Rent More Than the House: Cars, Golf Carts, Boats, Planes and Other Extras

Updated October 19, 2026

Part of our series Let Others Pay for Your Vacation Home.

Your vacation home probably comes with things guests would pay to use: a car in the garage, a golf cart, a pontoon at the dock, kayaks, bikes, a storage bay. Some of these are easy money. Others carry so much liability that one bad afternoon can wipe out years of rent. This guide walks through each category, the platforms that actually exist, the insurance gap most owners miss, and what to leave locked up.

General information only, not legal, tax or insurance advice. Laws differ by state and county, and your policies and HOA documents control. We cite official sources where we could find them and mark anything we couldn't confirm with a Note.

The two ways to earn

1. Include it in the stay. A washer/dryer, bikes, beach gear or a kayak raise your listing's appeal and nightly rate. No separate rental contract, but you still owe safe equipment.
2. Rent it separately. A car on Turo, a boat on GetMyBoat, a garage on Neighbor. Each has its own platform, protection plan and rules, and guests and strangers alike can book.

Whichever you choose, the first question is always the same: who pays when someone gets hurt or something breaks?

The insurance gap, first

• Homeowners and landlord policies often exclude or limit business use, motor vehicles, watercraft and recreational vehicles. A paid rental of an item can be treated as business activity. Ask your agent, in writing, whether each item is covered when a guest uses it, with or without a fee.
• Personal auto policies commonly exclude coverage while your car is enrolled in, or being used through, a peer-to-peer car-sharing program by someone else. Sample state-filed endorsements apply the exclusion to liability, damage to your car, uninsured-motorist and medical coverage (Virginia SCC specimen peer-to-peer exclusion; Progressive on peer-to-peer car insurance). That's why the platform's coverage matters so much.
• Umbrella policies add liability limits above home and auto, but many exclude business pursuits and rented-out vehicles or watercraft. Don't assume an umbrella fills the gap. Note: umbrella terms vary by insurer; we didn't review any specific policy.
• Commercial or short-term-rental policies are built for paying guests and may offer endorsements for amenities like bikes or kayaks. Motorized items (boats, ATVs, golf carts) usually need their own policy. See our rules, taxes and insurance guide.
• Platform protection is not insurance for everything. Airbnb's AirCover and Vrbo's damage programs are written for the stay. Don't assume they cover a guest's injury on your ATV or damage to your boat. Our house rules and damage guide covers what they do handle.

Waivers: useful, but limited

A signed liability waiver and rental agreement help: they show the guest was warned, set rules (age, sober operation, no passengers), and record the item's condition. But: - Many states won't enforce waivers against gross negligence or for injuries caused by poor maintenance, and some limit waivers for recreational activities. Enforceability depends on state law and wording. - A waiver binds only the person who signed. Passengers, children and bystanders usually haven't. - A waiver doesn't replace insurance or a state rule (for example, boating-age laws).

Have a local attorney write or review any waiver you use. Note: we didn't survey state-by-state waiver law.

Cars and motorcycles

Turo is the main U.S. peer-to-peer car platform. - Eligibility: the car must be in the U.S., registered to you (or you're authorized), no more than 12 years old (classic exceptions), under 130,000 miles, clean title, never a total loss, and worth no more than $200,000. Motorcycles, off-road vehicles and RVs are not eligible (Turo vehicle eligibility). - Earnings plans (U.S.): you keep 70%, 80% or 90% of the trip price, with damage responsibility of $250, $1,500 or $2,750 per claim. All plans include up to $750,000 in third-party liability insurance from Travelers (New York differs) (Turo earnings plans in detail). Turo renamed its protection plans "earnings plans" in 2026 (Turo announcement). - Photo rules: damage reimbursement requires dated, geotagged pre-trip and post-trip photos within 24 hours of the trip start and end (same source).

Getaround wound down U.S. operations in February 2025 and stopped accepting new U.S. rentals (Getaround: U.S. wind-down; SEC filing). It still operates in Europe.

Motorcycles: since Turo excludes them, you'd need a motorcycle-specific rental platform or a commercial rental business with commercial insurance and a licensing check for the rider's motorcycle endorsement. Note: we didn't verify current motorcycle peer-to-peer platforms' terms.

