The Parking Freeze Application Form is the City of Boston form that the Air Pollution Control Commission (APCC) uses to review requests for a parking freeze permit or exemption certification for a parking facility in a parking freeze zone. Property owners, applicants and their representatives use it for a new request or for a modification of an existing permit or certification. On FillingPDF you can fill out the form online and download or print the completed PDF; the application itself is sent to the Commission by email and in paper form, as described below.
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What is Parking Freeze Application Form – Boston, MA?
The Parking Freeze Application Form is the Air Pollution Control Commission (APCC) form used in Boston to request a new parking freeze permit or exemption certification, or to modify an existing one, for a parking facility located in a parking freeze zone.
The Commission reviews each application at a public hearing. The form is five pages long and has four parts: A. General Application Information (project location, applicant, property owner and representative, kind of application, and which parking freeze the facility is in), B. Parking Facility Information (space counts by category, parking charges, parking method and facility type, bicycle parking, electric vehicle readiness, totals and square footage by use, and the Transportation Access Plan Agreement question), C. Signatures and Submittal Requirements, and D. Addendum: Important Application Information.
The form covers the Downtown Boston and South Boston parking freezes. The Commission's page says the process is the same for a new or a modified permit, but it asks you to contact [email protected] for a modification. It also says the Commission is not accepting applications for new parking freeze permits in East Boston, because no spaces are available in that freeze bank.
The form is a first step, not the whole filing: supporting documents, a fee payment, abutter and newspaper notices and a hearing follow.
Who needs to file Parking Freeze Application Form – Boston, MA?
The owner of a parking facility, or an applicant authorized by the owner of record, files this form when the project is in a parking freeze zone and needs a permit or exemption certification. A representative may be named in section A.4 and may sign.
Downtown (Boston Proper):
- Projects with residential parking only do not need a Downtown permit or exemption certification. They may ask the Commission for a letter of exclusion.
- A residential project that includes any employee or staff parking must apply for an exemption certification.
- All other projects must apply for a Downtown permit or exemption certification, including permit modifications.
South Boston: you do not need a permit if you create parking reserved for building residents at a ratio of one space per housing unit (1:1) or less, new residential spaces in the residential zone for a residence in that zone, or new commercial spaces in the residential zone for a business in that zone. All other projects, including modifications, must apply.
East Boston: the Commission is not accepting new permit applications.
If you are unsure whether your address is in a zone, the Commission's page points to an online map and to [email protected].
When to file Parking Freeze Application Form – Boston, MA
File when your project is in a parking freeze zone and needs a permit, exemption certification or modification, before the Commission's filing deadline for the hearing you want. The Commission considers only applications submitted by the filing deadline, and the application fee must be received by that deadline. If you miss it, you wait for the following public hearing.
Hearings are held monthly or, at minimum, quarterly. Once the Commission has your application, staff will tell you the hearing date. You must publish a notice in a major or local newspaper and notify abutters 14–21 days before the hearing; staff supply the notice templates about 28 days before it. A detailed hearing notice is posted 10 days before the hearing.
The Commission's page adds that permits and exemption certifications are renewed annually every July 1, for a per-space fee. No filing deadline date is printed on the form itself.
Documents you need
- Written proof that you are the owner of record or have written approval from the owner of record to file. Accepted: a copy of last year's Assessing Department bill, a statement from the owner, or another written document proving ownership or authorization.
- Site plan of the parking facility and a locus map, showing the facility location and surroundings, space layout and number, entry and exit locations, total square footage of the parking area, and the location, type and amount of electric vehicle and bicycle parking.
- Statement of Need: a general description of the facility and the parking needs of the project, local entities and patrons it will serve, with any letters of written support you wish to add.
- Check or money order for the per-space application fee, payable to the City of Boston, Air Pollution Control Commission. It must be received by the application deadline.
- Abutters list: all owners within 300 feet of the project property line must be notified. Notices go out in English and the second most commonly spoken language of the neighborhood, where there is one.
- Electric Vehicle Equivalency Calculator, attached to the application as the form's Part B, item 5 directs.
- A list of the property owners, attached to the form, if there is more than one owner.
- The draft or final Transportation Access Plan Agreement (TAPA), if you answer Yes to Part B, item 8 and it is available.
How to fill out Parking Freeze Application Form – Boston, MA
Enter the project location
In A.1, enter the street address, city/town, ZIP code, Assessors Map/Plat Number and Parcel/Lot Number. The Parcel ID is assigned by the Assessing Department and appears on your latest property tax return or the tax parcel viewer.
Complete the applicant and owner blocks
In A.2 and A.3, enter first and last name, company, mailing address, phone, fax and email for the applicant and for the property owner. Check the box if there is more than one owner and attach a list of them.
Add a representative if you have one
In A.4, enter the same contact details for your representative. Write N/A if you have none.
Choose the kind of application
In A.5, select either a new parking freeze permit or exemption, or a modification of an existing permit or exemption certification. In A.6, select Downtown Boston or South Boston.
