Settling In ... Helpful Information for New Cambridge Residents

The City of Cambridge is located in Middlesex County and has a population of 105,162 (2010 U.S. Census).

Moving Van Permits: http://www2.cambridgema.gov/traffic/MovingVanPermit.cfm

Resident Parking Permits:  Permits to park on residential streets are issued by the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department. Your vehicle must be principally garaged in Cambridge. Proof of residency is required. One Visitor pass per household is available. For more information, call 617-349-4700 or visit: http://www2.cambridgema.gov/traffic/ResidentVisitor.cfm

UTILITIES

Electric: NSTAR, Ph.  1-800-592-2000 or visit: www.nstaronline.com .

Gas: NSTAR Gas, Ph. 1-800-572-9300 or visit: www.nstaronline.com .

Telephone: Verizon, Ph 1-800- 870-9999 or visit: www.verizon.com .

Cable TV: Comcast Cable, Ph. 1-888-633-4266 or visit: www.comcast.com .

CITY OF CAMBRIDGE PAYMENTS

Vehicle Excise Tax: Bills are issued once annually.  Call the Finance Department, Ph. 617-349-4220. 
Pay online: https://cambridgema.munisselfservice.com/citizens/MotorVehicle/Default.aspx

Real Estate Property Tax: Bills are issued twice annually and are generally due Nov. 1 & May 1.  For more information, call the Finance Department, Ph. 617-349-4220 or pay online:. 
https://cambridgema.munisselfservice.com/citizens/RealEstate/Default.aspx?mode=new

Water/Sewer: Bills are issued quarterly (two actual bills and two estimated bills issued alternately). Call the Water Department, Ph. 617-349-4770.  For online payments: https://cambridgema.munisselfservice.com/citizens/UtilityBilling/Default.aspx 

Residents may be eligible for certain property and vehicle excise abatements. For more information, visit: Assessing Department

CITY OF CAMBRIDGE INFORMATION

Birth, Death, Marriage Certificates: Call the City Clerk’s Office, Ph. 617-349-4260 or visit City Clerk's website

Cambridge Public Library: For information, call 617-349-4040 or visit Library's website

City Ordinances (Cambridge Municipal Code), City Clerk’s Office, Ph. 617-349-4260 or visit City Ordinances website

Pet Registration: Dogs must be registered with the Cambridge Animal Commission, Ph. 617-349-4376 or visit Animal Commission website

Public Meetings:   The city holds public meetings on a variety of topics.  The Cambridge City Council meets Mondays at 5:30 p.m. (except during holidays and the summer break), in the Sullivan Chamber of Cambridge City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue.  For more information, go to City's Calendar

Recreation, Families, Seniors, Youth Centers:  Contact the Department of Human Service Programs, which provides a wide range of services, Ph. 617-349-6200 or visit: http://www2.cambridgema.gov/DHSP2/.

Recycling/Trash Collection: Cambridge has a Mandatory Recycling Ordinance
Contact the Department of Public Works, Ph. 617-349-4800. For schedule information, visit: http://www.cambridgema.gov/theworks/ourservices/recyclingandtrash.aspx

School Registration: Call Cambridge Public Schools, Ph. 617-349-6400 or visit: http://www.cpsd.us/index.cfm . 

School Closings: Call the Link Line for recorded information, Ph. 617-349-6513.

Snow Emergency Parking Bans: When the city declares a snow emergency, parking is prohibited on major streets and on one side of smaller streets as indicated by signs.  Cars will be towed to allow plows to clear the snow.  To find out if a ban has gone in effect or has been lifted, call the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department, Ph. 617-349-4700, tune into the Municipal Channel, 22-CityView, or visit: http://www.cambridgema.gov/ .

Snow Removal Ordinance: Property owners are required to remove snow and/or ice from all sidewalks next to their home or business within a limited number of hours once snow stops falling.  For more information, call the Department of Public Works, Ph. 617-349-4800 or visit: http://www.cambridgema.gov/theworks/ourservices/snow.aspx

Street Cleaning: During designated street cleaning days, from April through December, cars must be moved. Check neighborhood signs for schedules and times, or contact the Department of Public Works, Ph. 617-349-4800 or visit: http://www.cambridgema.gov/theworks/ourservices/streetcleaning/schedulesandroutes.aspx

Voter Registration: Call the Cambridge Election Commission, Ph. 617-349-4361 or visit: http://www.cambridgema.gov/election.aspx

MISC. HELPFUL INFORMATION

Driver’s License/Vehicle Registration: Contact the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, Ph. 1-857-368-8000.

Postal Service:  Ph. 1-800-275-8777 or visit: www.usps.com .  Also visit the city’s Consumers’ Council website.

Public Transportation: Cambridge and the greater Boston area have an effective public transportation system. The Red and Green lines of the Subway (known as the T) and numerous buses serve the City of Cambridge. For information, call the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA), Ph. 1-800-392-6100 or visit: www.mbta.com .

Helpful Numbers:  

Emergency: Police, Fire and Ambulance                   911
Police (non-emergency)                               617-349-3300
Fire (non-emergency)                                   617-349-4900
Cambridge City Hall Switchboard                617-349-4000
TTY for City Hall                                               617-349-4242
City Manager's Office                                     617-349-4300 
City Clerk                                                          617- 349-4260  
City Council Office                                           617- 349-4280
Mayor's Office                                                  617- 349-4321
Cambridge Public Health Department         617-665-3800
Cambridge Public Schools                             617-349-6400
Public Works                                                      617-349-4800 
Traffic                                                                   617-349-4700