Insurance Requirements: Federal Way vs Seattle
How do insurance requirements rules compare between Federal Way, WA and Seattle, WA?
Seattle 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 →Seattle, WA
King County
Unincorporated King County sets no STR insurance minimum. Hosts should carry a homeowner or landlord policy with an STR endorsement. Airbnb and Vrbo liability programs only supplement private coverage.
View full Seattle rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Federal Way | Seattle |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Often excludes STR |
| Proof | Required on request | - |
| County Minimum | - | None required |
| Recommended | - | $1M liability |
| Airbnb AirCover | - | Up to $1M |
| Vrbo Liability | - | Up to $1M |
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.
Seattle FAQ
Does King County require short-term rental insurance?
No. Unincorporated King County does not set a mandatory insurance minimum for STRs. Hosts should still carry appropriate liability and property coverage through a private policy or STR endorsement since standard homeowner policies often exclude short-term rental activity.
Is Airbnb host insurance enough coverage for a King County STR?
Airbnb AirCover provides up to $1 million in host liability and damage protection for Airbnb bookings, but it is designed to supplement private insurance and only covers Airbnb bookings. Hosts should maintain a dedicated STR or landlord policy for full protection.
Compare other topics
See how Federal Way and Seattle compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool