Multnomah County, OR Short-Term Rentals: Insurance Requirements (2026)

Portland City Code 33.207.060 requires every Accessory Short-Term Rental operator to carry a commercial general liability policy of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence, naming the rental activity specifically. Homeowners and standard renters policies typically exclude commercial short-term rental use under ISO HO-3 and HO-6 exclusions, so operators usually need a rider, endorsement, or a commercial landlord/STR policy from carriers such as Proper Insurance, CBIZ, or Slice. Platform coverage — Airbnb AirCover for Hosts ($3M) and Vrbo Liability Insurance ($1M) — is recognized by Portland as sufficient IF it provides primary coverage (not excess) and is active for the permit period. Multnomah County MCC 39.3085 sets a $500,000 minimum for unincorporated STR operators. Gresham GRC 5.38 requires $500,000 and proof of active policy on file. Proof of insurance is submitted with the initial permit application and verified at renewal (Portland permits renew every 2 years for $110). Oregon Insurance Division regulates carrier conduct under ORS 731. Workers compensation is required if a cleaning or maintenance contractor is hired (ORS 656.017). Operators are personally liable for uninsured claims — a recent Multnomah County Circuit Court case (2022) held an Airbnb host liable for $380,000 when platform coverage did not extend to a pool injury.