Find Your Street Sweeping Schedule
To search for your Street Cleaning schedule, use the tool below. Click "My Schedule" and type in your address to find when street cleaning occurs on your street, to sign up for street cleaning reminders, and more.
About Street Cleaning
Public Works mechanically sweeps each street in Cambridge twice per month, April through December (weather permitting). Signs are posted on each residential street indicating the schedule. In order to ensure that streets are properly cleaned, cars must move off the side of the street being swept to avoid being ticketed and towed.
Citywide street sweeping includes twice yearly vacuum sweeping to improve stormwater quality. By sweeping up sand and other debris, catch basins are kept clean and able to function efficiently. Street sweepers also help to remove particles and chemicals that get deposited on roadways through the wear and tear of vehicle parts, combustion, and leaking engine fluids, reducing a significant source of pollution to the Charles River and the Alewife Brook.
Holiday schedule will be posted and swept on:
• Patriot's Day April 17 - Will be swept on April 12
• Memorial Day May 29 - No make up day needed
• Juneteenth June 19 - Will be swept on June 29
• Independence Day July 4 - Will be swept on June 30
• Labor Day September 4 - Will be swept on Aug 29
• Indigenous Peoples Day October 9 - Will be swept on Sept 29
• Veterans Day November 10 - Will be swept on Oct 30
• Thanksgiving Day November 23 - Will be swept on Nov 29
• Day after Thanksgiving Day November 24 - Will be swept on Nov 30
• Day Before Christmas December 22 – Will be swept on
• Christmas December 25 - Will be swept on Dec 29
Additional Information
In addition to neighborhood sweeping, City squares are cleaned daily: on weekdays from 7 a.m. - 3 p.m., weekends and holidays from 4-8 a.m. (street sweeping) and 6-10 a.m. (hand-cleaning crew). Litter barrels in squares are emptied twice daily on weekdays and three times daily on weekends.
The Division also has a power washer which is used to clean public trash and recycling receptacles, and to operate a graffiti removal program, a collaboration between Public Works, the police department, residents, and property owners to remove graffiti on both public and private property (with owner's permission). To report graffiti use the Commonwealth Connect tool. Once reported, an inspector will examine the damage and schedule a cleaning.
Where can I find the street sweeping schedule?
Use this tool to find your street cleaning schedule. Just type in your address to find your schedule, sign up for reminders, and more.
Can I park on the street after the sweeper goes by?
You should only park on the street after the posted time on the street sweeping sign. Even though you may have seen the sweeper go by once, it may need to go by for a second pass. Also, the City's catch basin cleaning program is closely coordinated with monthly street sweeping in order to reduce additional parking disruptions, and that equipment may be scheduled during the same posted time period.
Does street cleaning ever get cancelled?
Street cleaning rarely gets cancelled. Extremely heavy rain or snow would cause a cancellation. Sign up to receive alerts for Street Cleaning.