Brookline, MA Short-Term Rentals: Insurance Requirements (2026)

Brookline's STR program is anchored on Article 17 of the General By-Laws and the Town's Short-Term Rental Information/Checklist published with the Accela registration portal. The Article 17 framework requires the STR operator to (1) notify their existing property/casualty insurer that the dwelling unit will be used as a short-term rental, and (2) maintain liability insurance of not less than $1,000,000. The $1M figure aligns Article 17 with the statewide STR insurance minimum that applies to every Massachusetts operator under MGL c. 64G (room occupancy excise) as amended by 2018 Mass. Acts c. 337, the state's Short-Term Rental Law. Most standard Massachusetts homeowner policies exclude or sharply limit coverage for short-term rental activity, so hosts typically meet the $1M minimum by adding a short-term rental endorsement, by purchasing a dedicated commercial dwelling/STR policy, or by relying on a hosting platform's host liability coverage that meets the $1M-per-occurrence floor. Proof of insurance is part of the application package submitted through the Town's Accela portal alongside the $275 Certificate of Registration fee, primary-residence affidavit, floor plan, and pest-control plan; the unit must also pass a Town inspection before the Certificate is issued. The Certificate is valid for up to 5 years and terminates upon change of unit ownership or operator.