Federal Way vs Renton
How do insurance requirements rules compare between Federal Way, WA and Renton, WA?
Renton has fewer restrictions than Federal Way.
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 →Renton, WA
King County
Renton RMC 4-4-055 sets no specific STR insurance minimum, but operators should carry commercial liability since standard homeowners policies often exclude rental activity. Airbnb AirCover is secondary coverage.
View full Renton rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Federal Way | Renton |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | - |
| Code Requirement | - | No numeric minimum in RMC 4-4-055 |
| Recommended Limit | - | 1 million dollars commercial liability |
| Airbnb AirCover | - | Up to 1 million dollars per stay (secondary) |
| Homeowner Risk | - | Standard policies often exclude STR |
| HOA | - | Associations often require their own minimums |
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.
Renton FAQ
Does homeowners insurance cover Renton STR guests?
Usually no. Most standard policies exclude commercial business activity, so short-term rental incidents can be denied. A commercial or STR-specific policy is typically needed.
Does Renton require proof of insurance to license an STR?
No. The city business license under RMC 4-4-055 does not require a certificate of insurance, but lenders and HOAs often do.
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