Don't just hand guests your keys for a fee. That's a paid rental with, most likely, no coverage. Lending a car free to a guest is still a risk under your personal policy; ask your insurer.

Golf carts and low-speed vehicles (LSVs)

• Federally, an LSV is a four-wheeled vehicle that tops out above 20 mph but no more than 25 mph, with a gross weight under 3,000 lbs, and must meet safety standard FMVSS 500 (lights, mirrors, seat belts, windshield, VIN) (49 CFR 571.500). A typical golf cart is slower and isn't an LSV.
• Whether either can go on public streets is state and local law. States set registration, insurance, driver-license, age and road-speed rules, and many towns and HOAs add their own. Check your state DMV and city before you tell guests they can drive to the beach.
• Insurance: homeowners coverage for carts is often limited to your own property or golf course use. A cart rented to guests usually needs a separate golf-cart or LSV policy.
• Practical rules if you include one: minimum driver age, licensed drivers only on roads, seat-belt use on LSVs, no more passengers than seats, and a key you control.

ATVs, UTVs and dirt bikes

• These carry some of the highest injury risk of anything on this list. Most homeowners policies exclude or sharply limit off-road vehicles away from your premises.
• Many states require OHV registration and youth education or age limits, and public trails have their own rules. Note: rules vary widely by state; check your state's OHV program (in Utah, the Division of Outdoor Recreation).
• If you want to offer them, the cleaner path is to point guests to a licensed local outfitter that carries commercial insurance and does training. Partner for a referral fee only if your platform rules and local laws allow it.

Boats and watercraft

Kayaks, canoes, paddleboards

• Easy amenities that guests value. Even human-powered craft are "recreational vessels" under federal rules: you need one wearable U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket for each person, in good condition and the right size, and children under 13 must wear one while under way unless below decks (state rules may differ) (33 CFR 175.15–175.21).
• Some states add their own rules. Utah, for example, requires every boater, including kayak and paddleboard users, to take the annual Mussel-Aware Boater course (Utah Outdoor Recreation: Boating Education).
• Provide sized life jackets, a posted rules sheet (weather, no alcohol, stay near shore, local launch rules) and a waiver.

Pontoons, motorboats and jet skis (PWC)

• Boats 16 feet or longer also need a throwable flotation device on board (33 CFR 175.15(b)).
• Age and education rules are state law. Utah example: anyone under 16 may run a motorboat only with on-board supervision by someone 18+. For PWC, ages 12–15 need an approved course, the certificate in hand, and direct adult supervision; ages 16–17 need the course and certificate; and it's illegal for an owner to let someone operate who doesn't meet these rules. PWC may not run between sunset and sunrise (Utah Code 73-18-15.2 and 15.3). Other states differ; for example, Louisiana and Minnesota have their own rental-boater rules (Louisiana WLF; Minnesota DNR). NASBLA keeps a reference guide; confirm with your state agency (NASBLA reference guide).

Bareboat rental vs. captained charter

This is the line most owners don't know exists. - If you (or someone you provide) drive the boat for paying guests, you're carrying passengers for hire. Every passenger-for-hire vessel must be run by someone with a Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Credential. For an uninspected boat carrying six or fewer passengers (the "six-pack"), that's at least an OUPV endorsement. More passengers generally means an inspected vessel with a Certificate of Inspection (USCG MSIB 01-19, Passenger for Hire Operations; 46 CFR 11.467). - A true bareboat charter means the renter takes complete command, control and possession and supplies their own crew. If the owner stays on board or supplies the captain, the Coast Guard says it isn't a valid bareboat charter. A bareboat charter carrying more than 12 passengers also requires inspection (same MSIB). - So: "I'll take your family out on the pontoon for $200" is a for-hire trip and needs a licensed captain. Renting the pontoon for the guest to drive is a bareboat rental and needs a proper written agreement, state-legal operators and insurance.

