Mandatory one-year moratorium preventing homeowners insurance cancellations and non-renewals now covers more affected areas of Southern California
LOS ANGELES — Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara expanded emergency insurance protections for Southern California homeowners, adding new ZIP Codes to those already under a mandatory one-year moratorium on insurance non-renewals and cancellations. The amended Commissioner’s Bulletin shields those within the perimeters or adjoining ZIP Codes of the Palisades, Eaton, Hurst, Lidia, Sunset, and Woodley fires in Los Angeles County for one year from the Governor’s January 7 emergency declaration regardless of whether they suffered a loss.
Commissioner Lara issued the first wave of protections last Thursday after the Palisades and Eaton fires broke out. As firefighters battle wildfires across the region, he will issue a supplemental bulletin if additional ZIP Codes are within or adjacent to a fire perimeter subject to this declared state of emergency for Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
“Angelenos in the areas of these devastating wildfires need to know that we will protect their access to insurance coverage,” said Commissioner Lara. “I am using my moratorium powers to prevent insurance companies from canceling or non-renewing policies in wildfire-impacted areas, so people don’t face the added stress of finding new insurance during this horrific event. My staff and I are working on all fronts to make sure wildfire victims get the benefits they are entitled to, and they get it as soon as possible.”
Residents can go to the Department of Insurance website to see if their ZIP Code is included in the mandatory moratorium. Consumers should contact the Department of Insurance at 800-927-4357 at insurance.ca.gov if they believe their insurance company is in violation of this law, or have additional claims-related questions.
To provide additional stability for communities near the wildfires, Commissioner Lara also issued a Notice calling on all insurance companies to stop any pending non-renewals or cancellations for any properties located near wildfires, if they are not already protected by the mandatory moratorium. This includes non-renewals issued up to 90 days prior to January 7, but taking effect after the start of the wildfires. This pause on non-renewing and cancelling policies would last six months as impacted communities begin the recovery process. In addition, Commissioner Lara called on insurers to offer beyond the 60-day grace period under existing law for policyholders in the immediate affected wildfire areas, to pay their home insurance premiums given the challenges that many policyholders in these areas are having right now…