Brookline Moving Permits: No Parking Signs, Costs and Rules

How to get Brookline Moving Permits

Need help with the actual move? Visit our Brookline movers page for crew sizes, current rates, building access advice, and moving services.

How to Get Moving Permits in Brookline

If your moving truck will need curb space on a public street, Brookline offers temporary official “No Parking” signs for moving day. These signs can help reserve enough room for the truck and reduce the risk of double parking, long carries, blocked traffic, or delays while your crew searches for legal parking.

Moving permits are especially useful in busy parts of Brookline, including Coolidge Corner, Brookline Village, Washington Square, JFK Crossing, St. Mary’s, and streets near Beacon Street, Harvard Street, Washington Street, Brookline Avenue, and Commonwealth Avenue.

The Town of Brookline refers to these as moving permits or temporary No Parking signs. For a normal moving truck, the process is relatively straightforward, but the signs must be purchased, posted, and placed according to the town’s rules.

Moving permits can help reserve space for a moving truck near Coolidge Corner and other busy parts of Brookline. Photo by Ddogas, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Where to Get Brookline Moving Permits

Official moving signs are available from the Transportation Division of Brookline’s Department of Public Works:

Brookline Town Hall
333 Washington Street
Fourth Floor
Brookline, MA 02445

Office hours:

• Monday through Thursday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Friday: 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The office does not accept transactions during the final 30 minutes before closing. For questions, call the Brookline Transportation Division at 617-730-2177.

You can also review the town’s current requirements on the official Brookline moving permit page. It is a good idea to check the town’s website before visiting, particularly around holidays or during severe weather.

How Much Do Brookline Moving Permits Cost?

Brookline currently charges $5 for each official No Parking sign. The number of signs you need depends on the amount of curb space you intend to reserve.

For most moving trucks, reserving approximately 40 feet is a reasonable starting point. A longer truck, multiple trucks, unusual building access, or a loading area that requires space for a ramp may require additional room.

What If the Address Has Parking Meters?

Metered spaces require one official sign for each meter head being reserved. Brookline currently charges $24 per meter per day, in addition to the cost of the signs.

Metered parking is common in commercial districts such as Coolidge Corner, Brookline Village, Washington Square, and St. Mary’s. Tell the Transportation Division exactly where the truck will be parked so the correct spaces and meter heads can be identified.

When to Post Brookline Moving Signs

Brookline requires moving signs to be posted after 6 p.m. on the evening before the scheduled move. Do not put them up several days in advance.

After posting the signs:

• Make sure they are clearly visible from the street.
• Confirm that the date, location, and restricted hours are readable.
• Secure them against wind and rain.
• Photograph each sign and the surrounding curb area.
• Remove the signs after the move is completed.

Taking photographs is a practical precaution. It gives you a record of where and when the signs were posted if there is a parking problem on moving day.

How to Post the Signs Correctly

Brookline permits signs to be attached to signposts, meter heads, telephone poles, trees, and similar visible locations. Tape, twine, or rope may be used.

Do not use nails or staples.

The town also prohibits moving signs from:

• Blocking a bicycle lane or crosswalk
• Blocking a driveway
• Blocking an accessible parking space
• Being posted within 10 feet of a fire hydrant
• Being posted within 20 feet of an intersection
• Covering an existing parking or traffic sign
• Being altered or reused for another move

Brookline states that the police may not honor moving signs when the posting requirements have not been followed. Buying the signs is therefore only part of the process. They must also be placed correctly.

Check the Reserved Space Early

Have someone check the reserved area early on moving day, preferably well before the truck is scheduled to arrive. A permit does not physically prevent another vehicle from parking in the space.

If a vehicle is parked within the properly posted area, do not attempt to move it or arrange for towing yourself. Contact the Brookline Police Department through its non-emergency number at 617-730-2222 and ask how to proceed.

Police and towing assistance can take time. Checking the location early gives you a better chance of resolving the problem before the moving crew begins charging for its time.

Permits for PODs and Moving Containers

A POD, storage container, or moving box placed on a public street requires more than ordinary moving signs. Brookline requires an occupancy permit for equipment stored or operated in the public way.

Occupancy permit applications are submitted through the town’s online permitting system. Brookline states that approval can take up to three business days. The town may also require a copy of the container contract, written permission from the container company, proof that the contractor or hauler is properly bonded, and additional No Parking signs.

The current occupancy permit fee is $75 for each 30-day period. Brookline also has a winter moratorium from November 15 through April 15 during which permits for moving boxes and dumpsters are generally not issued.

Do not treat a POD or storage container as though it were simply a moving truck. Contact the Department of Public Works before arranging delivery.

Can Safe Responsible Movers Get the Signs for You?

Safe Responsible Movers may be able to acquire and post Brookline moving signs for customers who arrange the service in advance. Availability and fees depend on the number of locations, the moving date, and how much notice we receive.

Tell us during the booking process if you need help with permits. We will confirm whether we can handle the signs or whether you will need to pick them up and post them yourself.

Brookline Moving Permit Checklist

• Determine how much curb space the moving truck needs.
• Identify whether the location has metered or unmetered parking.
• Purchase the correct number of official signs from Brookline Town Hall.
• Post the signs after 6 p.m. the evening before the move.
• Follow the town’s distance, placement, and attachment rules.
• Photograph the posted signs and curb area.
• Check the reserved space early on moving day.
• Remove the signs after the move is finished.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a moving permit for every Brookline move?

Not every move requires reserved public curb space. You may not need signs if the truck can use a legal private driveway, designated loading dock, or other approved off-street area. When the truck must park on a public street, official signs are the best way to reserve space.

Can I post Brookline moving signs several days early?

No. Brookline instructs residents to post the signs after 6 p.m. on the evening before the scheduled move.

How many signs do I need for a moving truck?

Each sign covers approximately 20 feet. Two signs generally reserve up to 40 feet. Longer trucks, multiple trucks, ramps, and difficult loading conditions may require more space.

Can I reserve a metered space?

Yes. You need one sign for each meter head being reserved, and Brookline charges a separate daily meter rental fee.

Does a POD use the same permit?

No. A POD or moving container placed on a public street requires an occupancy permit from Brookline’s Department of Public Works.

Will the police automatically tow a vehicle from the reserved area?

Do not assume that towing will be automatic or immediate. The signs must be posted correctly, and the police must review the situation. Check the space early and call the Brookline Police non-emergency number if a vehicle is parked in the restricted area.