Home Fire Insurance Information and Additional Resources

Additional Resources from the California Department of Insurance

In coordination with the Asm. Al Muratsuchi’s Office, City staff was provided the following contact information for the California Department of Insurance. 

Email: ombudsman@insurance.ca.gov

Phone: (916) 492-3457

Residents are encouraged to contact the California Department of Insurance (DOI) with any home fire insurance questions they may have. Additionally, the Department of  Insurance is available to provide additional resources and guide residents through dealing with their insurance companies.

Tips for Finding Residential Insurance 

A list of Top Ten Tips for Finding Residential Insurance provided by the California Department of Insurance can be found here: Top Ten Tips for Finding Residential Insurance

Commissioner Lara and Governor Newsom's Administration Partnership to Establish Home and Community Hardening Standards for Insurance

On February 8, 2021, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced a new partnership  between the California Department of Insurance and Governor Gavin Newsom’s Administration, the Governor's Office of Emergency Services (CalOES), the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR), and the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to establish consistent statewide standards for home and community hardening that will reduce wildfire risk, protect lives and property, and help make insurance available and affordable to residents and businesses.

This new partnership consisting of state wildfire and insurance experts aims to establish standards that are consistent, based in fire science, and apply to retrofits for older existing homes in order to help them seek and maintain insurance coverage, giving policyholders and insurance companies a shared strategy for reducing wildfire risks.

This partnership is the latest step to enact regulatory and administrative actions that Commissioner Lara announced on September 16, 2020, using his existing regulatory authority under voter-approved Proposition 103 to protect the state’s insurance market.

A copy of the Department of Insurance's News Release can be found here.

California Department of Insurance Presentation on Insurance Rates

During the November 18, 2020 Wildfire Preparedness Town Hall Town Hall Meeting hosted by Asm. Al Muratsuchi, representatives from the California Department of Insurance presented on plans to collaborate with government, insurers, and communities to keep insurance rates fairly priced. Additionally the presentation encompassed data on the number of non-renewed home fire insurance policies for the Palos Verdes Peninsula. A copy of the Department of Insurance's presentation can be found here.

Virtual Investigatory Hearing on Homeowners Insurance Availability and Affordability

On Oct. 19, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara convened a virtual investigatory hearing to initiate a series of regulatory actions that will protect residents from the increasing risk of wildfires. During this investigatory hearing homeowners, industry experts, and insurance providers, among others, provided their input into regulations that would offset rising premiums with discounts for mitigating wildfire risks.

A recording of the October 19, Virtual Homeowners’ Investigatory Hearing is available here: Youtube.com/watch?v=vYtFqWo_qek