Certificate of insurance for vacation rentals
Proof of coverage, in the format your partners and permit offices expect
Cities, HOAs, owners, and lenders all ask for a COI. Generate unlimited certificates from your dashboard — with the limits and additional insureds each one requires — no calls, no waiting, no extra fees.
By Andrew Bate, Co-founderReviewed by Stuart BateUpdated
In short
A certificate of insurance (COI) is a one-page document that proves a policy is in force: named insured, coverage types, limits, effective dates, carrier, and any additional insureds. Vacation rental permit offices in cities such as Chicago, Nashville, and New Orleans require one showing $1,000,000 in liability coverage; Palm Springs requires $500,000. Velaris generates COIs on demand with the limits and additional insureds each jurisdiction asks for.
What a COI is and why you need one
A certificate of insurance is a one-page summary that proves you have coverage. It doesn't give away your full policy — it shows the basics: what's covered, how much, and until when.
You'll need a COI for almost every business relationship. Landlords require one before signing a lease. HOAs require one before approving a rental. Franchise groups require one during compliance audits. Municipalities require one for licensing. If you manage properties professionally, you're going to need a lot of COIs.
Cities that require a COI for a short-term rental permit
A growing list of cities will not issue or renew a short-term rental permit without proof of liability insurance. The limits below are what the certificate has to show — and homeowners policies, which exclude nightly rentals, will not satisfy them.
| City | Minimum liability on the COI | What the permit office asks for |
|---|---|---|
| ChicagoIllinois | $1,000,000 per occurrence, commercial general liability | Proof of insurance is submitted with the vacation rental or shared housing registration through the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, and must be kept current at renewal.Standard homeowners policies exclude nightly rental use, so the certificate must come from a policy written for short-term rentals. |
| NashvilleTennessee | $1,000,000 per occurrence liability | Every short-term rental property permit application — owner-occupied and non-owner-occupied — includes proof of fire, hazard, and liability insurance with liability limits of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence.Metro may accept platform-provided coverage as evidence, but permit reviewers routinely ask for the host's own policy. |
| New OrleansLouisiana | $1,000,000 for residential permits; $500,000 for commercial permits | Residential short-term rental permits require $1,000,000 in commercial general liability. Commercial short-term rental permits require $500,000 in liability coverage with the City of New Orleans named as an additional insured.Commercial permits also require a licensed STR operator and a noise-monitoring device. |
| DenverColorado | $1,000,000 aggregate liability, or equivalent platform coverage per transaction | Licensed short-term rentals must carry at least $1,000,000 in liability coverage, and the licensee must notify their insurer that the property is used as a short-term rental before the first booking.Denver licenses only primary residences, so managers typically encounter this requirement through owner-occupied listings. |
| Palm SpringsCalifornia | $500,000 per occurrence | A short-term rental or personal liability policy with at least $500,000 per occurrence must be in force for the full term of the vacation rental certificate, with proof provided at application and at every renewal.The city does not require that it be named as an additional insured. |
| AustinTexas | No longer required as a permit condition | Austin removed the proof-of-insurance requirement for new short-term rental license applications and renewals in October 2025.Owner contracts and lenders still ask for coverage; the permit office simply stopped checking. |
| Little RockArkansas | $1,000,000 per occurrence | The short-term rental permit application requires proof of homeowner's fire, hazard and liability insurance with liability limits of not less than $1,000,000 per occurrence, alongside the city business license.Non-owner-occupied rentals (STR-2) also need Planned Zoning District approval, and the city caps short-term rentals at 500 at any one time. |
Verified September 2026 against each city's permit pages and municipal code; ordinances change often, so confirm with the city before relying on a figure. State-level context for each market is in the short-term rental regulations guide. Velaris programs offer per-property liability limits from $100K to $1M, so a certificate can be issued at the limit a specific city requires.
How to get a COI with Velaris
Three steps. No phone calls. No broker delays.
Request a COI
Log in to your Velaris dashboard and select the property or portfolio that needs a certificate.
Add additional insureds
Name the certificate holder and any additional insureds — landlords, HOAs, municipalities, or franchise groups.
Download or share
Your COI is generated immediately. Download it as a PDF or share a link directly with the requesting party.
What's on a certificate of insurance
Every COI contains the same standard fields. Here's what each one means.
Your company name and legal entity.
The specific policy covering the property or portfolio.
General liability, property damage, or both.
Per-occurrence and aggregate limits for each coverage type.
When the policy starts and when it expires.
Any third parties listed on the certificate, such as landlords or HOAs.
The person or entity requesting the COI.
The name and AM Best rating of the carrier backing the policy.
Additional insureds and endorsements
Many contracts require you to list a third party as an "additional insured" on your policy. This gives them certain protections under your coverage — and it's a standard requirement in property management.
- Property owners and landlords
- Homeowner associations (HOAs)
- Franchise groups
- Municipal governments
- Lenders and mortgage companies
- Add additional insureds directly from your dashboard
- No separate endorsement request needed
- No extra fees — included with your policy
- Changes reflected on your COI immediately
- Multiple additional insureds per property supported
Why Velaris COIs are different
With a traditional broker, getting a COI means sending an email, waiting a few days, and hoping the details are right. With Velaris, it takes about 30 seconds.
Frequently asked questions
What is a certificate of insurance?
A certificate of insurance (COI) is a document that proves you have active insurance coverage. It summarizes your policy details — coverage types, limits, effective dates, and the carrier backing your policy — without sharing the full policy document.
When do I need a COI?
You'll need a COI whenever a third party requires proof of insurance. Common situations include signing a lease or management agreement, onboarding with an HOA, applying for a business license, or responding to a franchise compliance audit.
What is an additional insured?
An additional insured is a person or entity added to your policy who receives certain protections under your coverage. Common additional insureds include property owners, landlords, HOAs, and franchise groups. Adding additional insureds to your Velaris policy is free.
How long does it take to get a COI from Velaris?
COIs are generated immediately from your dashboard. You can download a PDF or share a link. If you need to add an additional insured or endorsement, that's handled at the same time — no separate request needed.
Does a COI cost extra?
No. COIs are included with your Velaris coverage at no additional cost. You can generate as many as you need for as many properties or certificate holders as you have.
Works with your PMS
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