By-Laws and Guidelines

Below are links to Town of Brookline By-Laws pertaining to the regulatory processes of the Planning and Community Development Department that outline procedures, rules and regulations. The Department also publishes guidelines that support and assist applicants in completing applications in a way that will most effectively follow the By-Laws. If you have questions about these By-Laws and Guidelines pertaining to your project, please review our By-Law FAQs or see our Staff Directory.

Click here for Zoning or Preservation applications.

> Town of Brookline General By-Laws

> Massachusetts General Laws 

PLANNING/ZONING:

> Zoning By-Law (effective November 13, 2018) Not certified official by Town Clerk.

> Zoning By-Law edited 12/17/2021 to correct certain identified errors. Not certified official by Town Clerk.

> May 2022 Addendum to Zoning By-law with By-law Amendments since November 13, 2018

> Zoning Maps

> Subdivision Regulations

> Planning Board Rules and Regulations

> Zoning Board of Appeals Rules and Regulations

> Sign and Facade Guidelines

> Planning Board Design Guidelines on Counterbalancing Improvements for Projects Requiring Zoning Relief

> Rules, Regulations, and Guidelines for Section 9.13 (On-Site Fossil Fuel Infrastructure) of the Zoning By-law

> Planning Board Guidelines for Review of Projects subject to a finding under M.G.L. c.40A §6

Applications

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Zoning Amendments

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DESIGN GUIDELINES

Design guidelines that apply to specific areas of the Town of Brookline.

  1. Beacon Street Guidelines - 1993
  2. Boylston Street Design Guidelines - 1994
  3. Chestnut Hill Design Guidelines - 1993
  4. Chestnut Hill Village Design Guidelines - 1998
  5. Emerald Island Special District Design Guidelines - 2016
  6. Fisher Hill Special Overlay District Design Guidelines - 2020
  7. Retail Uses Over 10.000 s.f. in G Districts - 2004
  8. Village Sq. - Brookline Place Design Guidelines - 2003
  9. Waldo-Durgin Overlay District Design Guidelines - 2019

PRESERVATION:

> Demolition By-Law

> Historic Districts By-Law

> Local Historic District (LHD) Design Guidelines

> Neighborhood Conservation District (NCD) By-Law

> Preservation Commission Rules and Regulations 

Local Historic Districts Design Guidelines