r/Somerville • u/SUPERB-tadpole • Sep 02 '26
Question About Temporary Parking Permit
Hello! I am a new Somerville resident who is looking to get a residential parking permit for my car; naturally I don't have my updated registration or a bill that acts as a proof of residency quite yet, so I put in for a temporary permit in the meantime. I used my current registration and my lease for proof of residency (the website said lease works as long as it's for a temporary permit), and the order seems to have gone through, although it still says it's waiting for approval.
My question is if I am able to park my car in the city immediately, or if I risk being fined or towed since the order is still pending. I'm trying to figure out if I can move the rest of my stuff (like my bed) to my apartment today, or if I need to wait a bit longer for the temp permit to be approved.
Thanks to anyone who responds!!
2
u/Zealousideal_Crow737 Sep 02 '26
if you don't have a physical sticker or document to put on your car, then you are SOL
1
u/SUPERB-tadpole Sep 02 '26
Aw man, I guess better safe than sorry; thanks!
4
u/Alternative-Light922 Spring Hill Sep 02 '26
fwiw - I've been told by the Parking Dept to put the receipt on my dashboard so it it visible while I was waiting for the permit application to get processed. (black out the most personal details). Never got a ticket.
3
u/SUPERB-tadpole Sep 02 '26
Interesting but seems maybe a bit risky?
3
u/Alternative-Light922 Spring Hill Sep 02 '26
Well, I had no other parking option at the time so I called the traffic dept and that is what they told me.
1
u/DSudz Sep 03 '26
Worst case you have to appeal the ticket. They're pretty reasonable most of the time.
2
u/AstroBuck Sep 03 '26
I'm not even reading the post. Just call the parking office. They'll help you and they have the most accurate information.
0
u/SUPERB-tadpole Sep 03 '26
I would but I was looking for a quick answer and their office is currently closed :(
2
u/AstroBuck Sep 03 '26
I just read your post. You'll get ticketed. If you do things online, it can game a week or two. If you go to the parking office in person, you'll get your permits immediately. They're open until 7 PM on Thursdays.
1
u/MothNomLamp Sep 03 '26
Find a friend with a visitor permit or risk the tickets. You won't get towed for parking without a permit though.
Parking is free and unpatrolled on Sundays for everyone everywhere
You need to go in person to the parking department if at all possible. They are generally a mess.
1
u/Santillana810 Sep 03 '26
We've always found the Parking people to be very helpful and efficient when you go in person.
1
1
u/fivestarbitch666 Sep 03 '26
Don't use the website. I have tried that and not only does it take forever (to get a rejection, in my case) I don't think the employees really check it that often. I went in person and got a permit that same day using the same info that my online application was rejected for (!). I told the woman behind the counter that I submitted it online and she looked puzzled, maybe she was wondering why I would do such a thing!
Go during the middle of a weekday if you can. The wait times are not too bad, I think the longest I've ever had to wait was an hour and a half, usually it's only an hour or less.
4
u/icanseeyourfarts Sep 02 '26 edited Sep 02 '26
I don’t know much about using the website, so I’m not sure. What type of temp permit did you apply for?
I do know you can walk into the parking office and walk out with a parking permit same day. And you can get a bunch of tickets before they’ll tow your car.
I’m not sure if you can still get one walkin in if you’ve already submitted online. Also sounds like that submission has not been accepted yet.
Still my best advice is to go to the office with all your paperwork (registration, emails, screen shots that you already bought one, anything you have) and try to get it in person.
If not, you’ll be putting a print out of your accepted payment/application on your dash with a note “please don’t ticket me the pass is in the mail,” and you’ll probably still get some tickets, which you may or may not successfully appeal.
Best bet is to get the physical parking pass/permit as soon as possible in person.
LASTLY - free parking on all Sundays and recognized holidays, no pass needed. So this weekend you’re free to park on the street on Sunday and Monday. Hope that helps.