Platforms

• GetMyBoat: standard owner service fee of 11.5% for U.S. bookings (14.5% international) (GetMyBoat: service fees).
• Boatsetter: owner payout depends on the boat and the insurance option; boats using Boatsetter's peer-to-peer insurance keep a smaller share than owners who bring their own commercial insurance (Boatsetter fee policy; Boatsetter owner payout FAQ). Note: the exact percentages (reported roughly 65%–90%) weren't confirmed line by line; check at signup.
• Both platforms list bareboat and captained options. Captained listings require the captain's credential.
• Insurance: your own boat policy probably excludes rental or charter use. Use the platform's coverage or a charter policy.

E-bikes and bikes

• Regular bikes, helmets and locks are a low-risk, popular amenity. Inspect brakes and tires each turnover.
• E-bike classes, age limits and where they may ride are set by states and localities. Note: not confirmed state by state.
• Add bikes to your listing's amenities; for e-bikes, use a waiver and helmet rule.

Beach, ski and outdoor gear

• Umbrellas, chairs, coolers, wagons, sleds and snowshoes are low-risk extras that help with reviews and rates.
• Ski and snowboard equipment is different: bindings should be adjusted by a trained shop technician for each skier, so point guests to a local ski shop instead of lending your own setup. Note: general practice, not a sourced rule.

Fishing gear

• Rods, reels and a basic tackle box are a cheap, well-liked amenity at lake and coastal homes.
• Guests need their own state fishing license. Utah example: anyone 12 or older must buy a fishing or combination license; under-12s fish free (Utah DWR Fishing Guidebook 2026; Utah DWR: fishing for beginners). Other states set their own ages and fees.
• Put a line in your welcome guide: "You'll need a license; buy it online from [state agency] before you fish," plus local limits and closures.

Trapping equipment: don't rent it

• Trapping is regulated wildlife harvest with licensing, seasons, trap-check rules and education requirements. In Utah, residents born after Dec. 31, 1984 must pass a furharvester education course (online plus a field day, or instructor-led) before getting a furbearer license (Utah DWR Black Bear, Cougar and Furbearer Guidebook 2026; Utah Admin. Rule R657-23).
• Traps can injure pets, children and non-target animals, and a guest trapping out of season or without a license puts you in the story.
• Recommendation: don't rent or lend traps to guests. Store them locked away, and disclose any traps set on the property.

Chainsaws, splitters, snow blowers and power tools

• Chainsaws: an estimated 127,944 people were treated in U.S. emergency departments for chainsaw injuries in 2018–2022 (Safety, 2025: chainsaw injuries 2018–2022). Kickback can throw the bar toward the operator and "cause severe or fatal injury" (STIHL Chain Saw Safety Manual). OSHA's guidance calls for following the manufacturer's instructions, working with others nearby, and wearing a hard hat, eye, hearing, leg and foot protection (OSHA: Working Safely with Chainsaws).
• Log splitters, snow blowers, mowers, pressure washers, table saws: each comes with an owner's manual full of manufacturer warnings, and those warnings are the standard someone will measure you against after an injury. If a guest gets hurt using your tool without the manual, guards or safety gear, you'll have a hard time showing you acted carefully. Note: how far your liability goes depends on state law.
• Keep dangerous tools locked away from guests. A locked owner's closet or shed (the same place you keep personal items) is standard. List "tools and equipment are not for guest use" in house rules.
• Lawn mowers and tools are rarely worth renting at a vacation home: small dollars, real injury risk, and wear on the gear you need for upkeep.
• Snow: rather than leaving a snow blower out, hire snow removal or provide shovels and ice melt. Clear access is part of a safe stay (Airbnb safety expectations).
• Peer-to-peer tool sites do exist if you have tools near a home where you or a manager can handle handoffs: Yoodlize (U.S.-wide, says listings carry up to $2,000 item coverage, terms apply) (Yoodlize), Toolin (toolin.com) and Rentool (app-based) (rentool.net). Fat Llama has rebranded as Hygglo. Note: we didn't confirm these sites' fees, insurance terms or local activity; read their terms before listing anything with a blade or engine, and many exclude or limit coverage for injuries.

Aircraft and hangars

If your vacation home is near an airport or on an airpark, your plane and hangar may look like assets you could rent out. The FAA rules here are strict, and the most common mistake is an illegal charter.

