The 2026 Resident Parking Permit Application is the paper form the City of Cambridge Traffic, Parking & Transportation Department uses to issue Resident Parking Permits, and Visitor Parking Permits for households without a vehicle. It is one of several ways to get a Cambridge parking permit: the city also takes applications online and in person, where no paper form is needed. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF. The official PDF and the city's permit rules are published by the city at cambridgema.gov.
Last updated
What is 2026 Resident Parking Permit Application – Cambridge, MA?
The 2026 Resident Parking Permit Application is the paper application the City of Cambridge Traffic, Parking & Transportation Department provides for requesting or renewing a Resident Parking Permit, or a Visitor Parking Permit for a household without a vehicle, in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The form has four sections: 1. Applicant Information, 2. Permit Type, 3. the vehicle registration information, completed only for a Resident Parking Permit, and 4. Application Checklist. A For Staff Only block at the bottom is for city use.
A Resident Parking Permit is a sticker placed on the inside lower driver's side corner of the windshield of a passenger vehicle; the city also requires it for motorcycles parked in permit parking spaces. A Visitor Parking Permit is a paper permit that visitors place on the dashboard while visiting a resident's home. A Resident Parking Permit includes a maximum of one Visitor Parking Permit per household. Permits are needed to park in areas designated "Parking by Permit Only" and expire on March 31 of each year.
The paper form is one of three routes. The city also accepts online applications and in-person visits at 344 Broadway, and for an in-person visit you do not need to bring a paper application. The form is not for Street Occupancy Permits, Non-Resident Parking Permits or temporary permits, which the city handles separately.
Who needs to file 2026 Resident Parking Permit Application – Cambridge, MA?
Cambridge residents who need to park in "Parking by Permit Only" areas use this application to get or renew a Resident Parking Permit. A Resident Parking Permit requires a current vehicle registration that meets the city's conditions (see required documents).
Households without a vehicle can use the form to request a Visitor Parking Permit, which is limited to one per household; if someone in the household has a vehicle, one Visitor Parking Permit is issued with the first Resident Parking Permit. Residents of dormitories are not eligible for a Visitor Parking Permit, and residents of certain dormitories built after October 27, 2003 in Special Zoning Districts 12, 13 and 14 cannot get Resident Parking Permits.
Do not use this application if you are renting a vehicle or using a car subscription service, or if you are a short-term resident such as a summer school student or sub-letter: the city does not offer short-term permits and sends renters to temporary permits. Non-Resident Parking Permits and Street Occupancy Permits are separate. Employer-owned vehicles, leased vehicles and military members on active duty follow modified rules described on the city's page.
The city will not issue a permit if you have unpaid parking tickets in your name.
When to file 2026 Resident Parking Permit Application – Cambridge, MA
Apply when your permit expires or when you first need one: all permits expire on March 31 of each year, and residents must renew every year. The 2026 form's notice, written for holders of 2025 permits that expire on March 31, 2026, gave March 1 as the date to renew by mail or online, and January 2 as the day in-person renewals began.
For the 2027 permit season the city's page announces that online renewals begin December 1, 2026, first-time applicants wait until January 1, 2027 to apply online, and in-person renewals start January 4, 2027 at 344 Broadway. The page also announces changes to fees, waivers and permit limits for 2027 permits, so check it before applying.
Proof of residency must carry a date in the last 30 days. If you buy a new vehicle during the renewal season (January 2 through March 31) and have not yet renewed, apply for a new permit. A Resident Parking Permit issued by mail is valid from the time it is issued; the city states no separate processing time for the paper form.
Documents you need
- Proof of residency, if required: one gas, electric, telephone, water, cable or internet utility bill listing a Cambridge service address and mailing address, dated (month/day/year) in the last 30 days.
- Proof of residency, if required, as an alternative to the utility bill: two pieces of mail or statements listing your Cambridge address, each dated in the last 30 days.
- Mail the city accepts when it meets those rules: bills, package invoices, shipping slips, bank statements, credit card statements, and auto and home insurance statements.
- For a Resident Parking Permit, the proof of residency must show the same name and address as your vehicle registration.
- Copy of your current vehicle registration, for a Resident Parking Permit only: registered with the Massachusetts RMV in your name, showing your Cambridge address and a Cambridge garage code.
- Employer-owned vehicle: a letter on the employer's letterhead stating the vehicle is assigned to you and that you control it at all times; the registration need not show your Cambridge address.
- Military Parking Permit applicants: a copy of military orders; the vehicle does not have to be registered in Massachusetts.
- Check or money order payable to "City of Cambridge" for the permit fee; the form says permits are free for people 65 or older or with a disability (HP) plate or placard, and the city's page asks for proof of age.
How to fill out 2026 Resident Parking Permit Application – Cambridge, MA
Enter today's date and your name
In Section 1, Applicant Information, fill in Today's Date, First Name and Last Name.
Enter your Cambridge address
Fill in Street Address, Apt/Unit and Zip Code. The address must be your Cambridge residence, and it must match your proof of residency.
Add phone and email
Enter your Phone number and Email Address in the last row of Section 1.
