Washington's RCW 64.37 requires STR operators statewide to carry at least $1 million in liability coverage. Standard homeowner policies often exclude rental activity, so most hosts need a rider or commercial policy.
Under Washington's short-term rental law, an operator must maintain primary liability insurance of at least one million dollars covering the rental unit, unless every booking runs through a platform that provides equal or greater coverage. Airbnb and Vrbo offer host liability protection that can satisfy this for platform bookings, but direct bookings put the burden on the host. Standard homeowner policies frequently exclude commercial rental use, so many Whatcom County hosts add an endorsement or buy a dedicated STR or commercial policy. Bellingham and county registration may request proof of coverage.
Operating without the required coverage exposes the host to personal liability for guest claims and can undermine permit or registration standing.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Whatcom County, WA
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Whatcom County, WA
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Whatcom County, WA
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Whatcom County, WA
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Whatcom County, WA
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Whatcom County, WA
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See how Whatcom County's insurance requirements rules stack up against other locations.
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