Insurance Requirements: Cranston vs Foster Center

Does Cranston require liability insurance for an Airbnb or Vrbo?

No. Neither the Cranston Code of Ordinances nor the Rhode Island state STR statute (R.I. Gen. Laws Section 42-63.1-14) sets a minimum liability-insurance amount or requires a certificate of insurance to register a short-term rental.

Will my standard homeowner policy cover short-term rental guests?

Often it will not. Many homeowner policies exclude or limit commercial-use activity. Hosts commonly add a short-term rental endorsement, switch to commercial general liability, or rely on platform host-protection programs, but Cranston does not mandate any specific product.

Do platform host-protection programs satisfy any insurance rule?

There is no Cranston or Rhode Island rule for them to satisfy. They are private contractual programs, useful as a backstop, but they do not replace personal coverage and they have no role in Cranston's registration filings.

Does Airbnb's insurance satisfy Providence's STR insurance requirement?

Generally no. Providence Code Chapter 14.5 requires the host to carry their own commercial general liability policy naming the host as insured, with $1,000,000 minimum. Platform-provided coverage is supplemental and does not replace this requirement.

Do I need insurance for a short-term rental in Rhode Island?

Yes in Providence ($1M minimum) and many other cities. Even where not locally required, standard RI homeowner policies exclude commercial rental activity, so a commercial rider is strongly recommended to avoid personal liability.