Notices

Please note that all city offices will be closed on Monday, February 16th in celebration of the President’s Day holiday. Parking enforcement will be on a holiday schedule on Monday. Additionally, trash and recycling collection will be delayed by one day, the week of the 16th. Note that curbside Christmas tree collection has been extended through February 20th. All uncollected trees must be removed from the sidewalk after the 20th and held until yard waste collection resumes in mid-April. Additionally, residents of eligible households wishing to dispose of a mattress or box spring need to purchase a $55 Disposal Sticker per item before scheduling the pickup by contacting 311. Finally, a reminder that this is a park ODD winter season.

Please note that motor vehicle excise tax bills for 2026 are being sent one month earlier this year. Bills will issue on January 26, 2026, and are due February 25, 2026.

Somerville residents who own a vehicle with a valid Massachusetts license plate are responsible for paying their excise tax bill each year.

Payments can be made:

Online via the link on the city’s website at somervillema.gov/payonline

In-person at the Collector’s office at City Hall (93 Highland Ave.). Valid ID required if you do not bring the bill with you when making payment in person.

Via mail using the provided envelope.

Or by check, which can be dropped off in the stainless-steel payments box outside the front entrance of City Hall.

Regularly check your mailbox to avoid missing payment deadlines. Payment is required even if a physical bill is not received. To request a duplicate copy, please contact the treasury department to have a duplicate bill mailed, or “self-authenticate” online and pay via the city’s website at somervillema.gov/payonline.

For more information, contact the Tax Collector’s office at Treasury@somervillema.gov or call (617) 625-6600 x-3500. For general information on how to make a payment, contact 311 at 617-666-3311 or via chat/app/email/etc. at somervillema.gov/311.

After reviewing mattress recycling programs in 28 nearby communities of similar size, the Department of Public Works (DPW) is introducing a Mattress and Box Spring Recycling Fee Program starting February 1, 2026. This program will help offset rising disposal costs while creating a more consistent, fair, and sustainable system for residents. It will also help deter residents of neighboring communities from disposing of their mattresses improperly in Somerville to avoid their own community’s fees.

Under the new program, residents will be charged a $55 disposal fee per unit, allowing the city to recover a portion of actual costs while continuing to provide responsible recycling services.

The new fee program will go into effect on February 1, 2026. Starting on that date, residents of eligible households wishing to dispose of a mattress or box spring will need to purchase a Disposal Sticker before scheduling a mattress pickup and placing these items on the curb. Mattresses will be collected curbside one day after regular trash collection. For residents with Friday trash pickup, mattresses will also be collected on Friday. Mattresses and box springs are counted as separate items.

How to Recycle a Mattress or Box Spring via City Services:

First, confirm that you are eligible: Only residential households in buildings with 6 or fewer units with city-managed trash collection are eligible to have the City recycle their mattress or box spring. Pickup is also limited to two bulk items per week. Residents of buildings with 7 or more units using private trash services are not eligible.

Purchase a Disposal Sticker one of three ways:

Online: Purchase through the online payment portal on the City website at somervillema.gov/payonline.

Department of Public Works (DPW): Purchase in person at the DPW Offices at One Franey Road. Check, credit cards, and money orders are accepted. No cash.

City Hall: Purchase in person at the City Clerk’s Office in City Hall at 93 Highland Avenue. Cash, check, credit card, or money order are accepted.

Schedule your mattress pickup: Residents must contact 311 Constituent Services in advance to schedule a mattress and/or box spring pickup. Call 311 at 617-666-3311 or visit somervillema.gov/311 for more ways to contact 311.

Please note: Infested or soiled mattresses must be scheduled for special pickup. Contact 311 before purchasing a sticker.

For more information on mattress recycling and disposal, please visit the City website at somervillema.gov/mattressrecycling.

Christmas trees may be placed on the curbside on trash day for collection starting the week of December 29th. The trees must be free of all decorations and may not be placed in a bag. Once a tree is placed on the sidewalk it should remain out until it is collected.

Curbside collection has been extended until Friday, February 20th. Any trees not collected by Friday, February 20th must be removed from the sidewalk and held until yard waste collection resumes mid April .

Please note that the street sweeping season ended on December 31st and will resume on April 1st, 2026.