Insurance Requirements: Daly City vs South San Francisco
How do insurance requirements rules compare between Daly City, CA and South San Francisco, CA?
South San Francisco has fewer restrictions than Daly City.
Daly City, CA
San Mateo County
Daly City Municipal Code Chapter 5.92 does not specify a dollar-amount liability insurance requirement for short-term rental hosts. Instead, applicants must sign an Indemnification and Waiver Agreement as part of the Short-Term Rental Permit application, agreeing to hold the City harmless for losses arising from STR activity. Hosts using major hosting platforms typically receive platform-provided host protection (Airbnb's AirCover offers up to $1 million in liability coverage, Vrbo's Liability Insurance offers up to $1 million) but this platform coverage is not a city mandate. Hosts should also confirm their homeowner's or renter's policy permits STR use and consider a dedicated commercial-style STR policy.
View full Daly City rules →South San Francisco, CA
San Mateo County
South San Francisco Municipal Code Section 20.350.037 and the Planning Division's Short-Term Rental program do not specify a dollar-amount liability insurance requirement for STR hosts. The City's published STR program materials reference permit, business license, TOT/CCT, parking, and local-contact obligations but do not impose a numeric minimum general-liability or umbrella policy. Hosts using major platforms typically receive platform-provided host protection (Airbnb's AirCover offers up to $1,000,000 in liability coverage; Vrbo's Liability Insurance offers up to $1,000,000 per occurrence) but this is not a city mandate. Hosts should confirm their homeowner's or renter's policy permits STR use and consider a dedicated short-term rental policy.
View full South San Francisco rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Daly City | South San Francisco |
|---|---|---|
| City Minimum | No dollar amount specified in DCMC 5.92 | No dollar amount specified in 20.350.037 |
| Required Document | Indemnification and Waiver Agreement (signed) | - |
| Primary Residence Cert. | Required with permit application | - |
| Airbnb AirCover (typical) | Up to $1M host liability | Up to $1M host liability |
| Vrbo Liability (typical) | Up to $1M per occurrence | Up to $1M per occurrence |
| Recommended Carriers | Proper, Steadily, dedicated STR policies | Proper, Steadily, dedicated STR policies |
| Code Section | DCMC Chapter 5.92 | SSFMC 20.350.037 |
| Required License | - | City Business License (SSFMC 6.12) |
| Local Contact | - | Required, 1-hour response |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Daly City FAQ
Does Daly City require a specific amount of liability insurance for STRs?
No. DCMC Chapter 5.92 does not state a minimum dollar amount. The host instead signs an Indemnification and Waiver Agreement releasing the City from STR-related claims.
Will my regular homeowner's insurance cover my Airbnb?
Often not. Most California HO-3 policies exclude 'business pursuits.' Notify your insurer and add an STR endorsement or buy a dedicated short-term rental policy.
Is Airbnb's AirCover enough?
AirCover provides up to $1M host liability and $1M damage protection for Airbnb bookings only. It does not cover direct bookings or every type of claim, so primary insurance is still recommended.
What happens if I don't have insurance and a guest is injured?
You would be personally liable. The Indemnification and Waiver Agreement signed with the City means Daly City is not responsible for guest injuries or neighbor damages.
South San Francisco FAQ
Does South San Francisco require a specific amount of liability insurance for STRs?
No. SSFMC Section 20.350.037 and the City's published STR program materials do not state a minimum dollar amount of liability insurance.
Will my regular homeowner's insurance cover my Airbnb?
Often not. Most California HO-3 policies exclude 'business pursuits.' Notify your insurer and add an STR endorsement or buy a dedicated short-term rental policy.
Is Airbnb's AirCover enough?
AirCover provides up to $1M host liability and $1M damage protection for Airbnb bookings only. It does not cover direct bookings or every type of claim, so primary insurance is still recommended.
What happens if I don't have insurance and a guest is injured?
You would be personally liable. The City does not insure STR operators, and your homeowner's policy may deny the claim if it excludes business pursuits.
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