Space savers are back, big time. Here’s what to know.

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“City gets rid of snow, I’ll get rid of my space saver.”

By Abby Patkin

January 30, 2026 | 12:36 PM

2 minutes to read

Boston’s collective creativity shines brightest when heavy snow blankets the city, leaving residents scrambling for space savers to mark their territory. 

And needless to say, space savers were out in full force following last weekend’s blizzard, from a jubilant chef statue to traffic cones, folding chairs, and even a commode. It’s a cutthroat business, after all: those who steal someone else’s shoveled-out parking space may run the risk of angry notes, slashed tires, or physical blows. 

The time-honored, if controversial, tradition is also city-sanctioned — sometimes, at least. Boston allows drivers to use a space saver only when the city declares a snow emergency, and only until 48 hours after that snow emergency ends. 

After calling his first snow emergency in 2014, former Mayor Marty Walsh had this to say about the ethos behind the space saver rule: “If you use manual labor to get your car out, I think for 48 hours, a couple days, you can have it.” 

This grace period, which dates back to former Mayor Tom Menino’s tenure, exempts Bay Village and the South End, where parking spaces are already at a premium on narrow streets. Across the river, meanwhile, Cambridge and Somerville also bar the use of space savers. 

Though heavily debated, space saver etiquette generally stipulates that drivers must wait until the snowstorm actually hits before claiming a spot, shovel out a space in order to save it, and remove any space savers after the city’s grace period. 

Still, some Bostonians appear to view the 48-hour deadline as more of a suggestion than a hard-and-fast rule. Boston’s 311 nonemergency line received a tidal wave of online complaints demanding space savers be removed after the grace period ended Wednesday evening. But in classic Boston fashion, drivers were quick to clap back when the city posted a reminder on Facebook. 

“City gets rid of snow, I’ll get rid of my space saver,” one commenter wrote. 

Another added: “I’m using a snowbank to save mine, please, come and take it.” And with another winter storm expected Sunday, Boston’s space saver battle rages on.

Abby Patkin is a general assignment news reporter whose work touches on public transit, crime, health, and everything in between.