Insurance Requirements: Brookline vs Wellesley

How much short-term rental liability insurance does Brookline require?

Article 17 requires every Brookline STR operator to maintain liability insurance of not less than $1,000,000, matching the statewide minimum under MGL c. 64G as amended by 2018 Mass. Acts c. 337. Operators must also notify their existing insurer that the unit will be used for short-term rental.

Does my Massachusetts homeowners policy satisfy Brookline's STR insurance requirement?

Usually no. Standard Massachusetts homeowner policies typically exclude or limit short-term rental activity, so hosts commonly add an STR endorsement, buy a dedicated landlord/STR policy, or rely on a hosting platform's host liability coverage that meets the $1,000,000 per-occurrence floor required by Article 17 and state law. Proof of coverage goes in the Accela registration package.

Who enforces insurance requirements rules in Norfolk County?

Norfolk County's code enforcement division is responsible for short term-rentals ordinances. You can report violations or request information through the Norfolk County government website or by calling the main municipal line.

What are typical penalties for violating insurance requirements rules?

Most Norfolk County short term-rentals violations start with a written warning followed by escalating civil fines for repeat offenses. Specific dollar amounts and any criminal-misdemeanor exposure depend on the section of code; consult Norfolk County's municipal code or staff for the current penalty schedule.