Enter the space counts
In B.1, enter the numbers for the freeze your facility is in: Commercial Spaces, Exempt Spaces, Residential Included Spaces and Residential Excluded Spaces for Downtown, and Commercial Spaces and Residential Excluded Spaces for South Boston.
Answer the parking charge and method questions
In B.2, mark Yes, No or Not sure for whether you charge or will charge for parking. In B.3, select all that apply: Valet, Self-Parking, Surface Lot or Garage.
Report bicycle parking
In B.4, enter the number of long-term and short-term bicycle spaces, showers, lockers, bikeshare station size and contribution, and any other amenities. Check the City's Bicycle Parking Guidelines.
Report electric vehicle readiness
In B.5, enter EVSE-Installed Points, EV-Ready Points and the total number of spaces, and mark whether A + B = C. Attach the Electric Vehicle Equivalency Calculator.
Enter totals and square footage
In B.6, enter proposed, new and existing spaces, the facility square footage, the ratio of residential spaces to units and, optionally, spaces returned. In B.7, list square footage by use: residential, retail, office/admin, institutional, industrial and lodging.
Answer the TAPA question
In B.8, mark Yes or No for whether you must execute a Transportation Access Plan Agreement. If Yes, attach the draft or final TAPA when available.
Sign, date and download
In Part C, the applicant, the property owner (if different) and the representative (if any) sign and date. Review every entry, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and assemble the package described under How to submit.
How to submit Parking Freeze Application Form – Boston, MA
Send the application by email and also deliver a paper copy by mail or in person.
- Email: export the completed form as a PDF and email it, with the supporting documents, to [email protected].
- Paper copy: mail or deliver one hard copy of the application, the documents and the application fee payment to Air Pollution Control Commission, Environment Department, 26 Court Street, Floor 4, Boston, MA 02108.
- Notice of mailing: tell the Commission at [email protected] that you have sent an application by mail.
Pay the per-space fee by check or money order made payable to the City of Boston, Air Pollution Control Commission. The amount is not repeated here; check the form's addendum or call 617-635-3850. Write "N/A" in any section that does not apply rather than leaving it blank.
After you apply, staff review the application, tell you about any missing materials and give you the hearing date. Hearings are virtual until at least June 30, 2027. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Leaving sections blank. The Commission's page says to write "N/A" where a section does not apply.
- Emailing the application but not mailing or delivering a paper copy with the fee payment, or not telling [email protected] that the paper copy was sent.
- Missing the filing deadline, or paying the fee so that it is not received by the deadline; the application then waits for the following public hearing.
- Omitting the Electric Vehicle Equivalency Calculator that the form says to attach to the application.
- Naming only one owner when there is more than one; the form asks you to check the box and attach a list of the owners.
- Applying for a new East Boston permit, when the Commission is not accepting new applications there.
- Applying for a Downtown permit for a project with residential parking only, or skipping the exemption certification when it includes employee or staff parking.
- Submitting the form without the signature of the applicant, or of the property owner when the owner is a different person.
- Making the check or money order payable to anyone other than the City of Boston, Air Pollution Control Commission.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Boston Parking Freeze Application Form?
It is the Air Pollution Control Commission form for requesting a new parking freeze permit or exemption certification, or modifying an existing one, for a parking facility in the Downtown Boston or South Boston parking freeze. The Commission reviews each application at a public hearing.
Do I need a parking freeze permit for a residential project in Boston?
Not Downtown if the project has residential parking only, and you may request a letter of exclusion. A residential project with any employee or staff parking needs an exemption certification. South Boston has its own exclusions, such as parking reserved for residents at 1:1 or less.
Where do I send the parking freeze application?
Email the PDF and supporting documents to [email protected], and mail or deliver one paper copy with the fee payment to Air Pollution Control Commission, 26 Court Street, Floor 4, Boston, MA 02108. Then tell the Commission by email that you mailed it.
What documents do I attach to the application?
Attach written proof of ownership or the owner's approval, a site plan and locus map, a Statement of Need, the fee payment and an abutters list. Also attach the Electric Vehicle Equivalency Calculator, an owners list if there is more than one owner, and the TAPA if required and available.
Is there a fee to apply?
Yes. A per-space fee applies, paid by check or money order payable to the City of Boston, Air Pollution Control Commission. It must be received by the application deadline. Check the form's addendum or call 617-635-3850 for the current amount.
What happens if I miss the filing deadline?
The Commission only considers applications submitted by the filing deadline. If you miss it, your application waits for the following public hearing. Hearings are held monthly or, at minimum, quarterly.
Can I apply for a new parking freeze permit in East Boston?
No. The Commission's page says no spaces are available in the East Boston parking freeze bank, so it is not accepting new permit applications there. Contact [email protected] with questions about East Boston facilities.
Can I fill out the parking freeze 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; you send it to the Commission by email and paper copy yourself.
How do I modify an existing parking freeze permit?
The form has a box for modifying an existing permit or exemption certification, and the Commission asks you to contact [email protected] for a modification. Changes to space numbers, use, layout, entry or exit, or ownership count as modifications.
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