Insurance Requirements: Simi Valley vs Ventura
How do insurance requirements rules compare between Simi Valley, CA and Ventura, CA?
Ventura has fewer restrictions than Simi Valley.
Simi Valley, CA
Ventura County
Simi Valley does not impose STR liability insurance minimums because short-term rentals are not an allowable land use under SVMC 9-22.030.A.1. A 2024-2026 draft ordinance would have required liability insurance, but the Planning Commission voted 4-0 on March 4, 2026 to recommend keeping the prohibition.
View full Simi Valley 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 | Simi Valley | Ventura |
|---|---|---|
| City Insurance Minimum | None (STRs banned) | - |
| Code Section | SVMC 9-22.030.A.1 | - |
| Permit Pathway | Does not exist | - |
| Draft Ordinance | Required liability insurance (not adopted) | - |
| Commission Vote | 4-0 ban recommendation, Mar 4, 2026 | - |
| Long-Term Rentals | Use standard landlord policy | - |
| 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.
Simi Valley FAQ
How much liability insurance does Simi Valley require for short-term rentals?
None, because Simi Valley does not allow short-term rentals under SVMC 9-22.030.A.1. There is no STR permit to which an insurance requirement could attach.
Did the proposed STR ordinance require insurance?
Yes, the draft would have required liability insurance plus an annual permit and business tax certificate, but the Planning Commission recommended rejecting the program on March 4, 2026.
Does Airbnb's AirCover let me legally host in Simi Valley?
No. Platform host-protection programs do not override the citywide STR prohibition in SVMC 9-22.030.A.1.
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.
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