Home insurance in California typically excludes “earth movement,” which means losses caused by mudslides, mudflow, or debris flow are not covered. But there are some exceptions: if wildfires cause a mudslide, if you have flood insurance for mudflow, or if a neighbor’s negligence makes them liable for your property loss, insurance might help pay for damage.
Mudslide vs. mudflow vs. landslide: Why the terminology matters
An important distinction is the difference between mudslide, mudflow, and debris flow. People may use these terms interchangeably in conversation or the media, but they have specific meanings in the world of home insurance and affect whether you have coverage.
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Mudslides are a mass of earth or rock moving downhill under the power of gravity, without enough liquid to flow like water. Typically, they are not covered by home insurance or flood insurance.
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Mudflows are rivers of liquid mud that move over the surface of normally dry land. Your home insurance only covers them if you have a flood insurance endorsement (an optional policy add-on) or a standalone flood insurance policy.
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Debris flows are fast-moving masses of water or mud that carry debris including mud, rocks, trees, and even buildings or vehicles. They won’t be covered unless you have flood insurance.
The wildfire exception: When a mudslide is covered in California
While home insurance generally excludes mudslides, California has a wildfire-related exception. If the facts show that a wildfire was the primary contributing factor to a mudslide occurring, the policy is likely to cover the loss.
This rule comes from California's efficient proximate cause doctrine, which has long held that if a covered event (called a peril in the industry) — like wildfire — sets off a chain of events leading to an excluded peril, the loss may still be covered. The doctrine gained attention after the Thomas Fire led to the 2018 Montecito mudslides, which caused 23 deaths and more than $421 million in property damage.
This exception applies to standard home insurance policies. If a wildfire is found to be the primary cause of a mudslide that damages your property, you likely won't need separate insurance or an endorsement to be covered.
When mudslide-related damage might be covered
There are a few other scenarios where you may be covered for mudslide-related losses:
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Flood insurance: If you have flood insurance through a private insurer, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), or an endorsement on your home insurance policy, you are typically covered for mudflow.
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Negligence of a neighbor: If a mudslide that damages your property is caused by your neighbor’s negligence — such as faulty grading or unsafe alterations to a hillside — you might be covered by their home insurance policy’s liability coverage.
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Difference in conditions policy: If you have a FAIR Plan policy — a type of property insurance for high-risk homes in California — you may have gaps in coverage for mudflow, earthquake, and flood. A difference in conditions policy can broaden FAIR Plan coverage and fill vulnerable gaps.
How to reduce the risk of mudslide damage in California
Mudslides can strike quickly and with little warning, especially in the months after a wildfire strips hillsides of the vegetation that normally holds soil in place. Here's how to lower your risk:
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Purchase flood insurance: Flood coverage can protect your finances from losses caused by mudflow. But keep in mind, most flood policies have waiting periods before they take effect (private policies may have shorter waiting periods than the NFIP), so it’s important to have coverage in place well before you need it.
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Consider a difference in conditions (DIC) policy: If you have a FAIR Plan for a high-risk home, you still might not be covered for mudslides. Consider purchasing a DIC policy that specifically covers earth movement.
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Sign up for local emergency alerts: This is particularly important if you live downhill from a recent wildfire burn scar. Homes near hillsides with little vegetation left to hold soil in place are at higher risk of mudslides during heavy rain, and alerts give you time to evacuate before a debris flow hits.
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Use erosion control strategies around your property: These discourage earth movement. Plant or maintain vegetation like grasses, shrubs, and trees with deep root systems on steep slopes.
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Look into terracing: This involves cutting slopes into steps secured in place by walls, rocks, or other material. Terraces reduce the flow of water down the hillside and help to prevent erosion. As an added bonus, they can help slow the spread of wildfires.
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Keep a home inventory: Home inventories list out all your personal belongings in case you ever need to file a claim. This can help you identify lost, damaged, or destroyed items that you need to repair or replace.
Frequently asked questions
What natural disasters are not covered by homeowners insurance?
Home insurance typically does not cover losses caused by floods, earthquakes, or mudslides. In some areas, your home insurance may not cover windstorm damage either, unless you add optional coverage to your policy (called an endorsement) or purchase separate wind coverage.
What should you not say to a home insurance adjuster?
Stick to the facts when you speak to a home insurance adjuster. Don’t guess at the cause of damages, the value of damaged property, or potential repair costs. If you make false statements, even by accident, you risk a claim denial and having your policy canceled.
What is the 80% rule in homeowners insurance?
Many home insurance companies have what’s called a coinsurance clause, which requires you to maintain coverage for at least 80% of your home’s replacement cost (the amount of money it would take to rebuild it after a total loss). If your coverage limit dips beneath that 80% threshold, your insurer may reduce your claim payout proportionally, meaning you’ll have to pay more out of your own pocket.
What mudslide damage isn't covered in California?
You are not covered for mudslide, mudflow, or debris flow damage in California in the following situations:
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Mudslides generally do not get covered by home insurance if they were not caused by a wildfire.
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Mudflow incidents generally do not get covered unless you have flood insurance.
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Mudslides originating from your neighbor’s property generally do not get covered by the neighbor’s home insurance liability coverage unless the incident was caused by negligence.
