Insurance Requirements: Berkeley vs Oakland
How do insurance requirements rules compare between Berkeley, CA and Oakland, CA?
Berkeley and Oakland have similar restriction levels.
Berkeley, CA
Alameda County
Berkeley requires STR hosts to carry at least 500,000 dollars in liability insurance covering short-term rental activity, or use a platform that provides equivalent coverage.
View full Berkeley rules →Oakland, CA
Alameda County
Oakland's STR ordinance (Chapter 5.96) requires hosts to maintain liability insurance of at least $500,000 per occurrence covering STR use, or to operate exclusively through a hosting platform that provides equivalent coverage (such as Airbnb's Host Liability Insurance). Proof of coverage must be submitted with the STR permit application and renewals.
View full Oakland rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Berkeley | Oakland |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Coverage | 500,000 dollars per occurrence | - |
| Type | Commercial general liability with STR endorsement | - |
| Platform Alternative | AirCover or VRBO Liability acceptable | - |
| Proof | Required at permit application | - |
| Homeowner Policy | Usually excludes STR activity | - |
| - | - |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Berkeley FAQ
Does Airbnb AirCover meet Berkeley requirements?
Airbnb AirCover for Hosts provides 1 million dollars in liability coverage per stay, which exceeds Berkeley minimum of 500,000 dollars.
Can I just use my regular homeowner insurance?
Usually no. Most standard policies exclude commercial rental activity. Call your insurer about an STR endorsement.
Oakland FAQ
Compare other topics
See how Berkeley and Oakland compare on other ordinance categories.
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