Boston Residents Resist Removal of Parking Space Savers After Snowstorm

Many say 48-hour grace period is not enough as city prepares to clear remaining space savers

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Boston residents are resisting the city's plan to remove parking space savers on Friday, two days after the 48-hour grace period ended following a 17.1-inch snowstorm. Locals argue that those who spent hours shoveling out spots should be given more time to hold their spaces, especially with piles of snow still remaining on the streets.

Why it matters

The annual debate over parking space savers highlights the challenges Boston faces in balancing the needs of residents who work hard to clear spots with the city's desire to keep streets clear. This issue often sparks tensions between neighbors and tests the city's ability to enforce its policies fairly.

The details

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said trash pickup trucks will remove any remaining space savers on Friday, the day after the 48-hour grace period expired. Residents in the South Boston neighborhood expressed frustration, arguing that those who shoveled out spots should be given more than two days to hold their spaces, especially with piles of snow still lining the streets. Some said the city should clear the snow itself if it wants to enforce the space saver policy more strictly.

  • Boston received 17.1 inches of snow in the recent storm.
  • The 48-hour grace period for parking space savers ended on Thursday at 6 p.m.
  • The city plans to remove any remaining space savers on Friday, which is also trash pickup day in the affected neighborhoods.

The players

Michelle Wu

The mayor of Boston who announced the city will remove remaining parking space savers on Friday.

Pauline Bare

A South Boston resident who believes people who shoveled out spots should be given more than 48 hours to hold them.

Bobby Chang

A South Boston resident who spent Thursday afternoon shoveling out a parking spot and believes the city should wait until snow piles are cleared before removing space savers.

Reese Hornstein

A South Boston resident who agrees with Chang that those who shoveled out spots should have the right to hold them until the snow is gone.

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What they’re saying

“I think if someone's out here for hours shoveling out their spot, they should be given more than 48 hours to save their spot. If they want to make people stop saving their spots then maybe the city should come out and shovel spots out for them.”

— Pauline Bare, Resident (CBS News Boston)

“I think once those are all moved then it would be fine to take the spot savers out, but while they're still out and spots are looking slim it might be fair.”

— Bobby Chang, Resident (CBS News Boston)

“I do get where they're coming from, but I think if you shovel out your own spot you should have the right to that for at least until the snow is gone.”

— Reese Hornstein, Resident (CBS News Boston)

What’s next

The city plans to remove any remaining parking space savers on Friday, which is also trash pickup day in the affected neighborhoods. This will test whether residents are willing to let go of the spots they shoveled out.

The takeaway

The debate over parking space savers in Boston after a major snowstorm highlights the ongoing tensions between residents' desire to hold onto spots they worked hard to clear and the city's efforts to keep streets accessible for all. This issue often sparks neighborhood conflicts and tests the city's ability to enforce its policies in a fair and balanced way.