Renting your plane to other pilots: dry vs. wet lease

• Dry lease: you provide only the aircraft. The renter supplies their own pilot and normally has operational control (authority over starting, running and ending the flight). A properly licensed pilot can then fly under the general operating rules of Part 91 (FAA AC 91-37B, Truth in Leasing).
• Wet lease: you provide the aircraft and at least one crewmember (14 CFR 110.2, quoted in AC 91-37B). In a wet lease you normally keep operational control. The FAA looks at the real arrangement, not just what the paperwork says.
• Flying people for pay, or providing plane plus pilot, generally needs an air carrier certificate, such as Part 135 for on-demand charter. The FAA warns about the "sham dry lease," where parties act together to supply both the aircraft and a pilot to get around charter rules (FAA Safe Charter: pilots, owners and operators). So "I'll fly your family to the lake for $500" is not a side hustle; it's an illegal charter unless you hold the certificate.
• Truth-in-leasing (14 CFR 91.23): for large civil aircraft (generally over 12,500 lbs), leases must be in writing with specific operational-control and maintenance statements, and copies sent to the FAA (AC 91-37B). Most small piston planes fall under the weight limit, but a clear written lease is still essential.

Inspections

• Every aircraft needs an annual inspection. A 100-hour inspection is also required when an aircraft carries any person (other than a crewmember) for hire, or when someone gives flight instruction for hire in an aircraft they provide (14 CFR 91.409(b)). An FAA legal interpretation explains the instruction trigger (FAA legal interpretation). Flight schools and rental fleets usually run on 100-hour cycles for these reasons. Note: whether a given rental arrangement triggers the 100-hour rule depends on the facts; ask an aviation attorney or your A&P/IA.

Insurance

• Owner-flown aircraft policies usually name approved pilots and restrict rental use. Renting to others typically requires a different policy, named-pilot approvals, and higher premiums. Confirm in writing before any pilot other than you flies. Note: no specific insurer terms reviewed.

Flying clubs and leasebacks

• Flying club: members share ownership or costs. Done correctly, members split costs as co-owners or members rather than paying you for rides. Club structure, insurance and FAA rules still apply.
• Leaseback to an FBO or flight school: you lease your plane to a school, which rents it to students and pilots under its own insurance and maintenance program. Expect 100-hour inspections, faster wear, and revenue that often offsets rather than exceeds costs. Note: typical leaseback terms and returns not confirmed.

Subleasing hangar space

• At airports that took federal grants (most public airports), hangars must be used, or available, for aeronautical purposes. Storing active aircraft, building kit aircraft and maintenance count. Non-aeronautical items are allowed only if they don't interfere with aeronautical use; a hangar can't be used as a residence or for a non-aviation business (FAA Policy on the Non-Aeronautical Use of Airport Hangars, 81 FR 38906 (2016); FAA hangar-use FAQ).
• The policy applies even if you built the hangar on a ground lease. Leasing to non-aviation users needs FAA approval through the airport sponsor and fair-market rent.
• Subleases: sponsors usually keep the right to approve any assignment or sublease in advance (FAA Order 5190.6C, Airport Compliance Manual, ch. 12). Read your hangar lease and get written approval before subletting space to another aircraft owner. Renting your hangar for boat or RV storage, or to vacation guests for their cars, is likely a violation.
• Note: we didn't find a newer FAA hangar-use policy replacing the 2016 policy; the compliance order has since moved to 5190.6C. A private airpark with no federal obligations follows its own covenants instead.

Airpark homes with their own hangar

Some homes sit right on the airfield: a house in a residential airpark or fly-in community, with an attached or detached hangar and a taxiway running to the runway. These are among the rarest vacation rentals, and the hangar is the main draw.

Marketing to pilot guests. Pilots are a small audience, but a loyal one, and they search for exactly this. Put the airport identifier, runway length and surface, hangar door width and height, and whether fuel is on the field in the first lines of the listing. Add photos of the hangar and taxiway. Offer the hangar as part of the stay rather than as a separate rental. A guest who flies in and parks their own plane in your hangar during their stay is the cleanest setup. Pilot forums, type clubs and aviation-lifestyle directories (below) reach these guests better than Airbnb search alone.

Through-the-fence access at public airports. If the home is next to a public airport rather than inside a private airpark, its taxiway access probably runs "through the fence." That is a written agreement with the airport sponsor. - Section 136 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, codified at 49 U.S.C. 47107(s), lets general aviation airports enter residential through-the-fence agreements. Commercial-service airports can't. The agreement must require the owner to pay access fees comparable to on-airport tenants, pay for the access infrastructure, keep the property for residential, noncommercial use, block access to the airport from other properties through yours, and ban aircraft refueling on the property (FAA Residential Through-the-Fence Toolkit; FAA final policy, 78 FR 42419 (July 16, 2013)). - The FAA reviews these agreements under Compliance Guidance Letter 2021-03. Section 185 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 grandfathers some older perpetual, noncommercial agreements (same toolkit page). Through-the-fence access is also covered in the FAA's Airport Compliance Manual, Order 5190.6B, which has since been replaced by 5190.6C. - What this means for renting: read your access agreement before you list. The "residential, noncommercial" condition doesn't clearly rule out a short-term rental of the house, but renting hangar or taxiway access to someone who isn't staying there, or running an aviation business from the property, may break it. Ask the airport sponsor in writing. Note: we found no FAA statement on whether short-term rental of a through-the-fence home counts as "noncommercial." It depends on the agreement and the sponsor.

Private-use airparks and association rules. Many airparks are privately owned, private-use airports. Their rules come from the deed covenants and the airpark or HOA association, not the FAA. - Check who may use the runway and taxiways. Some airparks allow only owners and their guests. Some require transient aircraft to get prior permission (PPR) or sign a waiver. Some ban renters from flying in at all. - Check rental rules. Many airpark HOAs set minimum stays, ban short-term rentals, or require renters to register. Some also limit hangar use to the owner's or the guest's own aircraft. - Also check taxiway right-of-way, speed limits, wingspan or weight limits, and night-operation rules. Put them in your house manual. - Note: rules vary by community. We didn't survey individual airpark covenants.

Insurance. - Homeowner's policy: usually covers the hangar building, but usually excludes aircraft and aviation liability. Short-term rental use may also need an endorsement or a separate STR policy. Tell the insurer the hangar is part of the rental. - Aircraft policy: the guest's own policy covers their plane and their flying. Your policy covers yours. Neither usually covers damage to a guest's plane while it sits in your hangar. - Hangarkeeper's liability: covers damage to other people's aircraft in your care, custody or control. FBOs and hangar operators carry it. If guests park planes in your hangar, ask an aviation insurance broker whether you need it, or whether a hangar-use agreement and the guest's own coverage are enough. - Note: we didn't review specific policy forms. Coverage and exclusions vary by insurer.

Liability when a guest's plane is in your hangar. Use a short written hangar-use agreement. It should say the guest keeps care of their own aircraft and insurance, that you're not a bailee responsible for it, and who pays for hangar-door or building damage. Ask for proof of the guest's aircraft liability insurance and name yourself as an additional insured if the insurer allows it. Don't move a guest's airplane yourself. Keep your own aircraft out of the hangar, or locked and separated, while a guest's plane is inside. Note: how far a waiver or agreement limits liability depends on state law.

Fuel and safety. - At through-the-fence homes, the law bans aircraft refueling on the property (see above). Many airparks ban self-fueling in hangars too. Send guests to the airport's fuel facility. - Follow the fire code for hangars. Don't store fuel cans, run heaters with open flames, or let guests run engines inside. Keep a suitable fire extinguisher by the door. Check your local fire code and NFPA 409 with the fire marshal. Note: we didn't confirm how local codes apply NFPA 409 to residential hangars. - Tell guests about taxiway etiquette, propeller safety, and keeping kids and pets away from the taxiway.

Directories. These exist and list airparks or airpark homes. Most are for sales, and few list rentals: - Living With Your Plane: a directory of residential airparks, showing private or public use. - AV8 Realty: airpark homes, some listed for rent. - AirportAirparkHomes.com and the GlobalAir.com airport real estate directory. - Note: we found no large, dedicated fly-in vacation rental platform. Pilot guests usually find these homes on Airbnb and Vrbo by searching "hangar" or the airport name.

