Federal Way vs Kirkland
How do insurance requirements rules compare between Federal Way, WA and Kirkland, WA?
Federal Way and Kirkland have similar restriction levels.
Federal Way, WA
King County
RCW 64.37.040 requires Federal Way STR operators to maintain at least 1 million dollars in liability insurance or rent only through a platform that provides equivalent coverage.
View full Federal Way rules →Kirkland, WA
King County
RCW 64.37.050 requires all Washington short-term rental operators to carry at least 1 million dollars in liability insurance or use a platform that provides equivalent coverage for guests.
View full Kirkland rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Federal Way | Kirkland |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Coverage | 1 million dollars per occurrence | - |
| State Law | RCW 64.37.040 | - |
| Platform Coverage | Airbnb or VRBO may satisfy | - |
| Homeowner Policy | Typically insufficient alone | - |
| Proof | Required on request | - |
| State minimum | - | 1 million dollars liability |
| Source law | - | RCW 64.37.050 |
| Platform option | - | Airbnb and VRBO qualify |
| Homeowner policy | - | Usually excludes STR |
| Proof required | - | On license renewal |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Federal Way FAQ
What insurance does Federal Way require for a short-term rental?
Washington state law RCW 64.37 requires at least 1 million dollars in liability coverage, either carried directly by the operator or provided by the hosting platform.
Does my homeowner policy cover STR guests?
Usually not. Most homeowner policies exclude commercial or transient rental use, so a specialized STR policy or platform coverage is needed.
Kirkland FAQ
Does Airbnb coverage satisfy the Washington requirement?
Yes, the Airbnb Host Liability program provides the 1 million dollar minimum, but the coverage only applies to bookings made through Airbnb and not to off-platform or direct bookings.
Does my homeowner policy cover an STR?
Most standard homeowner policies exclude income-producing lodging use; you should purchase an STR endorsement or separate commercial policy to avoid coverage gaps.
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