Redmond, WA Short-Term Rentals: Insurance Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum Coverage
- $1,000,000 liability
- State Law
- RCW 64.37.030
- Platform Option
- AirCover, Vrbo liability
- Direct Bookings
- STR commercial policy needed
- Standard Homeowner
- Typically excludes STR
Summary
Redmond STR hosts must carry at least $1 million in liability insurance under RCW 64.37.030. Coverage can come from a personal STR policy or qualifying platform coverage like Airbnb AirCover.
A short-term rental operator must maintain primary liability insurance to cover the short-term rental dwelling unit in the aggregate of not less than one million dollars or conduct each short-term rental transaction through a platform that provides equal or greater primary liability insurance coverage. Nothing in this section prevents an operator or a platform from seeking contributions from any other insurer also providing primary liability insurance coverage for the short-term rental transaction to the extent of that insurer's primary liability coverage limits.
Full Breakdown
Under RCW 64.37.030, every short-term rental host in Washington must maintain liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 to cover the short-term rental use. The law allows hosts to satisfy this requirement through their own homeowner or landlord policy with an STR rider, or through primary coverage provided by the booking platform. Airbnb provides AirCover host liability up to $1 million per booking, and Vrbo provides similar liability coverage. However, hosts must confirm in writing that the platform coverage is primary, not excess, and covers the specific property. Hosts taking direct bookings outside a platform must carry a commercial STR policy since standard homeowner policies exclude short-term rental activity. Failure to carry the required coverage is a violation of state law and can be grounds for Redmond to deny or revoke the business license. The insurance requirement is separate from any HOA, condominium, or master policy the property may be subject to.
Violations & Fines
Failure to carry required insurance: state law violation under RCW 64.37.030. Potential business license denial or revocation by Redmond.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much insurance do Redmond STR hosts need?
Is Airbnb's AirCover enough for Redmond?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Redmond
Compare Redmond to another location·View the Washington short-term rentals overview
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Insurance Requirements in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle insurance requirements.