Visalia, CA Short-Term Rentals: Insurance Requirements (2026)

Visalia Municipal Code Section 17.32.166 and the city's Short-Term Rental Permit Application require operators to submit proof of insurance covering short-term rental use of the property. Standard homeowner's policies typically exclude commercial or transient lodging activity, so operators generally need a short-term rental endorsement, a host-protection policy, or a separate commercial liability policy. Platform-provided host protection (such as Airbnb's AirCover or Vrbo's liability program) is sometimes accepted as supplemental coverage but does not necessarily replace a primary policy that names the city or covers premises liability. Visalia's STR ordinance, adopted October 16, 2023, treats insurance as a permit prerequisite alongside the business license, Transient Occupancy Tax certificate, and the STR permit itself. Because the city does not publish a specific dollar minimum in the codified ordinance, applicants should contact the Community Development Department at 559-713-4359 to confirm acceptable coverage limits and policy form before submitting.