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

Unlike some California cities that mandate $500,000 to $1 million in liability coverage, unincorporated San Bernardino County's Chapter 84.28 does not set a minimum liability-insurance amount for short-term rentals. A reading of the full ordinance - covering permit, application, occupancy, parking, conditions of operation, and enforcement (Sections 84.28.010 through 84.28.110) - shows no provision requiring an STR operator to carry or prove liability insurance as a condition of the permit. The County instead relies on safety and compliance standards: the unit must comply with the California Fire Code and California Building Code (Section 84.28.060(a)), spas and hot tubs must be covered and locked when not in use, solid-fuel outdoor fires are prohibited in the Mountain Region, and the unit must be kept free of hazards (Section 84.28.070(i)). Because no statutory mandate exists, the honest framework is that insurance is strongly advisable but not legally required by the County. Standard homeowner or landlord policies frequently exclude short-term/commercial rental use, so operators typically obtain dedicated short-term rental or commercial-host coverage, and platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo offer their own host liability programs. Operators should verify whether any HOA, lender, or community overlay imposes its own insurance condition, as the County ordinance does not address or preempt those. Note: the County may update permit conditions over time, so confirm current requirements with Land Use Services / Code Enforcement before relying on this.