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Street Sweeper cleaning roadway

Street Cleaning

Public Works

About Street Cleaning

Public Works mechanically sweeps each street in Cambridge once 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.

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.

District Side Day April May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
A ODD 1st Wed 3 1 5 3 7 4 2 6 4
A EVEN 1st Thur 4 2 6 10-Jul 1 5 3 7 5
B ODD 1st Mon 1 6 3 1 5 29-Aug 7 4 2
B EVEN 1st Tues 2 7 4 2 6 3 1 5 3
C ODD 1st Fri 5 3 7 5 2 6 4 1 6
C EVEN 2nd Mon 8 13 10 8 12 9 30-Sep 29-Oct 9
D  ODD 2nd Tues 9 14 11 9 13 10 8 12 10
D EVEN 2nd Wed 10 8 12 10 14 11 9 13 11
E ODD 2nd Thur 11 9 13 11 8 12 10 14 12
E EVEN 2nd Fri 12 10 14 12 9 13 11 8 13
F ODD 3rd Mon 29-Apr 20 17 15 19 16 21 18 16
F EVEN 3rd Tues 16 21 18 16 20 17 15 19 17
G ODD 3rd Wed 17 15 19 17 21 18 16 20 18
G EVEN 3rd Thur 18 16 20 18 15 19 17 21 19
H ODD 3rd Fri 19 17 21 19 16 20 18 15 20
H EVEN 4th Mon 22 29-May 24 22 26 23 28 25 23
J ODD 4th Tues 23 28 25 23 27 24 2 26 30-Dec
J EVEN 4th Wed 24 22 26 24 28 25 23 27 31-Dec
K ODD 4th Thur 25 23 27 25 22 26 24 29 26
K EVEN 4th Fri 26 24 28 26 23 27 25 22 27

Holiday schedule will be posted and swept on:
  • Patriot's Day April 15 -  Will be swept on April 29
  • Memorial Day May 27 - will be swept on May 29
  • Independence Day  July 4 - Will be swept on July 10 (Section A Even and Section D Even will both be swept on July 10)
  • Labor Day September 2  - Will be swept on Aug 29
  • Indigenous Peoples Day October 14 - Will be swept on Sept 30
  • Veterans Day November 11   - Will be swept on Oct 29
  • Thanksgiving Day November 28 -  Will be swept on Nov 29
  • Day Before Christmas December 24 - Will be swept on Dec 30
  • Christmas  December 25  - Will be swept on  Dec 31

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. 

Tips and FAQs

Where can I find the street sweeping schedule?

Please visit our website to view the street sweeping schedule or use this tool. Just type in your address to find your schedule, sign up for reminders, and more.

My car was towed for street cleaning. How can I get it back?

If your car gets towed, use this form to do a search.  As a last resort, contact the Police Department at 617.349 3300.

All streets swept by the City are posted with signs declaring the dates and times of street cleaning. Cars are parked illegally if parked during those posted dates and times.  Illegally parked cars are first ticketed by the Police Department and then towed.  Check the street sweeping district maps to see what streets are included in a particular district.

Check schedules to avoid being ticketed and towed.  Please 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 coordinate with monthly street sweeping in order to reduce additional parking disruptions, and that equipment may be scheduled during the same posted time period.

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.

Page was last modified on 8/21/2019 2:54 PM
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