Saturday, November 14, 2026

Local news for Bristol County, Massachusetts

Winter guide

Where you can park when it snows

Snow parking rules for all 20 Bristol County cities and towns, from each town's own bylaws and notices. Some towns ban overnight street parking all winter; most declare bans storm by storm.

Checked November 14, 2026. Rules change, and a town's own announcement always wins. See something out of date? Tell us.

The short version

  • Rules that apply all winter, snow or not: Acushnet, Dighton, Easton, Fairhaven, Mansfield.
  • Everywhere else: watch for a declared ban before each storm, and keep cars off the street while plows run. Cars that block plows can be towed in every town.
  • Hydrants and corners: never park within 10 feet of a hydrant or 20 feet of a corner, ban or not.

Rules all winter

Acushnet

One-side parking all winter

  • The Select Board posts a seasonal restriction each fall. Last winter it ran Nov. 16, 2025 to April 15, 2026.
  • In the water district, park on the side opposite the hydrants. Outside it, park on the north side of east-west streets and the west side of north-south streets.
  • Vehicles in violation can be towed at the owner's expense.

Source: Town of Acushnet notice

Bans storm by storm

Attleboro

Bans declared storm by storm

  • The police chief declares a city-wide emergency parking ban before plowable snow, with start and end times.
  • Bans are posted on the Attleboro Police Department website.

Source: Attleboro Police Department ban notice

Bans storm by storm

Berkley

Cars in the way of plows can be removed

  • Town bylaw lets the Select Board and police chief declare an emergency for town roads, and lets crews remove vehicles that get in the way of snow and ice work.
  • Fines run $25, $50 and $100.

Source: Berkley Traffic Control Bylaw (Art. 31)

Bans storm by storm

Dartmouth

Hydrant side clear during a ban

  • The Department of Public Works declares bans before storms, with start and end times.
  • During a ban, don't park on the hydrant side of the street. Where there's no hydrant, park on the side with even-numbered houses.

Source: Dartmouth Police Department

Rules all winter

Dighton

No overnight street parking all winter

  • Town bylaw bans parking on any street from midnight to 6 a.m., with a winter ban on all streets from Nov. 1 to April 1, snow or not.
  • From Nov. 1 to April 1, cars that block plowing can be towed at the owner's cost. During a ban there's no parking anywhere on Pearl Street.

Source: Dighton General Bylaws, Art. XV (rev. March 2025)

Rules all winter

Easton

No overnight street parking Dec. 1 to March 31

  • From Dec. 1 through March 31, no parking on town streets from 1 a.m. to 8 a.m. (bylaw 502-19).

Source: Easton Police Department

Rules all winter

Fairhaven

Hydrant side clear overnight and in any snow

  • From Dec. 1 to March 31, no parking on the hydrant side of any street from midnight to 8 a.m., and at any hour during snowfall or snow removal.
  • On streets without hydrants, keep off the east side of north-south streets and the north side of east-west streets.
  • Violators can be towed and ticketed. Board of Public Works: 508-979-4030.

Source: Town of Fairhaven, Snow Parking Ban

Bans storm by storm

Fall River

Ban when 3 inches or more is forecast

  • The city declares a parking ban when 3 inches or more of snow is predicted.
  • The ban applies to the streets on the city's posted list and map. On streets divided by a median you can park on both sides unless posted, but not against the median.
  • To find a towed car, call Fall River police at 508-324-2801.

Source: City of Fall River, Parking Ban

Bans storm by storm

Freetown

Move cars off the road in a snowstorm

  • The Highway Department asks that all vehicles be off the streets during snowstorms so plows can get through.
  • Town code bars parking that blocks plowing, and police can have those vehicles removed. Highway Department: 508-763-2359.

Source: Freetown Highway Department; Freetown Code ch. 263

All winter + storm bans

Mansfield

Downtown overnight ban, plus storm bans

  • Downtown (Rumford Avenue to Hope Street, between the South and North Commons): no street parking from midnight to 6 a.m., Dec. 1 to April 30, snow or not.
  • The town also declares town-wide bans before storms. Cars left on any street during snow removal can be towed.
  • Parking officer: 508-261-7300 x7.

Source: Town of Mansfield, Winter Parking Ban

Bans storm by storm

New Bedford

Snow emergency ban: park opposite the hydrants

  • The mayor declares a snow emergency parking ban before significant snow. It's announced on local media, the city website, New Bedford Cable Access and city social media.
  • During a ban, park on the north side of east-west streets and the east side of north-south streets, typically opposite the hydrants. Some streets allow no parking on either side.
  • Tickets are $50, plus towing and storage. The city opens free lots at schools and parks; the list is in its storm guide. Storm line: 508-991-6150.

Source: City of New Bedford, Guide to Snowstorms

Bans storm by storm

North Attleborough

Bans declared storm by storm

  • The town ended its season-long overnight ban. Its Emergency Advisory Board now declares bans ahead of storms and announces them in advance.
  • During past bans, cars could use the Church Street, Community School and Woodcock lots but had to move when the ban lifted.

Source: Town of North Attleborough storm update; The North Star Reporter

Bans storm by storm

Norton

Cars blocking plows get towed

  • Vehicles parked in the street that interfere with snow removal are towed at the owner's expense.
  • The town also declares bans on all public roads before storms.

Source: Town of Norton, Snow & Ice; Taunton Daily Gazette roundup

Bans storm by storm

Raynham

No street parking once 2 inches falls

  • Town bylaw bans parking on all streets during a snowstorm, defined as from 2 inches of snow until plowing is done. The police chief announces it.
  • Vehicles can be towed at the owner's risk, and fines run up to $200.

Source: Raynham bylaw § 325-1; Raynham Highway Department

Bans storm by storm

Rehoboth

Cars blocking plows can be removed

  • Town code covers vehicles that interfere with snow removal (§ 215-34). We didn't find a posted seasonal ban; keep cars off the road during storms.

Source: Rehoboth Town Code index

Bans storm by storm

Seekonk

Ban for every winter storm

  • A parking ban is in effect for every winter storm, even small ones. The bylaw bars street parking when 3 inches or more is forecast and keeps the ban for 24 hours after the storm ends.
  • Vehicles that block plowing are removed at the owner's expense.

Source: Town of Seekonk, Plowing & Snow

Bans storm by storm

Somerset

Free lots open during a ban

  • During a parking ban, the town designates lots: Massasoit Park, O'Neil Field and the Slades Ferry Avenue park and ride (South End); the Council on Aging on Wood Street (Center); Pierce Beach and the Historical Society front lot (Village); and Ashton Field on Olympic Road (North End).

Source: Town of Somerset, Snow Emergency Information

Bans storm by storm

Swansea

Cars blocking plows get towed

  • Town traffic rules make any car parked so it impedes plowing a tow-away vehicle, at the owner's cost.

Source: Swansea Traffic Regulations, Art. V

Bans storm by storm

Taunton

City-wide bans before storms

  • The city declares city-wide parking bans before storms under its traffic ordinance.
  • During past bans, the Court Street and Pleasant Street lots and the Leonard Street deck (not reserved spaces) were open, and cars had to move when the ban lifted. Emergency management: 774-504-8678.

Source: Taunton Code ch. 405; Taunton Daily Gazette roundup

Bans storm by storm

Westport

Keep cars off the road while plows run

  • The Highway Department asks residents not to park on the roadway during plowing. We didn't find a posted ban rule.

Source: Westport Snow & Ice Policy