Brookline
Norfolk County · Pop. 63,191
Brookline has approved 2 of 5 ADU applications (40% approval rate) and has 4 of 7 bylaw provisions consistent with state law.
Based on 2 approved ADU applications and 63,191 residents
Permits
5 applications since the ADU law took effect in Feb 2025
Bylaw Consistency
Brookline had two provisions disapproved by the AG in June 2025 — a Floor Area Ratio cap on ADUs and a restriction tied to pre-existing nonconforming conditions. The historic district design review process remains ambiguous. With an 81% approval rate and 4 compliant provisions, the town is relatively ADU-friendly once the disapproved provisions are set aside.
Provision-by-provision analysis available
We've mapped 7 provisions in Brookline against Chapter 150. See which specific bylaw sections appear inconsistent with state law.
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No cost data available yet for Brookline.
Try the cost estimatorADU Impact on Housing Production
In 2024, Brookline issued 37 total residential building permits. In the first year of the ADU law, 2 ADU permits were approved — equivalent to 5.4% of prior-year housing production.
Source: Census Bureau (2024) via UMass Donahue Institute; EOHLC ADU Survey (2025)
How Brookline Compares
Next Steps
Sources: EOHLC ADU Survey 2025. Population estimates from 2024 Census ACS.
Disclaimer: ADU Pulse provides data for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal, financial, or construction advice.Bylaw consistency analysis reflects our interpretation of public records and may not reflect the most current local amendments.
See methodology for details on data collection, scoring, and consistency analysis.