ADUCheckby ViviendaCheck a propertyCheck

How do I get a wildfire insurance discount in California?

Under the Insurance Commissioner's Safer from Wildfires program, every listed action qualifies you for an insurance discount: a Class A roof, ember-resistant vents, a 5 ft ember-resistant zone and the rest of the list below. Ask your insurer which you have and how to document them. If no insurer will cover you, the California FAIR Plan is the insurer of last resort, through any licensed agent or broker registered with it.

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The hazard zone, the department that inspects, past fires nearby and every rule that applies to your home.

Safer from Wildfires: home actions

Roof
A Class A fire-rated roof.
Vents
Ember- and fire-resistant vents with 1/16 to 1/8 in mesh.
Base of the walls
6 in of noncombustible material at the bottom of exterior walls.
Eaves and windows
Enclosed eaves and upgraded windows.
The first 5 ft
An ember-resistant zone, including fencing.
Decks and sheds
Clear under decks, and sheds moved at least 30 ft from the home.
Defensible space
Meeting state and local defensible space rules.

Community actions

Living in a Firewise USA site or a Fire Risk Reduction Community also counts. Ask your neighborhood or fire department whether yours is one.

The FAIR Plan and the market

The California FAIR Plan is an insurer of last resort, set up by statute to provide basic property insurance. You apply through any licensed insurance agent or broker registered with it.

Under the state's Sustainable Insurance Strategy, insurers are asked to write at least 85% of their statewide market share in wildfire-distressed areas, and the Department of Insurance has approved three wildfire catastrophe models insurers can use in pricing.

Sources

General information, not legal advice. Your fire department and city have the final word for your property.

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