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Passaic, NJ Short-Term Rentals: Insurance Requirements (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Minimum coverage
$500,000 general liability insurance
Required for
Initial Short-Term Rental Registration Certificate application
Registration fee
$250, non-refundable
Renewal
Certificate must be renewed annually

Summary

Passaic won't issue a Short-Term Rental Registration Certificate without proof of coverage: Code of the City of Passaic § 100-15A(11) requires 'proof of general liability insurance in a minimum amount of $500,000' as part of the initial application, alongside proof of ownership and a clean municipal court record.

An initial application for a Short-Term Rental Registration Certificate must include the following information to be considered complete: ... Proof of the owner's current ownership of the short-term rental unit; ... Proof of general liability insurance in a minimum amount of $500,000;

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4978046; v41 updated 2026-07-01; through 07-01-2026).

Full Breakdown

' It sits alongside proof of the owner's current ownership of the unit (item 8), a certification that there are no outstanding Municipal Court fines or open code violations tied to the property, owner, or responsible party (item 10), and, for condo, co-op, or HOA units, governing documents proving short-term rentals are actually allowed (item 12). The application is not deemed complete without every item on the list, including the insurance proof, and the Director of Inspections and Code can additionally demand more information 'as necessary to achieve the objectives of this chapter' under item (17).

The $250 registration fee (§ 100-15B) is non-refundable even if the insurance requirement or any other item causes the application to be withdrawn or denied, and the certificate itself must be renewed annually (§ 100-15D). The certificate also expires automatically the moment the property changes ownership, so a new owner must submit fresh proof of insurance with a new application and fee (§ 100-15E).

Violations & Fines

Submitting an incomplete application, including missing insurance proof, means the Short-Term Rental Registration Certificate cannot issue, and operating or advertising the unit without a certificate exposes the owner, agent, responsible party, and any intermediary to Municipal Court fines of $100 to $2,000 per violation per day under § 100-15K.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much liability insurance does a Passaic short-term rental need?
At least $500,000 in general liability coverage, per § 100-15A(11). Proof of that policy is one of the mandatory documents an initial Short-Term Rental Registration Certificate application must include before the city will consider it complete.
Does the insurance proof need to be updated when I renew my Passaic short-term rental certificate?
The certificate must be renewed annually under § 100-15D, and it expires automatically if the property changes ownership under § 100-15E: since a new or renewal application has to meet the same § 100-15A completeness requirements, current insurance proof is effectively required at each cycle.
Will I get my $250 registration fee back if I can't provide proof of insurance?
No. Section 100-15B makes the $250 registration fee non-refundable, including if the application is withdrawn or denied for missing an item such as the required insurance proof.

Sources & Official References

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