Berkeley requires STR hosts to carry at least 500,000 dollars in liability insurance covering short-term rental activity, or use a platform that provides equivalent coverage.
Berkeley Municipal Code requires short-term rental operators to maintain commercial general liability insurance with minimum coverage of 500,000 dollars per occurrence that specifically covers short-term rental activity, or to host exclusively through a platform (such as Airbnb AirCover or VRBO Liability Insurance) that provides equivalent per-stay coverage. Proof of insurance must be submitted with the STR permit application and available for inspection. Standard homeowner or renter insurance policies typically exclude commercial STR activity, so hosts should obtain a specific STR endorsement or a commercial policy. Failure to maintain insurance is grounds for permit revocation.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Berkeley, CA
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