Vancouver, WA Short-Term Rentals: Insurance Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- City Code
- VMC 20.835.050
- State Law
- RCW 64.37.050
- Minimum Liability
- $1,000,000
- Permit Cap
- 870 STRs citywide
- Permit Fee
- $250 one-time
Summary
Vancouver Municipal Code Chapter 20.835 (Short-Term Rentals), adopted by the City Council on December 18, 2023, requires every STR permit applicant to submit proof of current, valid liability insurance covering the rental in accordance with RCW 64.37.050. State law sets the floor at one million dollars in primary liability coverage, or equivalent coverage provided through a hosting platform, before any STR transaction may occur in Washington.
Liability insurance. 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.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
835 and effective January 17, 2024 as a 24-month pilot. 050 as now existing or hereafter amended. ) that provides equal or greater primary liability coverage. Airbnb's AirCover Host Liability and Vrbo's Liability Coverage program both include up to $1,000,000 per occurrence on covered platforms and generally satisfy the platform pathway. Vancouver also caps total active STR permits at 870 units (approximately one percent of the city's housing stock) and charges a $250 one-time permit fee. ) cannot rely on platform coverage and must carry their own primary $1,000,000 liability policy.
Standard Washington homeowner policies typically exclude commercial or short-term rental activity, so hosts often add a short-term rental endorsement or buy a dedicated landlord/STR policy.
Violations & Fines
Operating an STR in Vancouver without the liability coverage required by VMC 20.835.050 and RCW 64.37.050 is a basis for denial or revocation of the city STR permit. Operating without a valid permit is enforceable under VMC Title 20 and the city's general code-enforcement procedures, which can include civil penalties and orders to cease operation pending compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much liability insurance do I need to run an Airbnb in Vancouver, WA?
Does my regular Washington homeowners policy satisfy Vancouver's STR insurance rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Vancouver
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