Insurance Requirements: Los Ranchos de Albuquerque vs Tijeras

Does Los Ranchos require short-term rental hosts to carry liability insurance?

The village's publicly posted short-term rental page and operating standards under Village Code Chapter 9, Section 25(E)(1) do not state a specific dollar minimum of liability insurance. Hosts should confirm the current B&B permit application requirements directly with Planning & Zoning Director Shanna Schultz at (505) 344-6582 or sschultz@losranchosnm.gov.

Does New Mexico set a statewide STR insurance minimum?

No. New Mexico has no statewide statute mandating short-term rental liability insurance and does not preempt local rules. Municipalities operate under NM Statutes Chapter 3, so insurance requirements (if any) are set village-by-village or city-by-city.

Will my homeowner's policy cover Airbnb or B&B guests in Los Ranchos?

Most standard HO-3 homeowner policies exclude commercial transient-lodging activity, including B&Bs and STRs. Hosts typically need a dedicated short-term rental endorsement or commercial liability policy. Platform programs like Airbnb AirCover and Vrbo Liability Insurance are secondary coverages with their own limits and exclusions; review the policy language with your insurer.

What insurance does Tijeras require for a short-term rental?

Village of Tijeras Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance Sec. 26-862(5) requires the owner to 'maintain adequate short-term rental insurance coverage for the short-term rental unit,' and Sec. 26-864(4) requires the annual permit application to include 'proof of adequate insurance coverage.' The ordinance does not set a minimum dollar amount or name a required policy form, so 'adequate' is determined by the Village Clerk during permit review. Confirm what proof the Clerk currently accepts at (505) 281-1220 before applying.

Will my homeowners' policy satisfy the Tijeras STR insurance rule?

Probably not. Standard New Mexico homeowners' policies typically exclude or sharply limit commercial rental activity, and renting a dwelling for periods of thirty days or fewer (the Sec. 26-9 definition of a short-term rental) is a commercial use. Most operators carry a dedicated short-term rental policy or a commercial landlord policy. Airbnb's AirCover and Vrbo's Liability Insurance can supplement coverage, but the village still requires proof under Sec. 26-864(4). Verify acceptable forms with the Village Clerk at (505) 281-1220.

What happens if I do not provide proof of insurance to Tijeras?

Sec. 26-864 lists proof of adequate insurance as one of the four required application items, so the Village Clerk can decline to issue or renew the permit without it. If the clerk later finds an active STR is operating without coverage, Sec. 26-865 requires the village to send written notice by certified mail and gives the owner forty-five (45) days to correct the violation before penalties under Sec. 26-6 apply. Permits not renewed by June 30 expire entirely.