Snowmobiles

• Snowmobile rental is popular at mountain cabins, but it's ATV-level risk: high speeds, avalanche terrain and cold-weather rescue. Most hosts refer guests to a licensed snowmobile outfitter.
• Registration: states require snowmobiles to be registered. Utah example: every 1988 or newer snowmobile operated in Utah must be titled and registered, renewed yearly (Utah DMV: Snowmobiles), and an owner may not give another person permission to operate an unregistered OHV on public land (Utah Code 41-22-3).
• Education: in Utah, adults 18+ are exempt from the OHV course for snowmobiles, but youth riders need a separate snowmobile safety certificate; Utah's adult ATV/UTV certificate doesn't cover snowmobiles (Utah Code 41-22-31; Utah Outdoor Recreation: OHV education). Note: exact youth ages (commonly cited as 8–15) were confirmed only on a course vendor's page; check the state's current rules.
• Homeowner's policies generally exclude recreational vehicles rented to others. Insurance for a rental snowmobile is a commercial policy. Note: no specific insurer terms reviewed.

Horses and horseback rides

• Trail rides at a ranch property are a real draw, and they are an equine activity under state law. Utah's Equine and Livestock Activities Act says a sponsor isn't liable for injuries from the inherent risks of horses, but that protection is lost if you provided faulty tack through negligence, didn't make reasonable efforts to match the horse to the rider, ignored a known dangerous condition without posting warnings, or were negligent (Utah Code 78B-4-202).
• You must give notice: a sign in a prominent spot in the riding area, or a signed release, that includes the statute's definition of inherent risk and says the sponsor isn't liable for those risks (Utah Code 78B-4-203; definitions in 78B-4-201). Most states have a similar law with their own sign wording.
• Recommendation: unless you are an experienced horse person with equine liability insurance, let guests meet horses but book rides through a local outfitter or stable.

RVs, campers, tents and glamping

• Renting your RV or trailer to guests to take away: use a platform built for it. Outdoorsy is free to list and takes a 20–25% host service fee (new hosts start at 25%), includes $1 million liability and up to $300,000 physical-damage coverage on bookings made through it, and requires inspections of tires, brakes, LP and gas within 90 days of departure (Outdoorsy fee structure; Outdoorsy Host Protection summary). RVshare says its owner insurance carries $1 million liability and up to $300,000 comprehensive and collision coverage with a $1,500 deductible from the renter's deposit (RVshare owner FAQ). Note: RVshare's commission (reported as 25%) wasn't confirmed on an official fee page.
• Using an RV, tent or yurt as extra sleeping space on the property is lodging, not equipment rental. Zoning, occupancy and septic rules apply, and your STR permit may not cover it. Check with the county before listing it, or list it separately on a platform like Hipcamp. Note: Hipcamp terms not reviewed.

Drones: don't rent them casually

• A guest flying your drone is the operator under FAA rules. Recreational flyers must pass the free TRUST test and carry proof; drones of 250 grams or more must be registered and comply with Remote ID (FAA: TRUST; FAA: register your drone; FAA Remote ID). The registration is tied to you, so a guest's crash or no-fly-zone violation can lead back to you.
• Many vacation areas (national parks, wilderness, near airports) restrict or ban drones. National parks generally prohibit launching or flying them under NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05, and a violation is a misdemeanor (National Park Service). Recommendation: don't rent or lend drones. Tell guests who bring their own to check FAA rules and the B4UFLY app.
• If guests offer photo shoots at the home, or you hire a drone photographer for your listing, that's commercial flying and needs a Part 107 certified pilot.

Baby gear

• Cribs, high chairs and car seats bring safety recalls and cleaning standards. The easy answer is BabyQuip: local independent "Quality Providers" own, clean, deliver, set up and pick up the gear (BabyQuip: how it works). Hosts don't stock anything; as an affiliate you earn a 10% commission on the item total booked through your link, excluding delivery, tips and tax, or you can give guests a 10% discount instead (BabyQuip affiliate; BabyQuip for Hostaway hosts).
• If you supply a crib yourself, follow current crib safety standards and check recalls. Note: not sourced here; see CPSC.

