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

Short-Term Private Home Rental permits issued under Development Code Chapter 84.28 require the operator to carry liability insurance covering use of the property as a transient lodging. A common permit condition is commercial general liability coverage of at least 500,000 dollars per occurrence, and higher limits (1 million dollars or more) may be required for larger homes, pool properties, or properties with hot tubs. Standard homeowner insurance policies usually exclude commercial short-term rental activity, so operators need either a commercial landlord policy with STR endorsement, a specialty STR policy (for example through Proper Insurance, Safely, or CBIZ), or host protection provided by the booking platform (Airbnb AirCover or Vrbo Liability Insurance) which many permits consider acceptable primary coverage. The permit application typically requires a Certificate of Insurance to be kept on file. Pool and spa properties, which are common in Big Bear Lake and Joshua Tree rentals, should carry higher limits and confirm drain-cover compliance under the federal Virginia Graeme Baker Act to avoid catastrophic liability. Operators should also consider workers compensation if they use cleaning or maintenance contractors.