to safely carry things into and out of the truck.

Additionally, make sure you use enough tape to securely post the permits. This way, the wind or rain can’t knock them down. (And it’s also more difficult for any fine citizen trying to clandestinely rip them down.)

You’ll also need to report that you posted them, and where you posted them to “311,” Somerville’s non-emergency information hot-line. You can either dial 3-1-1 from any Somerville telephone, or call 617-666-3311 from outside of Somerville. You’ll need to call again when you remove the signs.

As mentioned before, the permits cost $40 and the signs cost $5 each, plus $35 for any meter. You can’t reserve a space unless it’s a legal parking spot. So if there’s a hydrant or handicapped spot on the part of the street where you want to park the truck, you’ll have to get a little creative.

Notify thy Neighbor

It’s also a good idea to leave notes on nearby cars or in your neighbors’ mailboxes. This is to inform everyone that, someday soon, there will be a parking restriction on the street. Ideally, that will prevent people from parking in your reserved spot.

Beware of weather! The City of Somerville reserves the right to revoke any permit due to public safety and inclement weather. So if we get hit with a blizzard that necessitates plowing the roads, your permits will no longer be valid. (Be sure you know the parking regulations for a snow emergency.)

Cars parked in your Somerville Parking Permits?

It’s important, especially if you’ve booked movers, to get up early on the day of your move. That’s because you’ll want to check your reserved spots for parked cars. Most movers (like us, for example) will charge you on their hourly rate clock for any time spent waiting for cars to be removed. So it’s important to call the Somerville police (“3-1-1” is the non-emergency line) as soon as you notice any cars. This way, you won’t be paying for your movers to wait for the tow truck to show up to begin your move.

If you still have questions about Somerville parking permits, you can call the city at 617-625-6600, 617-666-3311, or email the Department of Traffic and Parking.

Ready to book your move with out without Somerville Parking Permits? Get in touch with us today for a quote for your move!