The downtown parking freeze is one of three parking freezes in the City of Boston administered by the Air Pollution Control Commission.
Established in 1976 under rules of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (40 CFR 52.1135), the downtown Boston parking freeze limits the availability of commercial parking spaces in downtown Boston.

The APCC adopted regulations » for the downtown freeze in 1978, and most recently amended them in March 2006; the regulations include a map of the freeze area. The downtown freeze applies only to commercial spaces open to the general public; residential spaces and spaces reserved for the use of a building's employees, customers, and guests are exempt or excluded from the freeze.

The downtown parking freeze allows a maximum of 35,556 public parking spaces in commercial parking facilities in the downtown freeze area. In 2005, there were approximately 350 permitted parking facilities in the downtown area, and approximately 200 spaces in the parking freeze bank, which can be allocated to new facilities. The actual number of facilities and spaces fluctuates as old parking facilities close and new ones open. The APCC welcomes and encourages informal inquiries from owners and developers.

Downtown parking freeze permit application »

For more information, please contact:
Air Pollution Control Commission
Boston Environment Department
City Hall, Room 805
Boston, MA 02201
617-635-3850
APCC@cityofboston.gov