Renton, WA Short-Term Rentals: Insurance Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Code Requirement
- No numeric minimum in RMC 4-4-055
- Recommended Limit
- 1 million dollars commercial liability
- Airbnb AirCover
- Up to 1 million dollars per stay (secondary)
- Homeowner Risk
- Standard policies often exclude STR
- HOA
- Associations often require their own minimums
Summary
Renton RMC 4-4-055 sets no specific STR insurance minimum, but operators should carry commercial liability since standard homeowners policies often exclude rental activity. Airbnb AirCover is secondary coverage.
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
RMC 4-4-055 does not impose a numeric insurance requirement for short-term rentals, but operating an STR materially changes the risk profile of a dwelling and typically voids standard homeowners coverage under the business activity exclusion. Operators are strongly advised to carry either a commercial general liability policy (often with a 1 million dollar per-occurrence limit) or a specialty STR endorsement. Airbnb offers AirCover for Hosts providing up to 1 million dollars in liability and damage protection per stay, and VRBO offers similar coverage. These marketplace programs are secondary to the host's primary coverage and exclude certain losses. Renton's business license application (filelocal-wa.gov) does not require a certificate of insurance, but HOAs, lenders, and condo associations often do. Consult a Washington-licensed insurance agent to verify coverage aligns with RMC 4-5-070 fire code requirements and lender rules under Fannie Mae Guide B7-1-01.
Violations & Fines
No code violation for missing insurance, but liability exposure is personal to the host and losses may be uncovered.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does homeowners insurance cover Renton STR guests?
Does Renton require proof of insurance to license an STR?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Renton
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Insurance Requirements in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle insurance requirements.