Insurance Requirements: Martinez vs San Ramon

Does Martinez require a short-term rental host to carry liability insurance?

No. Martinez has not adopted a short-term rental ordinance and does not impose a minimum liability-insurance amount, certificate-of-insurance filing, or additional-insured requirement on STR operators. Any insurance condition would only arise case-by-case through a bed-and-breakfast or conditional use approval under Section 22.04.051.

Does California state law require STR insurance?

No. California does not have a statewide minimum liability-insurance requirement for short-term rentals. AB 2873 (2022) is unrelated - it addresses affordable-housing tax credit allocation and supplier diversity, not STR insurance. Any STR insurance minimum comes from the local city or county, and Martinez has not adopted one.

Will my homeowner's policy cover Airbnb or Vrbo guests?

Usually not. A standard homeowner's policy typically treats paid short-term lodging as a business use and may deny claims tied to a paying guest. Most hosts purchase a dedicated short-term rental policy or commercial landlord policy, often with $1 million per-occurrence liability. Platform programs like Airbnb's AirCover supplement rather than replace a host's own primary coverage.

Does San Ramon require liability insurance for short-term rentals?

Yes. Zoning Ordinance D4-27.C.2.i requires proof of insurance demonstrating the property is insured for STR use, and D4-27.C.2.j requires the operator to hold harmless, indemnify, and defend the City for claims related to the registration.

Is there a minimum coverage amount in the San Ramon ordinance?

The ordinance does not state a specific dollar minimum. The Director reviews each application under D4-27.E and may impose additional conditions. Confirm acceptable coverage with Planning Services at (925) 973-2560 before applying.

Will my homeowner's policy cover an Airbnb in San Ramon?

Most California homeowner policies exclude commercial rental activity. Operators typically need a landlord, business pursuits, or dedicated STR endorsement. Platform coverage like AirCover or Vrbo Liability Insurance is supplemental and does not by itself satisfy the city's proof-of-insurance condition.

What happens if my insurance lapses while I am operating?

Lapsed coverage violates the registration conditions and can trigger code enforcement under Title B and a Zoning Administrator hearing under D4-27.G to revoke the registration; a revoked STR cannot be re-registered for 12 months.