State Farm, California’s largest insurer, has announced that it will renew residential policies for homeowners affected by the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles County. The decision, announced Wednesday, reverses plans to cancel thousands of policies in Pacific Palisades, Brentwood, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, and Monte Nido.
According to Michael Soller, spokesperson for the California Department of Insurance, the insurer discontinued approximately 1,600 policies in Pacific Palisades and more than 2,000 in neighboring ZIP codes, including the Brentwood and Monte Nido neighborhoods, in July.
State Farm’s new policy shift will not apply to policies that expired prior to the start of the fires in Los Angeles on January 7.
The updated policies will apply to homeowners, owners of rental properties, and residential community associations, including condominium associations.
California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara praised the initiative and announced free two-day insurance support workshops for wildfire survivors.
The workshops, which are scheduled for January 18-19 in Santa Monica and January 25-26 in Pasadena, are designed to assist policyholders in understanding their insurance coverage, navigating the claims process, and accessing resources for rebuilding and recovery.
Commissioner Lara added, “Insurers must do the right thing and support their customers. We will continue to work to ensure that all claims are paid fairly, quickly, and completely.
He also issued a one-year moratorium prohibiting insurers from issuing new cancellation or non-renewal notifications. The moratorium applies to all policies in the state of California, regardless of whether the officers live in affected communities.
Affected residents can schedule individual appointments with Department of Insurance experts by calling 800-927-4357.
The decision represents a significant shift in the company’s policy approach, and it comes as residents in Los Angeles work to recover from the state’s recent wildfire disaster.
State Farm will assist customers through its extensive catastrophe response network. As of Wednesday morning, Jan. 15, 2025, the company had contacted 90% of its affected customers and received more than 7,400 home and auto claims. Tens of millions of dollars have already been disbursed, and the figure is expected to rise as residents assess damage.
Catastrophe Customer Care locations are open to provide on-the-ground support.
- The Home Depot parking lot: 12975 2800 W. Jefferson Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Former Volvo parking lot: 1999 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Immediate Support for Affected Customers
State Farm has outlined several ways to assist customers impacted by the wildfires:
- Filing Claims: Customers can file claims through local agents, by calling 1-800-SF-CLAIM, using the State Farm mobile app, or visiting statefarm.com.
- Premium Payment Extensions: Agents are available to provide financial relief through premium payment extensions.
