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

The Sonoma County zoning code does not set a mandatory liability-insurance coverage amount for vacation rentals. Sec. 26-88-120's permit requirements and performance standards address occupancy, parking, noise, property management, fire areas, and taxes, but do not list a minimum liability policy. Instead, Permit Sonoma's vacation rental application package requires the owner to sign an Indemnification Agreement (Form PJR-011) in addition to the Planning Application (PJR-001) and Vacation Rentals Application (PJR-096); the indemnification agreement shifts liability to the owner rather than mandating a stated coverage limit. As a practical matter, owners typically carry their own homeowner's or short-term-rental liability coverage, and hosting platforms or mortgage lenders may impose their own insurance conditions, but those are not requirements of the County ordinance. Because the code is silent on a specific dollar amount, this reference does not assert any particular minimum coverage figure. Owners should confirm current application forms and any administrative requirements directly with Permit Sonoma, since application documents are set by the department rather than fixed in the zoning code.