Choose the permit type
In Section 2, check Resident Parking Permit (then complete Sections 3 and 4) or Visitor Parking Permit (complete Section 4 only). The visitor permit option is for households without a vehicle.
Enter your vehicle details
For a Resident Parking Permit, Section 3 asks for License Plate Number, State, whether it is a commercial plate (Yes or No), the vehicle make and the Year. Copy them from your registration.
Work through the application checklist
Section 4 lists what must go with the form: the completed form, proof of residency unless you applied the last three years with the same information, a copy of the vehicle registration (Resident Parking Permits only), and payment.
Prepare proof of residency and registration
Pick one utility bill or two pieces of mail or statements dated in the last 30 days that include your name and address. Copy your vehicle registration if you are applying for a Resident Parking Permit.
Prepare payment, skip the staff block
Make a check or money order payable to "City of Cambridge", unless you qualify for a free permit as a resident 65 or older or with a disability plate or placard. Leave the For Staff Only block blank.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check the name, address and plate number against your documents. Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF, then assemble the package for the channels under How to submit.
How to submit 2026 Resident Parking Permit Application – Cambridge, MA
You can submit the paper application by mail, in the drop box at the city's office, or you can apply online or in person without it.
- By mail: send the completed form, a copy of your vehicle registration (Resident Parking Permit only), payment and proof of residency (if required) to The Department of Transportation, 344 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02139. Your permit is mailed to you.
- Drop box: the same package can go in the 24 hour drop box outside the office at 344 Broadway.
- In person: bring your documents and payment to 344 Broadway; no paper application is needed and no appointment is required, though you may book one at cambridgema.gov/parking-permits or 617-349-4700. Hours on the form: Monday 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Tuesday to Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday 8:30 a.m. to noon.
- Online: renew at cambridgema.gov/parking-permit-renewal or use cambridgema.gov/rpp. Online permits are mailed, not picked up.
A fee applies to most permits. With the paper form, pay by check or money order payable to "City of Cambridge"; in person the city also takes cash and cards, and service fees apply to card payments. The city does not recommend the mail or drop-box option unless you have off-street parking. Questions: [email protected] or 617-349-4700. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Applying while you have unpaid parking tickets in your name; the form says the city will not issue a permit in that case.
- Sending proof of residency dated more than 30 days ago, or one with no month/day/year date.
- Offering a driver's license, lease, pay stub, shut off notice, mortgage statement, change of address form, W2, tax form or magazine as proof of residency; the city does not accept them.
- Giving proof of residency whose name or address differs from the vehicle registration when applying for a Resident Parking Permit.
- Leaving out the copy of the vehicle registration for a Resident Parking Permit, or using a registration that is not Massachusetts, not in your name, or lacks a Cambridge garage code.
- Filling out Section 3 when you only want a Visitor Parking Permit; the form says to fill out only Section 4.
- Making the check or money order out to someone other than "City of Cambridge".
- Choosing mail or the drop box without off-street parking; the city does not recommend it because the permit is mailed back to you.
- Trying to change your license plate through online renewal; the city says to apply for a new permit instead.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a Cambridge parking permit with the paper application?
Complete the form, then mail it or leave it in the 24 hour drop box at 344 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02139, with proof of residency (if required), a copy of your vehicle registration for a Resident Parking Permit, and payment. The permit is mailed to you.
Do I need the paper application to apply in person?
No. The city's page says you do not need to bring a paper application when you apply in person at 344 Broadway. You still bring your proof of residency, your vehicle registration for a Resident Parking Permit, and payment. An appointment is not required.
What proof of residency does the application need?
One gas, electric, telephone, water, cable or internet utility bill with a Cambridge service and mailing address, or two pieces of mail or statements with your Cambridge address. Each must be dated in the last 30 days. It is required unless you applied before with the same information.
What vehicle registration do I need for a Resident Parking Permit?
A copy of a current Massachusetts registration in your name, showing your Cambridge residential address and a Cambridge garage code. Employer-owned and leased vehicles do not need a Cambridge address on the registration, but the garage code must still be Cambridge.
Is there a fee, and who gets a free permit?
A fee applies; pay the paper application by check or money order payable to "City of Cambridge". The form says permits are free for people 65 or older or with an HP plate or placard. The city announced fee and waiver changes for 2027 permits, so check its page or call 617-349-4700.
Can I get a permit if I have unpaid parking tickets?
No. The form states that the city will not issue a permit if you have unpaid parking tickets in your name. The city points to cambridgema.gov/parkingtickets for how to pay them.
When do Cambridge parking permits expire?
All permits expire on March 31 of each year, and residents must renew annually. The city's page announces that online renewals for the 2027 season begin December 1, 2026, and in-person renewals begin January 4, 2027.
Can I use this form for a rental car?
No. The city says renters and users of vehicle subscription services may not apply for a Resident Parking Permit and are eligible for a temporary Parking Permit instead, rented in your name and Cambridge address. Contact the department for that process.
Can I fill out the Cambridge permit application online on FillingPDF?
Yes. You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service and does not submit the application to the City of Cambridge; you send it through the city's mail, drop box, in-person or online channels.
Ready to fill out 2026 Resident Parking Permit Application – Cambridge, MA?
Fill out 2026 Resident Parking Permit Application – Cambridge, MA now