Insurance Requirements: Ojai vs Ventura
How do insurance requirements rules compare between Ojai, CA and Ventura, CA?
Ojai and Ventura have similar restriction levels.
Ojai, CA
Ventura County
Ojai requires short-term rental operators to maintain substantial liability insurance. The tourism-dependent community has a significant vacation rental market that must protect both guests and the residential character of neighborhoods.
View full Ojai rules →Ventura, CA
Ventura County
Ventura's STR program requires $1 million per-occurrence short-term rental liability insurance as a condition of permit issuance, plus a $1,500 surety bond under SBMC §6.455.050(C). The bond pays civil penalties assessed against the permittee or any tenant/guest for code violations and is waivable only if the lease forbids parties between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.
View full Ventura rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Ojai | Ventura |
|---|---|---|
| - | - | |
| Liability insurance | - | $1 million per occurrence (city Quick Reference / program requirement) |
| Surety bond | - | $1,500, A.M. Best 'A-' or better, city as obligee (SBMC §§6.455.050(C), 6.455.080) |
| Bond waiver | - | Available only if lease bans parties 10 p.m.–7 a.m. (§6.455.125(G)(9)) |
| Bond covers | - | Civil penalties against owner OR tenant/guest for any code violation |
| Lapse penalty | - | Misdemeanor + possible permit revocation (§§6.455.150(D), 6.455.160) |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Ojai FAQ
What insurance do I need for an Ojai short-term rental?
You need at least $1,000,000 in commercial general liability insurance naming the City of Ojai as additional insured. Given the wildfire risk, ensure your policy covers fire-related incidents.
Does Airbnb insurance meet Ojai's requirement?
No. Airbnb Host Protection and similar platform coverage do not replace the city's requirement for a separate commercial general liability policy with the city named as additional insured.
What if I can't get STR insurance in the fire zone?
Consult with a commercial insurance broker experienced in high-fire-risk areas. The California FAIR Plan may provide a baseline. Contact Community Development at (805) 646-5581 for guidance on meeting the insurance requirement.
Ventura FAQ
How much liability insurance do I need for a Ventura STR?
$1 million per occurrence in short-term rental liability coverage, per the City of Ventura's published STVR program requirements. The figure is administered under SBMC §6.455.030's grant of interpretive authority to the permit administrator.
What does the $1,500 surety bond cover?
Civil penalties under SBMC Ch. 1.50 assessed against either you or any tenant/guest for violating Ch. 6.455 or any other code provision (noise, trash, parking, building). The city draws on the bond first; you must re-fund it to keep the permit (SBMC §6.455.080).
Can I avoid the surety bond?
Yes. Under §6.455.125(G)(9), if your rental agreement forbids parties and loud social events between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., the §6.455.050 bond is waived. The lease must include that explicit prohibition.
Compare other topics
See how Ojai and Ventura 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