Moving companies in Brookline, MA.

Local services and rules

Moving to Brookline: who to call and what the city asks.

Brookline has an overnight parking ban: no driver may park on any street for longer than one hour between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m., any day of the week, and drivers may apply for Resident Overnight Permits or Visitor Overnight Permits. Recycling is mandatory in Brookline. The Public Library of Brookline accepts Minuteman Library Network cards, including cards issued by other Minuteman libraries, while a card from a Massachusetts library outside the network, such as the Boston Public Library, does not work. A new resident registers for a Minuteman Library card with photo ID and proof of current address.

Moving-day No Parking signs and POD permits

For a moving day, the Transportation Division of the Department of Public Works sells temporary No Parking signs, and they can be purchased any day before they are used.

The household posts the signs after 6:00pm the evening before the event and removes them afterward. The signs may not block bike lanes, crosswalks, handicap spaces or driveways. The Police do not honor the signs if the posting rules are not followed.

A moving box such as a POD placed on the street needs an Occupancy Permit from the Department of Public Works.

Resident permits and overnight lots

The Resident Permit Parking program lets a vehicle with a valid resident permit sticker park on a residential side street for more than 2 hours between 6 a.m. and 2 a.m. It does not exempt the vehicle from posted rules such as NO PARKING 8 A.M. to 10 A.M.

A resident permit goes to the owner of a vehicle registered to a Brookline address with the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles. Residents can apply through the online Accela portal, or by mail or in person at the DPW Transportation Division, 333 Washington Street. Permits run July 1 to June 30.

Residents with no off-street parking can rent overnight spaces in town-owned lots. Overnight guests of a resident may park in designated town lots between 8 PM and 8 AM with a guest overnight pass. Temporary parking permits are applied for through the Transportation Division, online, in person or by mail.

Two-hour daytime limits and snow emergencies

Daytime street parking is limited to two hours between 6 a.m. and 2 a.m., except on Sundays and public holidays.

Once a snow emergency is declared, no car may park on any street. The DPW can be called to learn whether one is in effect.

Town waste collection service and Casella

The Town of Brookline provides curbside pickup of recycling, trash, bulky items and yard waste for residents who subscribe to the Town waste collection service. Residents can sign up at any time by getting a Refuse Agreement Application from Refuse Billing or from the DPW Administration Office in Town Hall.

After the application is returned, the DPW delivers the recycling and trash carts chosen on the application, and processing can take up to 30 days. Carts go to the curb after 3:30 PM the night before or by 7 AM on collection day.

The Town contracts Casella Resource Solutions to collect recycling for residents on the Town service. Recycling collection happens on the same day as trash collection.

All residents can take part in composting through a paid subscription with Black Earth Compost.

Bulky items and hazardous waste drop-off

Residents on the Town service can schedule pickup of bulky, metal, white goods and mattress items, with a weekly limit of four items. Pickups must be scheduled one week ahead and paid for before pickup. Construction or remodel material, car parts, gym equipment and pianos are not accepted in the bulky item program, and residents are told to contact a private waste hauler.

Household hazardous waste cannot go out with curbside collection, and the Town offers drop-off options instead. The drop-off is for residents only; visitors show valid identification and proof of residency in Brookline.

Brookline Green Electricity, water and sewer, and cable

Brookline runs Brookline Green Electricity, a Community Choice Aggregation program in which the Town negotiates with an electricity supplier to bulk purchase electricity for all Eversource account holders in the Town. Most residential and small business customers take part.

Water and sewer are billed together on one combined bill, which can be paid online. A water and sewer customer who is moving within town can use the Town change of address form, which also serves as the application for water to be furnished by the Town of Brookline.

Comcast and RCN are both licensed by the Town of Brookline to provide cable service.

Registration with the Public Schools of Brookline

The Office of Registration and Enrollment of the Public Schools of Brookline, at 333 Washington Street, 4th Floor, handles new student registration for Brookline residents. Registration appointments are held virtually, and an appointment is booked after the online registration form is submitted.

A parent or guardian must provide proof of primary residence to the Office of Registration and Enrollment before a student can register and begin school.

Green Line branches, the Town Clerk and short-term rentals

The MBTA provides light rail service in Brookline on the C and D branches of the Green Line. The B branch is reachable from North Brookline and the E branch from Brookline Village.

Dog licenses are handled by the Town Clerk and run January 1 through December 31; an add-on Green Dog Program allows off-leash use of Green Dog Parks. Voters can register in person at the office of the Town Clerk in Brookline Town Hall.

Short-term rentals of less than 27 consecutive days are allowed in Brookline within certain parameters and require a Short Term Rental Certificate through the Building Department.