Columbus, GA Short-Term Rentals: Insurance Requirements (2026)

Under the short-term vacation rental rules in Chapter 4, Article 9 of the Columbus UDO and the Inspections & Code Department's Certificate of Occupancy procedure, every applicant must hold and continuously maintain a valid liability insurance policy with at least $500,000 in coverage on the short-term rental property. A copy of the homeowners or landlord policy demonstrating the $500,000 minimum must be submitted with the Certificate of Occupancy application alongside the $40 non-refundable application fee, the Columbus Police Department background check, and proof of neighbor notification. The city treats the insurance condition as a continuing requirement: if coverage is canceled, non-renewed, or otherwise lapses for any reason, the city revokes the rental permit automatically without further notice, and operating in that window becomes an unpermitted use subject to code enforcement. Operators should confirm with their carrier that the policy expressly covers short-term rental activity, since standard owner-occupied homeowners policies frequently exclude commercial lodging use; many carriers require an endorsement, a landlord policy, or a dedicated short-term rental policy to keep the $500,000 limit valid.