Charleston does not impose a city-mandated insurance minimum for short-term rentals, but operators should carry commercial liability coverage since standard homeowner policies typically exclude transient business use of the dwelling.
West Virginia and Charleston do not statutorily require a minimum liability policy for STR hosts, but most homeowner policies exclude business activities including paid lodging stays. Platforms like Airbnb provide host protection programs up to one million dollars per occurrence, but coverage gaps exist around personal property and certain liability scenarios. Industry norms recommend a commercial STR rider or dedicated short-term rental policy of at least 500,000 dollars to one million dollars in liability. Hosts financing through a mortgage should also confirm lender requirements regarding rental use of the property.
While not a code violation, lack of adequate coverage exposes hosts to personal liability, denied insurance claims, mortgage default, and platform delisting after major incidents.
Charleston, WV
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Charleston, WV
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Charleston, WV
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Charleston, WV
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Charleston, WV
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Charleston, WV
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See how Charleston's insurance requirements rules stack up against other locations.
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