California is known for its mountains, vast dry deserts, miles of picturesque coastline, and some of the most famous forests in the world. But the state's varied terrain also means varied concerns for homeowners, from wind damage due to desert windstorms and coastal tropical storms to wildfire and flooding occurrences that aren't typically covered by a traditional homeowners insurance policy. Explore what kind of homeowners insurance coverages might be right for you and your California home.
3 min to read
How you're covered
A typical policy in California may include the following homeowners insurance coverages:
- Dwelling Coverage (Coverage A) protects your home's structure (roof, walls, etc.) as well as attached structures, like a porch.
- Other Structures Coverage (Coverage B) protects detached structures, such as a fence, shed, or detached garage.
- Personal Property Coverage (Coverage C) protects your personal belongings, including furniture, clothing, and electronics. Certain items, like jewelry, art, and collectibles, are often only covered up to a specific limit so you may want to purchase an endorsem*nt to schedule these items on your policy at the coverage amount needed, also known as "adding a rider."
- Loss of Use Coverage (Coverage D) may help cover costs associated with an increase in living expenses, up to your policy's limit, if you're unable to stay in your home while it's being repaired or rebuilt due to a covered loss.
- Personal Liability Coverage (Coverage E) protects you financially if you're legally responsible for another person's injuries or damage to their property.
- Medical Payments to Others (Coverage F) may pay for medical expenses due to a covered occurrence.
Keep in mind coverage under your policy is subject to exclusions and conditions within your policy. It is important to read your policy to understand the coverage provided.
Did you know?
California ranks first in the country for number of homes at risk for extreme wildfires. Nearly 1.3 million homes in California are at risk for extreme wildfires. Be sure you're prepared and know how to protect your home from wildfire damage.
Additional coverages to consider for California
In some cases, you can buy extra protection by adding coverage to your homeowners policy or purchasing a separate standalone policy for specific perils and hazards not typically covered on a standard homeowners policy. If available, Californians may want to consider:
- Flood: Flooding is not typically covered under a homeowners policy. If you're concerned about flooding in your area, a private flood insurance policy or NFIP, where available, may help protect your property and belongings against flood damage.
- Umbrella: An umbrella policy, where available, may help protect your assets if you exceed the personal liability coverage on your homeowners policy.
- Sump pump: Sewage back-up or sump pump overflows aren't typically one of the standard coverages automatically included with homeowners insurance. Adding water back-up coverage as on optional coverage, if available, may help in the event of sewage back-up or sump pump overflow due to heavy storms.
- Earthquake: Californians may qualify for earthquake insurance through the California Earthquake Authority.
How much is homeowners insurance in California?
Progressive homeowners policies in California had an average cost per month of $117.00 or $1,403.95 for an annual policy in 2023.* Remember that your cost for homeowners insurance in California varies based on many factors, including your location, type of home, and coverage limits, so that average price may not necessarily be what you end up paying for your unique policy.
Helping you save on homeowners insurance in California
There are lots of Progressive discounts on homeowners insurance available, including discounts for quoting in advance and installing a home security system. Get a homeowners insurance quote for California to see how you can save with these discounts.
Compare homeowners insurance rates in California
Progressive's HomeQuote Explorer® lets you instantly compare homeowners insurance rates and coverages from multiple companies in the state of California.
Is homeowners insurance required by law in California?
Homeowners insurance is not required in the state of California, but if you're financing your home through a mortgage lender, they'll probably require it as part of your loan terms. Note that even if your home is paid off, you'll still want to consider homeowners insurance because your home is likely your most valuable asset and should be protected.
Online
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Call a rep
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Through an agent
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- Or, call 1-866-749-7436
Learn more about home insurance policies.
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