Insurance Requirements: Antioch vs Martinez
How do insurance requirements rules compare between Antioch, CA and Martinez, CA?
Martinez has fewer restrictions than Antioch.
Antioch, CA
Contra Costa County
Antioch requires every short-term rental host to submit a copy of an active liability insurance policy as part of the city's Short-Term Rental Permit application. The Antioch Municipal Code does not pin a numeric minimum to the certificate, but city practice tracks the broader Contra Costa County standard of $1,000,000 per-occurrence general liability for hosted lodging activity.
View full Antioch rules βMartinez, CA
Contra Costa County
Martinez has not adopted a short-term rental ordinance, and the city does not impose a minimum liability-insurance requirement on short-term lodging operators. California has no statewide STR insurance mandate either - insurance minimums are set by each city or county that has adopted an STR program, and Martinez has not done so. Hosts are nonetheless strongly advised to carry commercial-grade liability and property coverage, because standard homeowner's policies typically exclude paid short-term lodging activity.
View full Martinez rules βKey Facts Comparison
| Fact | Antioch | Martinez |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance Required | Yes - liability policy at application | - |
| Code Minimum Stated | Not numerically specified by city | - |
| Common Practice | $1,000,000 per occurrence CGL | - |
| Permit | Antioch Short-Term Rental Permit | - |
| Renewal | Annual | - |
| Platform Coverage | Supplemental only - does not satisfy rule | - |
| Gathering Cap | 20 people maximum | - |
| TOT Rate | 10% of rent for stays under 30 days | - |
| City STR Insurance Mandate | - | None - no Martinez STR ordinance |
| California State Mandate | - | None - no statewide STR insurance law |
| AB 2873 (2022) | - | Affordable-housing tax credit / supplier diversity - NOT STR insurance |
| B&B / Lodging Framework | - | Conditions set case-by-case under MMC Section 22.04.051 |
| Homeowner's Policy | - | Typically excludes paid short-term lodging |
| Industry Norm | - | $1M per-occurrence liability (commercial STR policy) |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Antioch FAQ
How much liability insurance does Antioch require for an STR?
The Antioch Municipal Code does not state a specific dollar minimum, but the city requires a copy of an active liability insurance policy with the Short-Term Rental Permit application. Hosts typically carry $1,000,000 per-occurrence commercial general liability.
Does Airbnb AirCover satisfy Antioch's STR insurance requirement?
No. Platform host-protection programs are supplemental and do not replace the underlying liability policy that must accompany the city permit application.
Will my homeowners policy cover STR activity in Antioch?
Often no. Most standard homeowners policies exclude or limit short-term rental use. Hosts should ask their carrier in writing whether transient occupancy is covered, or buy a dedicated STR policy.
Martinez FAQ
Does Martinez require a short-term rental host to carry liability insurance?
No. Martinez has not adopted a short-term rental ordinance and does not impose a minimum liability-insurance amount, certificate-of-insurance filing, or additional-insured requirement on STR operators. Any insurance condition would only arise case-by-case through a bed-and-breakfast or conditional use approval under Section 22.04.051.
Does California state law require STR insurance?
No. California does not have a statewide minimum liability-insurance requirement for short-term rentals. AB 2873 (2022) is unrelated - it addresses affordable-housing tax credit allocation and supplier diversity, not STR insurance. Any STR insurance minimum comes from the local city or county, and Martinez has not adopted one.
Will my homeowner's policy cover Airbnb or Vrbo guests?
Usually not. A standard homeowner's policy typically treats paid short-term lodging as a business use and may deny claims tied to a paying guest. Most hosts purchase a dedicated short-term rental policy or commercial landlord policy, often with $1 million per-occurrence liability. Platform programs like Airbnb's AirCover supplement rather than replace a host's own primary coverage.
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