Operative Text
The owner shall obtain and maintain liability insurance continuously when the building is vacant and shall file evidence of insurance that meets or exceeds the following minimums: (1) $500,000.00 for a vacant residential building of one to three units; (2) $750,000.00 for a vacant residential building of four to 11 units; (3) $1,000,000.00 for a vacant residential building of 12 to 48 units; (4) $2,000,000.00 for a vacant residential building of more than 48 units; and (5) $2,000,000.00 for a vacant manufacturing, industrial, storage, or nonresidential commercial building.
Bellevue Ch. 8 § 8-194 requires that owners of vacant buildings carry continuous liability insurance and submit proof of coverage to the city. The required minimum coverage amounts are scaled by building type and size, ranging from $500,000 for small vacant residential properties of one to three units up to $2,000,000 for larger residential buildings or vacant commercial and industrial structures. The rule applies for as long as the building remains vacant, with no gap in coverage permitted.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Bellevue Ch. 8 § 8-194, compliant operators of vacant buildings maintain uninterrupted liability insurance at the minimum thresholds set for their building's size and type, and they file documentation of that coverage with the city. Owners typically verify their policy limits against the tiered schedule — for example, confirming at least $750,000 in coverage for a vacant four-to-eleven-unit residential building — before a vacancy begins and whenever a policy renews. Keeping records of filed insurance evidence and monitoring policy expiration dates are practices associated with ongoing compliance.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Bellevue Ch. 8 § 8-194 establishes that vacant building owners, not tenants, bear the obligation to carry and document liability insurance. If a building you were living in becomes vacant or is transitioning to vacancy, this provision is part of the regulatory framework the city uses to oversee such properties. Tenants with questions about whether a vacant building in their community is being properly maintained under this and related provisions may contact the City of Bellevue's code enforcement or building department, or reach out to a local tenant-rights organization for general guidance.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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