Inyo County, CA Short-Term Rentals: Insurance Requirements (2026)

Insurance is one of the general requirements for operating a hosted short-term rental in unincorporated Inyo County. Under the Chapter 18.73 general requirements (Section 18.73.030), owners must maintain insurance applicable to short-term rental activities on the dwelling in which short-term rentals are permitted. This is intended to ensure that the rental use is covered, since standard homeowner policies often exclude commercial or transient rental activity. The ordinance text frames the obligation as maintaining appropriate short-term rental insurance rather than specifying a fixed minimum dollar amount of liability coverage, so operators should obtain a policy (or endorsement) that expressly covers short-term rental use and keep it in force for as long as the permit is active. The insurance requirement sits alongside the other Section 18.73.030 standards (hosted operation, two renters per guestroom, one vehicle per guestroom with off-street parking, quiet hours, and an available host/representative). Operators should confirm the exact coverage expectations and any documentation requirements with the Planning Department when applying or renewing, because the County reviews compliance with all general requirements and can condition or revoke a permit for non-compliance under Section 18.73.070. The City of Bishop is a separate jurisdiction; its STR insurance rules differ and do not apply to unincorporated Inyo County.