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

San Benito County does not require a minimum amount of liability insurance for short-term rentals in the unincorporated area, because there is no standalone STR ordinance that could impose such a condition. Some California STR ordinances require operators to carry liability coverage (often $500,000 or $1,000,000) and to name the jurisdiction as additional insured; San Benito County has not adopted any such STR insurance mandate. The County's published requirements for transient lodging consist of the transient occupancy tax registration (the transient occupancy registration certificate under Chapter 5.03, obtained within 30 days of commencing business), the County business license, and compliance with the general Title 25 zoning rules - none of which sets an insurance minimum. Because the County publishes no STR insurance requirement, this site does not assert a coverage figure; that would misstate county law. As a practical matter, carrying adequate homeowner or commercial liability insurance and any host-protection coverage offered through a booking platform is strongly advisable - standard homeowner policies often exclude commercial short-term-rental activity - but this is a private risk-management decision, not a county mandate. Operators should consult their insurer and confirm current County requirements with the Resource Management Agency, since the ongoing zoning code update could introduce insurance conditions if an STR ordinance is adopted.