Flint does not require short-term rental hosts to carry a specific insurance policy or post a liability minimum, and Michigan has no statewide STR insurance mandate. However, hosts using Airbnb or VRBO rely on platform-provided host protection (AirCover up to $1M, VRBO Liability Insurance up to $1M), and a standard Michigan homeowner's policy almost always excludes commercial transient rental.
Neither the Flint Code of Ordinances nor Michigan state law imposes an insurance requirement specific to short-term rental operators. Coverage is governed by contract: the host's homeowner's or landlord policy, the rental platform's host-protection program, and any condo or homeowner-association master policy. The main risk for hosts is that a standard Michigan HO-3 homeowner's policy contains a 'business pursuits' exclusion that voids coverage for property damage and liability arising out of a rental for compensation - including a single Airbnb booking. Hosts should either (1) endorse a 'home-sharing' or short-term-rental rider onto the HO-3, (2) move to a commercial Landlord Dwelling policy (DP-3) plus a Hosted Lodging endorsement, or (3) purchase a dedicated STR policy from a specialist carrier (Proper, Slice, CBIZ). Platform protection programs are secondary, not a substitute: Airbnb AirCover provides up to $1,000,000 in liability and $3,000,000 in host damage protection but only for losses caused by the verified booking guest and only when filed through Airbnb; VRBO's Liability Insurance offers similar coverage limited to platform bookings. Michigan auto insurance reforms in 2019 (Public Act 21 and 22 of 2019) reshaped the auto market but did not touch STR liability coverage. Flint's rental certification application does not require proof of insurance, but mortgage lenders and condo associations frequently impose insurance requirements via private contract.
Operating without adequate insurance is not a code violation in Flint, but a guest injury without coverage can result in personal liability up to the host's full net worth. A Michigan homeowner's policy that excludes business pursuits will deny the claim, and Michigan's Uniform Trade Practices Act (MCL 500.2001 et seq.) does not help if the exclusion is clearly drafted in the policy. Misrepresenting STR use to a homeowner's insurer can also support rescission of the policy under MCL 500.2218.
Flint, MI
Residential pool barriers in Flint follow the Michigan Residential Code 2015 Appendix AG105, which requires a barrier at least 48 inches high around any pool...
Flint, MI
Flint Sec. 17-4 does not list approved residential fence materials but regulates construction features. Commercial and industrial fences over six feet must b...
Flint, MI
Flint Sec. 17-4 does not require neighbor consent to build a fence. Boundary-line disputes between adjoining owners are resolved under Michigan's partition-f...
Flint, MI
Flint requires a Certificate of Zoning Compliance for fence construction. The Zoning Division reviews placement against Sec. 17-4 height and material rules a...
Flint, MI
Flint Code Sec. 17-4 caps fences in A, B, and C residential zoning at 6 feet behind the 50-foot front setback line and 5 feet (max 50% solid) within the fron...
Flint, MI
The City of Flint does not impose a numeric ceiling on the number of dogs, cats, or other companion animals per household in Chapter 9 of the Code. Limits ar...
See how Flint's insurance requirements rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.