City Notice: Holiday Service Schedule and MLK Day Observances

Official Holiday Closures and Service Delays

In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, January 19, 2026, the City of Boston has announced that all municipal buildings, including Boston City Hall and administrative offices, will be closed. This closure extends to all branches of the Boston Public Library and Boston Centers for Youth & Families (BCYF) community centers. Residents are advised that emergency services will remain fully operational, while non-emergency requests via 311 may experience longer response times due to the holiday schedule.

Trash and Recycling Collection

Residential trash and recycling collection will be impacted by the holiday. There will be no scheduled pickups on Monday, January 19. Collection for the remainder of the week will operate on a one-day delay. Residents whose regularly scheduled day is Monday should place their bins out on Tuesday, and this shift will continue through Saturday. Regular schedules will resume the following Monday. The City encourages residents to utilize the Trash Day mobile application for neighborhood-specific updates and reminders.

Parking and Street Cleaning Regulations

The Boston Transportation Department has issued the following updates regarding parking enforcement for Monday, January 19:

• Parking Meters: Drivers are not required to pay for parking at city meters today. There is no time limit enforced for metered spots on the holiday.
• Street Cleaning: Daytime street cleaning is officially canceled for the holiday. However, residents are reminded that overnight street cleaning will continue on its normal schedule.
• Tow Lot: The City of Boston tow lot will be closed for the duration of the holiday. Online payment kiosks remain available 24 hours a day for credit card or cash payments of outstanding citations.

Health Advisory: Seasonal Flu Precautions

The Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) maintains an active health advisory following a significant increase in seasonal flu activity across the city. Health officials have recently reported pediatric fatalities linked to the virus and urge all residents to take preventive measures. Public health clinics recommend that residents who have not yet received their annual flu vaccination do so immediately. In addition to vaccination, the BPHC advises frequent handwashing and staying home if you experience symptoms such as fever, cough, or sore throat to mitigate community spread.

Official City Commemoration

Mayor Michelle Wu and the City of Boston, in partnership with Boston University, will host the annual 'Day of Celebration in Honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.' today at 12:00 p.m. The event, themed 'Justice Indivisible: Fighting Racism, Greed, and War,' will be held at Metcalf Hall on the second floor of the George Sherman Union, located at 775 Commonwealth Avenue. The program will be live-streamed on the official city website and broadcast on Boston City TV for those unable to attend in person.