Insurance Requirements: Kennesaw vs Marietta

Does Kennesaw require liability insurance for an Airbnb?

Yes. Chapter 22, Article XIII requires every Short-Term Rental Certificate applicant to submit proof of short-term-rental liability insurance. The published application checklist does not list a specific dollar minimum, so carriers' standard $1 million per occurrence STR product typically satisfies the requirement.

Will my homeowner policy meet Kennesaw's STR insurance requirement?

Usually not. Standard Georgia homeowner forms exclude commercial or transient rental use under 30 days. The Business License Office expects a dedicated short-term rental, vacation rental, or commercial general liability policy that covers transient lodging.

Is Airbnb's host protection enough for Kennesaw?

AirCover for Hosts provides up to $1 million per occurrence but only for bookings made through Airbnb and with significant exclusions. Hosts using multiple platforms or direct bookings should carry a stand-alone STR or commercial general liability policy to satisfy the certificate requirement.

Does Marietta require Airbnb hosts to carry liability insurance?

No. Marietta has not adopted a short-term rental ordinance and does not require any specific insurance coverage. Cobb County's STR ordinance also does not list a proof-of-insurance requirement in its application checklist.

Will my homeowners policy cover an Airbnb stay?

Usually not. Standard HO-3 homeowners policies typically exclude commercial or short-term rental activity. Most insurers recommend adding a short-term rental endorsement or buying a separate landlord/STR policy. Airbnb's AirCover and Vrbo's Liability Insurance provide secondary coverage up to $1,000,000 on covered bookings, but they are not a substitute for primary coverage and are not required by Marietta or Cobb County code.