Home insurance in California

The average cost of California home insurance premiums is more than $1,700 per year, according to the latest Consumer Federation of America data. California’s home insurance premiums are slightly lower than the national average, but the cost of your premium depends on your home’s exact location and other characteristics.

Several factors affect home insurance rates in California, including:

• Home’s replacement cost. If a covered peril destroys your home, your insurance can help you rebuild. Your premium will reflect the cost of rebuilding your home based on the cost of materials and labor in your area. 

• Age of your home. Older homes are often more expensive to insure due to the use of outdated or hard-to-find materials and an increased risk of claims. 

• Age of your roof. An older roof can lead to higher premiums.  

• Home’s build and construction materials. If your house is built with rare, vintage, or otherwise costly materials, your premium will reflect that. That’s because dwelling coverage limits reflect the cost of rebuilding your home if it is destroyed.

• Claims history. Recent or frequent home insurance claims may lead to higher rates. Insurers may also factor in claims associated with the property, even if you didn’t own it at the time. 

• Your ZIP code. Insurance companies consider risk when setting home insurance rates. For example, if you live in an area of California that experiences frequent wildfires, you’ll likely have a higher insurance premium.

• Policy details. The home insurance deductibles, limits, and endorsements you choose will directly impact your rates.

A standard home insurance policy in California typically does not cover the following: 

• Flooding and storm surges

• Earthquakes and sinkholes

• Pest infestations

• Wear and tear

• Damage intentionally caused by you or a member of your household

• Most instances of mold, mildew, and rot.

Note: If you live in an area at high risk for wildfires, fire and smoke damage coverage may be limited or excluded. If so, you may need to purchase a wildfire endorsement or a stand-alone wildfire insurance policy. 

No, home insurance is not required by law in California. However, if you have a mortgage on your home, your lender will likely require you to have home insurance for the entirety of your loan. Your lender may also require you to carry additional coverages, such as earthquake or flood insurance. 

Still, maintaining a home insurance policy is often a good idea. If your property is damaged or destroyed by a covered event, like a fire, your home insurance policy can help cover the cost of rebuilding and replacing belongings. Without one, you’ll likely need to cover those costs on your own. 

Exactly how much coverage you need will depend on various factors, such as your property, risk tolerance, and any mortgage requirements. However, keep the following in mind when shopping for your California home insurance policy: 

• Dwelling coverage. Consider purchasing enough dwelling coverage to cover 100% of the cost to rebuild if your home is destroyed. 

• Other structures coverage. Coverage is often set to at least 10% of your dwelling coverage limit, though your needs may vary based on the structures on your property. 

• Personal property coverage. Contents coverage is generally set to at least 50% of your dwelling coverage limit. Take a home inventory to determine if you need more coverage. 

• Loss of use coverage. Often set at 20% of your dwelling coverage limit to cover additional living expenses, such as meals and lodging, if you’re home becomes uninhabitable due to a covered incident. 

• Medical payments to others. Limits are often between $1,000 and $5,000 to cover minor medical expenses, regardless of who is at fault. Consider the higher limit available if you have a pool, trampoline, or other high-risk structures. 

• Personal liability coverage. You should carry at least $100,000 to $300,000 in liability coverage if you or a covered household member is at fault for injuring someone or damaging their property. You may need more depending on your property risks and assets.

Depending on where you live and the risks associated with your property and location, you may want to consider the following endorsements or stand-alone policies:

• Earthquake insurance. Home insurance policies in California do not cover earthquake damage. To ensure your property against earthquake risks, you’ll need to add an earthquake endorsement or purchase a separate earthquake insurance policy. 

• Flood insurance. If you live in an area of California that experiences heavy rainfall and flooding, consider purchasing flood insurance as an endorsement or separate policy. Without flood insurance, you won’t be covered for any damage due to storm surges, rainfall, or overflows from lakes, rivers, or other bodies of water.

• Water backup coverage. Heavy rains, sudden storm runoff, aging sewer infrastructure, or failed sump pumps can lead to costly backups that damage the structure of your home and personal property. Water backup coverage can cover repairing or replacing damaged property, including your personal belongings. 

• Extended replacement cost coverage. After a natural disaster, labor and material costs can surge. This policy endorsement extends your dwelling coverage limit, often by 25% or more, to help cover unexpected cost increases. 

• Ordinance or law coverage. If your home experiences a covered loss, ordinance or law coverage helps cover the additional expenses required to bring damaged areas into compliance with current building codes. Since standard homeowners insurance typically doesn’t include these extra costs, this endorsement is particularly important for older properties or homes located in areas with strict construction regulations.

• Replacement cost coverage for personal property. Standard policies often cover personal belongings at their depreciated value (known as actual cash value). This endorsement ensures you receive full reimbursement, minus your deductible, to replace damaged or stolen items with brand-new equivalents.