Lansing, MI Short-Term Rentals: Insurance Requirements (2026)

Unlike cities that codify a per-occurrence liability minimum (commonly $500,000 to $1,000,000), Lansing's rental registration ordinance under Part 14 Title 6 Chapter 1460 does not enumerate a specific dollar coverage figure for short-term rentals. The Code Enforcement Division (517-483-4361) administers the registration program and reviews the application's life-safety attestations, but the public-facing application documentation reviewed for this entry does not require a certificate of insurance to be filed. Michigan likewise has no state-level STR insurance statute; the Michigan Use Tax Act only addresses the 6 percent tax on stays of fewer than 30 days. As a practical matter, standard Michigan homeowner policies typically exclude commercial or transient-occupancy use, so most Lansing operators add a short-term rental endorsement to a homeowner or landlord policy or buy a dedicated STR policy. Airbnb's Host Liability program (up to $1,000,000 per occurrence on covered platforms) and Vrbo's Liability Coverage provide secondary protection but, because they are not primary policies, do not substitute for the underlying coverage that lenders, condominium associations, and HOA covenants frequently require. Operators should confirm current insurance expectations directly with the Office of Code Compliance before listing.