Stay add-ons and services

Upsell software (Enso Connect, Duve, Hostfully, Hostaway and others) shows the most common paid extras aren't equipment at all. They're changes to the stay: - Early check-in and late checkout: the most common upsell. Charge only when your cleaning schedule allows. - Mid-stay cleaning, linen swaps, grocery stocking, firewood bundles. - Pet fees: set them in the platform fee fields. Airbnb doesn't allow pet fees for assistance animals. - Hot tub, pool or sauna heating: optional heating fees must be disclosed before booking and collected through the platform (see platform fees). - Private chef, massage, guided tours: have licensed providers offer these directly or through Airbnb Services; don't resell services you aren't licensed for. - Note: we didn't confirm specific upsell platforms' fees or which add-ons sell best; host-reported data varies.

Guided hunts and fishing guides

• Taking guests hunting or fishing for pay is guiding. Most states license guides and outfitters, and guiding on federal land usually needs a special-use permit. Guiding on navigable water from a boat needs a Coast Guard license (see boats). Note: Utah's hunting guide and outfitter licensing rules weren't confirmed; check with the state.
• Hunting blinds on your own land are fine to provide, but guests need their own licenses, tags and hunter education, and you'll want landowner liability coverage. Utah has a recreational use statute that limits landowner liability for free use; charging guests can remove that protection. Note: not confirmed for paid STR guests; ask an attorney.
• Recommendation: partner with a licensed local outfitter and put their link in your guidebook.

Event space, weddings and photo shoots

• Weddings and parties at a rental bring noise, parking and occupancy complaints, and Airbnb bans unauthorized parties. Get the platform's and HOA's permission first, along with any county special-event permit.
• Peerspace lists homes for hourly events and shoots: free to list, a 20% host service fee on bookings and add-ons, supplemental general liability coverage up to $1 million per booking (which excludes damage to the space), and hosts must carry their own primary liability insurance (Peerspace service fee; Peerspace insurance; Peerspace Terms 3.3–3.5). Peerspace also advertises a damage guarantee of up to $25,000 per booking (Peerspace host page).
• Event days must not overlap with overnight bookings.

EV charging, Starlink and generators

• EV charging: a Level 2 charger is a growing amenity. Most hosts include it free or add a small flat fee through the platform. Metered resale of electricity can be regulated in some states. Note: state rules not confirmed.
• Starlink and backup generators: these are reliability amenities at remote homes. Include them in the stay. Don't let guests refuel or run a portable generator indoors or in a garage (carbon monoxide risk); a permanent standby unit is safer.

Games, sports and hobby gear

• Golf clubs, tennis and pickleball gear, board games, game rooms, telescopes, metal detectors and music equipment are low-risk and raise bookings. Include them; renting them separately rarely pays. Sport courts and game rooms belong in the listing's amenities and photos.
• Metal detecting is restricted on many public lands and banned in national parks. Point guests to the rules for where they plan to dig.

Storage, garage and parking space

• Neighbor lets you rent garage, driveway, RV and storage space. Listing is free; Neighbor takes a 4.9% + $0.30 processing fee from host payouts, and its Host Guarantee covers eligible third-party damage or injury up to a $1 million lifetime aggregate, with exclusions and a 10-day claim deadline (Neighbor: host payouts; Neighbor Terms of Service). Note: "Stowit"-type alternatives weren't verified.
• Check your HOA and zoning first. Many HOAs restrict rentals of parking or storage, boats and RVs in driveways, and commercial use. Mixing storage renters with short-term guests also creates access and security problems.
• Good fit: RV or boat storage at a rural home in the off-season, which pairs with off-season strategies.

Washer, dryer and household appliances

• A washer and dryer is a strong amenity filter for families and longer stays. Include it free rather than coin-op; coin machines feel nickel-and-dime in a private home and add cash handling. See furnishing.
• Note: no reliable public data found on how much an in-unit washer raises nightly rates.
• Maintain appliances and clean dryer lint traps and vents; poorly maintained appliances are a hazard Airbnb asks hosts to address (Airbnb Help 2904).

Firearms: keep them out of the rental

This is the one category where our advice is simple: don't leave firearms accessible to guests, and don't rent or lend them. Point guests who want to shoot or hunt to licensed ranges and outfitters.

