Weymouth, MA Short-Term Rentals: Insurance Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Statute
- MGL c.175 §4F
- Enabling Act
- Acts of 2018 c.337
- Minimum Coverage
- $1,000,000 per stay
- Platform Carve-Out
- Equal/greater platform coverage OK
- Local Add-On
- None in Weymouth Ch. 120
- Local Registry
- None - state DOR only
Summary
Massachusetts state law preempts STR insurance for Weymouth. MGL c.175, §4F (added by Chapter 337 of the Acts of 2018) requires every short-term rental operator in Weymouth to maintain at least $1,000,000 in liability insurance per stay, unless the booking platform provides equal or greater coverage. Weymouth's Chapter 120 Zoning Ordinance does not impose a separate local insurance requirement above the state floor.
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. The insurance 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. An operator intending 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.
Full Breakdown
Weymouth STR hosts are governed entirely by the statewide insurance mandate added by Chapter 337 of the Acts of 2018, because the Town has not adopted a local STR ordinance with its own insurance terms. 175, §4F(b), provides that an operator shall maintain liability insurance of not less than $1,000,000 to cover each short-term rental, unless that rental is offered through a hosting platform that maintains equal or greater coverage. 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.
Standard Massachusetts homeowner (HO-3) and condominium (HO-6) policies typically exclude business or short-term rental activity, so most Weymouth hosts either add a short-term rental endorsement to their homeowner policy or carry a dedicated landlord/STR policy that meets the $1M per-stay threshold. Major platforms satisfy the carve-out: Airbnb's AirCover Host Liability Insurance and Vrbo's Liability Insurance both publish $1,000,000 per-occurrence limits. 62C, §67, to register with the Massachusetts Department of Revenue Short-Term Rental Registry. 64G obligates intermediaries (Airbnb, Vrbo) to verify operator registration before listing the property.
Weymouth's Department of Municipal Licenses and Inspections enforces general zoning compliance under Chapter 120 but does not separately verify STR insurance because the requirement is administered at the state level.
Violations & Fines
Operating a short-term rental in Weymouth without the $1,000,000 liability coverage required by MGL c.175, §4F is a violation of the Massachusetts STR law. The Department of Revenue may revoke or refuse to issue the STR Certificate of Registration under MGL c.64G, §6, and platforms are required by MGL c.64G, §13 to delist non-compliant operators. Civil exposure for an uninsured incident at the rental falls personally on the operator.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much liability insurance do I need for a Weymouth Airbnb?
Will my regular Weymouth homeowner policy cover Airbnb guests?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Weymouth
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