Taunton, MA Short-Term Rentals: Insurance Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- State Minimum
- $1,000,000 liability per rental
- Statute
- MGL c. 175, § 4F
- Effective
- July 1, 2019 (Acts 2018 Ch. 337)
- Platform Carve-Out
- Equal/greater platform coverage OK
- Insurer Notice
- Required to homeowners/renters insurer
- Local Add-On
- None in Taunton
Summary
Taunton has no separate STR insurance ordinance, but Massachusetts MGL c. 175, § 4F (enacted by 2018 Ch. 337) requires every STR operator to maintain at least $1,000,000 in liability insurance per rental, unless the hosting platform (Airbnb, VRBO) provides equal or greater coverage.
Section 4F. (a) As used in this section, the terms ''hosting platform'', ''operator'' and ''short-term rental'' shall have the same meanings as under section 1 of chapter 64G unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(b) An operator shall maintain liability insurance of not less than $1,000,000 to cover each short-term rental, unless such short-term rental is offered through a hosting platform that maintains equal or greater coverage. Such coverage shall defend and indemnify the operator and any tenants or owners in the building for bodily injury and property damage arising from the short-term rental.
(c) Prior to an operator offering a short-term rental through the use of a hosting platform, the hosting platform shall provide notice to the operator that standard homeowners or renters insurance may not cover property damage or bodily injury to a third-party arising from the short-term rental.
(d) Insurers that write homeowners and renters insurance may exclude any and all coverage afforded under the policy issued to a homeowner or lessee for any claim resulting from the rental of any accommodation under chapter 64G. Insurers that exclude the coverage described in this section shall not have a duty to defend or indemnify any claim expressly excluded by a policy. Nothing under this section shall preclude an insurer from providing coverage for short-term rentals.
(e) Any policy or policy form intended to cover operators of short-term rentals from liabilities, whether the policy or policy form is provided by a hosting platform or an operator itself, shall be filed according to instructions provided by the division of insurance.
(f) An operator who intends to operate a short-term rental shall provide notice to any insurer that writes a homeowners or renters insurance policy for the property where such short-term rental is to be located of the operator's intent to operate such short-term rental.
Full Breakdown
Massachusetts requires every short-term rental operator to maintain liability insurance of not less than $1,000,000 to cover each short-term rental, codified at MGL c. 175, § 4F (added by Acts of 2018, Chapter 337, effective July 1, 2019). The coverage must defend and indemnify the operator and any tenants or owners in the building for bodily injury and property damage arising from the short-term rental. The $1M minimum is waived only if the rental is offered exclusively through a hosting platform that maintains equal or greater coverage on the operator's behalf (Airbnb's Host Liability Insurance and VRBO's Liability Insurance both provide $1M and satisfy this exception).
Operators must also notify their homeowners or renters insurer in writing of the STR use; insurers are explicitly permitted by § 4F to exclude STR claims from a standard homeowners or renters policy and have no duty to defend STR-related claims under an excluding policy. Taunton has not enacted a supplemental local insurance ordinance, so the $1M state floor governs, alongside MGL c. 64G registration and inspection requirements. Operators are advised to obtain a dedicated commercial-host or surplus-lines policy when self-listing or using a non-platform booking method.
Violations & Fines
An operator who fails to carry the required coverage is in violation of MGL c. 175, § 4F. Although the statute does not set a specific fine schedule, operating without compliant insurance can void DOR registration eligibility under MGL c. 64G, § 67 and exposes the operator to full personal liability for guest injuries and property damage. Local enforcement runs through Taunton's licensing/inspectional services in coordination with the Board of Health.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much liability insurance does a Taunton short-term rental need?
Does Airbnb's coverage satisfy Massachusetts' STR insurance law?
Do I need to tell my homeowners insurer I'm running an Airbnb in Taunton?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Taunton
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