Federal law, briefly - An unlicensed person may not transfer a firearm to someone they know or have reason to believe lives in another state, with exceptions including "the loan or rental of a firearm to any person for temporary use for lawful sporting purposes" (18 U.S.C. 922(a)(5)). ATF explains that an unlicensed person may loan or rent a firearm to a resident of any state for temporary lawful sporting use, as long as they don't know or have reason to believe the person is prohibited, and that state laws may add restrictions (ATF Q&A). - That exception is narrow. It doesn't cover a gun left in a nightstand for "protection," and it never permits transfer to a prohibited person (felons, people under certain court orders and others) (18 U.S.C. 922(d) and (g)). There are also federal age rules for handguns and juveniles (922(x)). You usually can't verify any of this for a guest. Licensed dealers who rent firearms follow their own ATF rules (27 CFR 478.97). - Any lasting transfer, sale or gift of a firearm must go through the proper channels, including a licensed dealer and a background check where federal or state law requires it. - State law may require background checks for loans, set storage rules, or restrict certain firearms. Check your state.

Platform rules - Airbnb: hosts must disclose firearms on the listing page and keep them unloaded in a locked, immovable, inaccessible container (like a gun safe). For homes, firearms are allowed only where the listing takes one booking at a time. Replicas and non-functional firearms must be disclosed too (Airbnb weapons policy, Help 1529). - Vrbo: hosts must disclose any weapons in House Rules, store functional weapons so guests can't reach them, store all firearms unloaded, and remove or secure a weapon if a guest asks (Vrbo weapons policy).

Insurance and storage risk: theft from a vacation home is a real risk when it sits empty. Best practice is to remove firearms or keep them in a bolted safe in a locked owner's closet, and to tell your insurer.

Platform rules on extra fees and off-platform payments

• Airbnb: requesting or receiving payment outside Airbnb is prohibited, including fees tied to the reservation (Airbnb's example: an optional pool-heating fee). Mandatory fees must be in the fee fields or nightly price. Optional add-ons must be stated in the listing before booking and collected through the Resolution Center (Airbnb Help 2799; Help 251; Help 767). Separate platforms like Turo or GetMyBoat are separate bookings; don't use Airbnb messages to send guests off-platform to pay you for Airbnb-related items.
• Airbnb Services and Experiences let qualified providers list offerings like chefs, photography or guided activities. Services require relevant experience, identity checks, licenses and insurance, and Experiences have their own standards (Airbnb Help 18; Help 1451). Note: we didn't confirm whether gear rental alone qualifies; a guided kayak tour, for example, is more likely to fit.
• Vrbo: optional extras such as parking or hot-tub access go in optional-fee fields where available, or are disclosed in the description. Hosts can send a payment request for incidentals on an existing booking (Vrbo host-collected fees policy; Vrbo: extra charge requests).
• Direct bookings give you more freedom to sell add-ons, but Vrbo's new price parity terms still apply to the stay itself. See direct bookings.

Taxes on the extra income

• Income from renting items or space is generally taxable. Whether it goes with your rental property on Schedule E, on Schedule C as a business, or as other income depends on the facts, such as how regular the activity is and whether you provide services (IRS Pub. 527; IRS Pub. 525). Note: we didn't confirm how the IRS would classify each item here; ask a tax pro.
• Platforms like Turo, GetMyBoat and Neighbor may issue Form 1099-K or similar forms.
• Rental items such as vehicles and boats may be subject to state or local rental, sales or lodging taxes. Check with your state.
• Track expenses (maintenance, insurance, depreciation) per item. See tax deductions.

Quick decision table

Related guides

• House Rules, Deposits and Damage
• Vacation Rental Rules, Taxes and Insurance
• Vacation Rental Tax Deductions
• Furnishing and Setting Up a Vacation Rental
• You Own a Timeshare. Can You Rent It as a Vacation Home? (resort rules govern what you can offer at a timeshare)
• Back to the pillar: rent out your vacation home

Checked October 19, 2026 against the linked official pages. Platform terms and state laws change often. Hidden Villas has no affiliate or paid relationship with any company named here.