Brockton, MA Short-Term Rentals: Insurance Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Statute
- MGL c.175 §4F
- Enabling Act
- Acts of 2018 c.337
- Minimum Coverage
- $1,000,000 per stay
- Platform Carve-Out
- Equal/greater platform coverage OK
- Local Add-On
- None in Brockton code
Summary
Massachusetts state law preempts this topic. MGL c.175, §4F (added by Chapter 337 of the Acts of 2018) requires every short-term rental operator in Brockton to maintain at least $1,000,000 in liability insurance per stay, unless the booking platform provides equal or greater coverage. Brockton has not adopted a separate local insurance ordinance.
An operator shall maintain liability insurance of not less than $1,000,000 to cover each short-term rental, unless such short-term rental is offered through a hosting platform that maintains equal or greater coverage. Hosting platforms must inform operators that conventional homeowners or renters insurance typically will not cover damages or injuries arising from short-term rental activities; insurers may file specialized short-term rental policies with the division of insurance.
Full Breakdown
Brockton STR hosts are governed by the statewide insurance mandate added by Chapter 337 of the Acts of 2018. 175, §4F(b), states that an operator shall maintain liability insurance of not less than $1,000,000 to cover each short-term rental, unless that rental is offered through a hosting platform that maintains equal or greater coverage. The coverage must defend and indemnify the operator and any tenants or owners in the building for bodily injury and property damage arising from the short-term rental. Standard Massachusetts homeowner (HO-3) and condominium (HO-6) policies typically exclude business or short-term rental activity, so most Brockton hosts either add a short-term rental endorsement to their homeowner policy or carry a dedicated landlord/STR policy that meets the $1M per-stay threshold.
Major platforms satisfy the carve-out: Airbnb's AirCover Host Liability Insurance and Vrbo's Liability Insurance both publish $1,000,000 per-occurrence limits. 62C, §67, to register with the Massachusetts Department of Revenue Short-Term Rental Registry. 64G obligates intermediaries (Airbnb, Vrbo) to verify operator registration before listing the property. Brockton's own Code of Ordinances (Appendix C - Zoning) does not impose any local insurance requirement above the state $1M floor.
Violations & Fines
Operating a short-term rental in Brockton without the $1,000,000 liability coverage required by MGL c.175, §4F is a violation of the Massachusetts STR law. The Department of Revenue may revoke or refuse to issue the STR Certificate of Registration under MGL c.64G, §6, and platforms are required by MGL c.64G, §13 to delist non-compliant operators. Civil exposure for an uninsured incident at the rental falls personally on the operator.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much liability insurance do I need for a Brockton Airbnb?
Will my regular Brockton homeowner policy cover Airbnb guests?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Brockton
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