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

Under Chapter 5.96 of the Oakland Municipal Code, every permitted short-term rental host must demonstrate liability insurance of at least $500,000 per occurrence that explicitly covers short-term rental use of the property. Standard homeowner or renter policies in California typically exclude commercial activity such as STR hosting, so most hosts must add a short-term rental endorsement, switch to a dedicated STR policy, or rely on a qualifying hosting platform's program (such as Airbnb's Host Liability Insurance, which provides up to $1 million in primary coverage, or Vrbo's Liability Insurance, which provides a similar limit). Hosts who rely on platform coverage must list only on platforms providing that protection and may not accept off-platform bookings without their own equivalent policy. Oakland additionally requires hosts to carry adequate fire and structural insurance reflecting the property's use, particularly in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones in the Oakland Hills, where insurers may impose vegetation-management and Chapter 7A construction conditions on coverage. Proof of insurance must be submitted with the STR permit application and renewed annually, and the city may request a Certificate of Insurance at any time during a complaint investigation. Lapses in coverage are grounds for permit suspension.