California wildfire insurance

FAIR / residual market

Insurer of last resort for basic fire/property when the admitted market is unavailable. Often paired with a Difference-in-Conditions (DIC) policy for more HO-like coverage. Residential dwelling limits have been modernized — confirm the live Plan of Operation before relying on any dollar figure.

Official plan site →

Non-renewal & notices

Residential nonrenewal advance notice is commonly about 75 days before expiration under Cal. Ins. Code § 678 (confirm current text). Cancel is not the same as nonrenew. After a Governor-declared wildfire emergency, Ins. Code § 675.1 supports a one-year moratorium on cancel/nonrenew solely because a home sits in or next to the fire perimeter for ZIP codes CDI designates in bulletins (for example Bulletin 2026-01).

Mitigation credits & disclosure

Safer from Wildfires / 10 CCR § 2644.9 requires rating plans that use wildfire risk to reflect mandatory property- and community-level mitigation factors with separate discounts, disclose scores/classifications, and offer consumer appeal rights. Updated scores are due within 30 days after a post-mitigation request; CAL FIRE or local fire-department inspections must be accepted when inspections are required.

Risk-score / appeal path

When a wildfire risk model or rating factor is used, insurers must disclose the score/classification in writing on defined timelines (including before renewal and before nonrenewal). Consumers may appeal orally or in writing; insurers acknowledge and issue a written decision on the clocks in § 2644.9. Denials must note the right to contact CDI.

Homeowner takeaways

Document Class-A roof, Zone 0 / 5-ft ember zone, vents, eaves, defensible space, and Firewise / Fire Risk Reduction Community status, then request score updates and discounts.
After nonrenewal, shop the admitted market early; treat FAIR Plan as last resort and plan for DIC gaps.
Check whether your ZIP appears on a current CDI post-fire moratorium bulletin.
Sustainable Insurance Strategy distressed-ZIP writing commitments may improve admitted options over time — still shop annually.

Conflicts & caveats

Secondary guides sometimes quote a $3M residential FAIR dwelling maximum — verify on cfpnet / current Plan of Operation before publishing product claims.

California wildfire insurance & regulation