California dwelling fire insurance
For rentals, seasonal, vacant, and non-owner-occupied homes that do not fit a standard homeowners policy.
When a dwelling fire policy fits
- Rental and non-owner-occupied homes
- Seasonal or second homes
- Vacant or unoccupied properties, including during renovation
- Inherited or transitional homes
- Homes that do not qualify for a standard homeowners policy
DP-1 vs DP-2 vs DP-3
DP-1 is the most basic, covering a short list of named perils, often at actual cash value. DP-2 adds more named perils and usually replacement cost. DP-3 is the broadest, covering the dwelling on an open-perils basis similar to a homeowners policy. We match the form to the property and your budget.
| DP-1 | DP-2 | DP-3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perils covered | Short named-peril list | Broader named-peril list | Open perils, except exclusions |
| Loss settlement | Often actual cash value | Usually replacement cost | Usually replacement cost |
| Typical use | Vacant, older, or hard-to-place property | Standard rentals | Better-condition rentals and second homes |
| Relative cost | Lowest | Middle | Highest |
The loss settlement row is the one that decides claims. An actual cash value settlement on a thirty-year-old roof pays what that roof was worth after depreciation, not what a new one costs - which on a total loss can be the difference between rebuilding and not.
What a dwelling fire policy costs in California
The average California dwelling fire premium is 1,501 dollars a year across roughly 299,000 policy-years, per the NAIC, whose California figures come from the California Department of Insurance.
The spread across that series is unusually wide - a factor of fourteen between the bottom and top bands, against roughly six on the owner-occupied homeowners series. Dwelling fire is where a lot of California's hard-to-place property ends up, and the pricing reflects it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between dwelling fire and homeowners insurance?
Homeowners insurance assumes you live in the home full-time and bundles broad property and liability coverage. Dwelling fire policies are built for non-owner-occupied, seasonal, or vacant homes and focus on the structure and named perils.
Can a dwelling fire policy cover a vacant home?
Yes. Vacant and unoccupied homes often need a dwelling fire or specialty vacant policy, since standard homeowners coverage may exclude vacancy. We place these regularly.
Can I get a DP policy in a wildfire area?
Yes. We use admitted, surplus lines, and FAIR Plan markets to place dwelling fire coverage on fire-exposed properties.
Get your free quote
Tell us what you need and a licensed California broker will reach out with real options. Simple situation or complicated one, we shop it the same way.
Prefer to talk? Call (916) 469-5253.