Boston Residents Defend Shoveled Parking Spots With Household Items

After historic snowstorms, Bostonians get creative to save their hard-earned parking spaces.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Following two major winter storms that dumped feet of snow across the Northeast, Boston-area residents have taken to 'saving' their shoveled parking spots on public streets with a variety of household items like trash cans, lawn chairs, and other random objects. This long-standing local tradition, while not officially sanctioned in all cities, allows drivers who spent hours digging out their cars to reserve the space for themselves in the days after the storm.

Why it matters

Parking is already a precious commodity in the densely populated Boston metro area, and the added challenge of heavy snowfall makes finding a spot even more difficult. The 'space saving' tradition highlights the lengths residents will go to in order to maintain access to their on-street parking, even if it means temporarily claiming public spaces for private use.

The details

After the latest blizzard that dropped over 17 inches of snow in the Boston area, many residents spent hours digging out their cars from snow banks left by plows. In an effort to ensure they don't lose their hard-earned parking spot, locals have placed a variety of household items - from trash cans and lawn chairs to ladders and bathroom vanities - in the cleared spaces to 'save' them for their own use. This practice is officially sanctioned in the city of Boston, where residents are allowed to use space savers for up to 48 hours after a declared snow emergency ends. In neighboring Cambridge, the tradition continues without official approval, but is still widely observed by drivers.

  • The latest snowstorm that hit the Boston area occurred on February 24, 2026.
  • Residents have 48 hours from the end of a declared snow emergency to use space savers in Boston.

The players

Boston

The city in Massachusetts where the 'space saving' tradition is officially recognized, allowing residents to reserve cleared parking spots for up to 48 hours after a snow emergency.

Cambridge

A city adjacent to Boston where the 'space saving' practice is widely observed by residents, despite lacking official sanction from local authorities.

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What’s next

Boston officials will likely continue to monitor the 'space saving' tradition and may consider updating policies around the practice in the future.

The takeaway

The Boston area's creative 'space saving' tradition during snowstorms highlights the challenges of urban parking and the lengths residents will go to in order to maintain access to their on-street spots, even if it means temporarily claiming public spaces for private use.