Brookline, Mass., Code of Bylaws ch 5 11 § 5.11.11
Severability (Brookline Short-Term Rentals)
Operative Text
If any provision(s) of this Chapter 5.11 of the General By-laws is held to be invalid, such provision(s) shall be severed and the remaining sections shall be valid.
Section 5.11.11 of Brookline's Code of Bylaws establishes a severability rule for Chapter 5.11, the town's rent regulation chapter. If a court or other authority finds any part of Chapter 5.11 legally invalid, that specific portion is removed from effect while the rest of the chapter continues to operate as written. This type of clause is standard in legislation and is designed to preserve as much of the law as possible if any single element is successfully challenged.
Plain English — not legal advice.
As a property owner or manager subject to Chapter 5.11, the severability clause in § 5.11.11 means that a successful legal challenge to one part of the rent regulation chapter does not automatically void the obligations created by other sections. Compliant operators generally continue to follow all remaining provisions of Chapter 5.11 unless a specific section has been formally declared invalid. Staying informed about any legal proceedings that affect Chapter 5.11 helps operators understand which requirements remain in force.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 5.11.11 protects tenants by ensuring that if one part of Brookline's Chapter 5.11 rent regulations is struck down, the protections provided by the rest of the chapter remain intact. This means that a legal challenge targeting a single provision does not erase the broader set of tenant rights established elsewhere in Chapter 5.11. Tenants who have questions about whether a specific provision is currently in effect may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or review any public rulings related to Chapter 5.11.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 11, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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