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

Some STR ordinances require hosts to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance (often $500,000 to $1,000,000) or to name the jurisdiction as additional insured. Unincorporated Imperial County has no such requirement because it has not adopted a dedicated short-term-rental ordinance. The Title 9 Land Use Ordinance does not set a minimum liability-coverage amount, a proof-of-insurance filing, or an additional-insured requirement for transient rentals. As a result, insurance for an ordinary vacation rental in unincorporated areas is a private matter between the owner and their insurer, and most owners carry standard homeowner or landlord/short-term-rental liability coverage by choice rather than mandate. The one place a coverage requirement could arise is through discretionary land-use approval: when a lodging use such as a guest ranch needs a Conditional Use Permit, the County can attach conditions to that permit, which can include insurance or indemnification terms appropriate to the operation. Absent such a permit, there is no county-mandated coverage floor. Because California hosting platforms commonly provide host liability protection and because the County's enforcement of noise and nuisance issues runs through general provisions, operators are still well advised to maintain adequate liability coverage even though the County does not require it. Confirm any permit-specific insurance conditions with Planning & Development Services if your use requires discretionary approval.