Parking Requirements Eliminated in Cambridge, Massachusetts

A major zoning amendment was approved by the Cambridge City Council on Monday, October 24, 2022.

2 minute read

October 25, 2022, 10:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Cambridge Bike Lane

Adam Coppola Photography / Flickr

The City Council in Cambridge, Massachusetts voted, 8-1, to eliminate parking requirements citywide yesterday. The council vote amends the city's zoning ordinance by eliminating all minimum parking requirements in the city.

The city, location of multiple universities with top ranked planning programs, becomes the first in Massachusetts to enact such a complete parking reform, reports Elias J. Schisgall for the Crimson. According to the article, the council cited "declining car ownership and the need for more open space and housing construction" as the reasons for the significant policy reform. 

The council's sole dissenting vote, Councilor Dennis J. Carlone, is quoted in the article saying that the zoning code amendment would not have the desired effect of reducing traffic, and that the real problem with parking requirements in the city is the use of parking maximums.

The parking reform is the latest example of innovative zoning practices in the city of Cambridge. In 2020, the city also adopted an affordable housing overlay, which allows affordable housing developments with bonus height and density in residential neighborhoods throughout the city, while also streamlining the development approval process for affordable housing projects.

Cambridge is the latest in a string of cities and states to adopt sweeping changes to parking requirements. The state of California most recently enacted statewide parking reforms, in August removing parking requirements for developments near transit stops, following the state of Oregon, which adopted the "Climate-Friendly and Equitable Communities" rule earlier in the summer. Cincinnati eliminated parking requirements in some of the city this year, while Ann Arbor eliminated parking requirements throughout that city. Dallas and Richmond, Virginia are currently considering parking reform.

[Update: Additional coverage of Cambridge's parking reform is available behind the paywall at the Boston Globe.]

Tuesday, October 25, 2022 in The Crimson

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

3 hours ago - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Close-up of white panel at top of school bus with "100% electric" black text.

Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation

California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

51 seconds ago - California Air Resources Board

Aerial view of Freeway Park cap park over I-5 interstate freeway in Seattle, Washington at night.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

1 hour ago - Streetsblog USA

"No Thru Traffic - Open Streets Restaurants" sign in New York City during Covid-19 pandemic.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street

How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.

2 hours ago - Next City