Insurance Requirements: Lakewood vs Toms River

Does Lakewood Township require liability insurance for an Airbnb?

No. Neither Chapter 15 (Rental Housing) nor Chapter 18 (UDO) of the Lakewood Township Code sets a minimum liability-insurance limit for short-term or long-term rentals, and New Jersey state law under N.J.S.A. 54:32D does not impose one either. Insurance is treated as a private risk-management decision rather than a permit condition in Lakewood.

Will my standard homeowners policy cover Airbnb guests in Lakewood?

Usually no. Standard New Jersey homeowner policies typically exclude commercial or transient-rental use, so most carriers require a short-term-rental endorsement or a separate landlord/STR policy before an Airbnb claim would be paid. Airbnb's AirCover and Vrbo's Liability Insurance provide secondary protection up to $1,000,000 per occurrence on covered platforms but are not a substitute for primary coverage.

Does Toms River require insurance for an Airbnb?

Yes. Chapter 335, Article VI requires the owner to maintain liability insurance of at least $500,000 for combined property damage and bodily injury per occurrence, with proof furnished as a condition of registration.

Will my homeowners policy meet the $500,000 STR requirement?

Usually not. Standard New Jersey homeowner policies typically exclude commercial or transient-rental use. Most carriers require a short-term-rental endorsement or separate landlord policy to provide the $500,000 of liability coverage Toms River requires.