A farmer, a church, or a county fairground does not rent a field to a fall attraction business on a handshake. Here is what gets asked for most, roughly in the order it comes up.
1. A certificate of insurance
Proof that general liability coverage is active, usually at $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate unless the lease says otherwise.
2. Additional insured status
Many landowners want to be named on the policy itself, not just handed a certificate. That is a specific question on the application. Answer yes if it has been asked for, even if you do not have the exact legal name and address in hand yet.
3. A minimum limit, sometimes above standard
A family farm might accept the standard limit. A municipal fairground or a shopping center with a corporate legal department might require $2,000,000 per occurrence and $3,000,000 aggregate. Read the lease before you apply so the right limit gets quoted the first time.
4. A written lease or license agreement
Even a ten-week arrangement usually gets put in writing: dates, rent or revenue share, what you may install, where vehicles may park, and who is responsible for restoring the ground afterward.
5. A disclosed list of attractions
Corn mazes, hayrides, petting areas, bounce houses, and anything that launches a pumpkin through the air usually need to be disclosed to the landowner separately from the base lease. Those change the landowner’s own risk picture, and they will want to know.
6. A restoration deposit
Working ground takes a beating from a season of foot traffic and parked cars. Many landowners ask for a deposit against ruts, compacted soil, and fence damage. That is not insurance, so budget for it as a separate line.
7. Firm setup and teardown dates
Property owners want exact dates, not a vague season. If your policy term does not reach back to the week the wagons and portable toilets arrive, there is a gap during exactly the period the most equipment is moving on the property.