Do You Actually Have Fire Insurance? What San Diego Homeowners Need to Know

After the LA fires, our phones started ringing with the same question: "Do I actually have fire insurance?" It's a fair question — and the answer surprises a lot of San Diego homeowners.

The short answer: probably, but check

A standard California home insurance policy (HO-3) covers fire damage, including wildfire. That's the good news. The bad news is everything around it: what "covered" actually means, what your limits are, and whether your policy will still exist next year.

What fire coverage typically includes

• Dwelling coverage — repairs or rebuilds your home's structure after fire damage, up to your policy limit.
• Other structures — fences, detached garages, sheds (usually 10% of your dwelling limit).
• Personal property — belongings damaged or destroyed by fire, up to your contents limit.
• Loss of use — hotel bills and living expenses while your home is uninhabitable.

What it doesn't include

• Landscaping beyond a small sublimit — most policies cap trees, plants, and lawn at a few hundred dollars per item.
• Mold or rot that follows fire suppression water damage can be excluded or limited.
• Anything over your dwelling limit. This is the big one. If your home would cost $700,000 to rebuild and your dwelling limit is $450,000, you're on the hook for the gap.

Why San Diego is different right now

California's insurance market is in upheaval. Carriers have non-renewed thousands of policies in wildfire-prone ZIP codes — including parts of San Diego County. If you got a non-renewal notice, you're not alone, and you still have options: other admitted carriers, the California FAIR Plan as a last resort, and surplus lines for hard-to-place homes.

The key: don't wait until your renewal date. Start shopping 60–90 days out. As an independent agency, we compare carriers for exactly this situation.

5 things to check on your policy today

1. Your dwelling limit vs. rebuild cost. Construction costs in San Diego have surged. If you haven't updated your limit in 3+ years, you're probably underinsured.
2. Extended replacement cost. The best policies add 25–50% above your dwelling limit. Check if yours has it.
3. Wildfire deductible. Some policies now carry a separate, higher wildfire deductible. Know yours before you need it.
4. Defensible space compliance. Insurers are inspecting. Clear brush 100 feet around your home or risk non-renewal.
5. Your carrier's California appetite. Some national carriers are quietly exiting wildfire zones. An independent agent sees which carriers are still writing in your ZIP.

Been non-renewed? Here's what to do

1. Don't panic — you typically have 60–75 days.
2. Don't let coverage lapse. A gap makes your next policy more expensive.
3. Talk to an independent agent (hi). We place non-renewed homeowners with new carriers every week.

FAQ

Does home insurance cover wildfire smoke damage? Usually yes — smoke damage to your home and belongings is typically covered under the fire peril, subject to your deductible.

What if no standard carrier will insure my home? The California FAIR Plan provides basic fire coverage as a safety net. It's bare-bones, so most homeowners pair it with a "difference in conditions" policy. We write both.

Will my rate go up after a nearby wildfire? Possibly. Rates are set by territory, and insurers refile regularly. Shopping your policy annually is the single best defense — which is literally what we do.

Is earthquake damage covered if a fire follows an earthquake? Fire following an earthquake is generally covered by your home policy even without earthquake insurance. The earthquake shaking damage itself is not.

Not sure what your policy actually covers?

Send us your current policy — we'll walk through it line by line and tell you where the gaps are. No pressure, no jargon.

Call Zaz Insurance at (619) 963-2288 or request a quote at zazinsurance.com.