# Understanding California's One-Year Moratorium on Insurance Cancellations After Wildfires > Source: https://www.coveragecat.com/insurance-types/home/californias-one-year-moratorium-on-non-renewals > Description: California has implemented a crucial protection for homeowners in wildfire-affected areas: a mandatory one-year moratorium that prevents insurance companies from canceling or refusing to renew residential insurance policies. > Updated: 2026-08-12 Surviving a devastating wildfire can still come with aftershocks - worrying about losing your homeowners policy shouldn't be one of them. California's **one-year moratorium** cancellations and non-renewals offers critical short-term relief for residents in declared wildfire disaster zones. Here's what you need to know. ### What Is the Wildfire Moratorium? Enacted by **Senate Bill 824** (2018), the moratorium prevents residential insurers from canceling or refusing to renew policies **for one year** after the Governor declares a wildfire emergency in your area [(Calmatters.Digitaldemocracy, "SB 824: Insurers: declared disaster: homeowners’ insurance policies.", 2026)](https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_201720180sb824). Insurance Code §675.1(b)(1) authorizes the California Department of Insurance (CDI) to issue bulletins identifying affected ZIP codes and enforcing the moratorium [(California Department of Insurance, "Untitled", 2026)](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/0250-insurers/0300-insurers/0200-bulletins/bulletin-notices-commiss-opinion/upload/Bulletin-2025-1-One-Year-Moratorium-for-Palisades-and-Eaton-Fires-9-January-2025.pdf). Since January 1, 2026, this protection extends to commercial policies under SB 547, covering businesses, homeowners' associations (HOAs), condominiums, affordable housing units, and non-profits [(California Department of Insurance, "New laws sponsored by Commissioner Lara to strengthen consumer protections an...", 2025)](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/0400-news/0100-press-releases/2025/release079-2025.cfm). --- ### How the Moratorium Works 1. **Emergency Declaration:** The Governor declares a state of emergency for a wildfire. 2. **Bulletin Issuance:** CDI publishes a bulletin listing fire perimeters and the ZIP codes **within or adjacent** to those perimeters [(California Department of Insurance, "Mandatory 1 Yr Moratorium on Non-Renewals", 2026)](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/140-catastrophes/MandatoryOneYearMoratoriumNonRenewals.cfm). 3. **Protected Period:** For one year from the emergency declaration, insurers **cannot** cancel or non-renew your policy based on wildfire risk alone. 4. **Retroactive Coverage:** Bulletins may retroactively cover cancellations issued up to 90 days before the declaration [(Faegredrinker, "CDI Expands Moratorium on Policy Cancellations to Include ZIP Codes Impacted ...", 2025)](https://www.faegredrinker.com/en/insights/publications/2025/2/cdi-expands-moratorium-on-policy-cancellations-to-include-zip-codes-impacted-by-hughes-fire). --- ### Checking Your ZIP Code 1. **Visit CDI's Moratorium Page:** [https://www.insurance.ca.gov/140-catastrophes/MandatoryOneYearMoratoriumNonRenewals.cfm](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/140-catastrophes/MandatoryOneYearMoratoriumNonRenewals.cfm) [(California Department of Insurance, "Zip Codes Covered by Mandatory One Year Moratorium on Non-Renewals", 2026)](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/140-catastrophes/wildfirenonrenewalinfo.cfm) 2. **Find Your Fire:** Locate the wildfire name (e.g., "Palisades Fire, January 2025"). 3. **View the Bulletin:** Click the link to see the exact ZIP codes protected. 4. **Verify Notices:** If you received a cancellation or non-renewal for wildfire risk during that year, contact your carrier for reinstatement or file a complaint with CDI. Below is a snapshot of every wildfire‐related one-year moratorium currently in effect (i.e. declarations within the past 12 months as of April 2026). Where available, we've pulled a handful of sample ZIP codes; for full lists, click the Bulletin links. | Fire Name & Bulletin | Declaration Date | County(ies) | Sample ZIP Codes | Notes | | :--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | :----------------- | :--------------------------------------------- | :--------------------------------------- | :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Gifford Fire**
[Bulletin 2026-01 (Jan 9, 2026)](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/0250-insurers/0300-insurers/0200-bulletins/bulletin-notices-commiss-opinion/upload/Bulletin-2026-01-One-Year-Moratorium.pdf) [(California Department of Insurance, "Commissioner Lara protects nearly 150,000 Californians in Kern, Santa Barbara...", 2025)](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/0400-news/0100-press-releases/2025/release002-2026.cfm) | December 23, 2025 | Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Ventura, Kern | (see Bulletin) | Protects more than 147,000 policyholders across 29 ZIP codes. | | **Pack Fire**
[Dec 9, 2025 Declaration](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/0400-news/0100-press-releases/2025/release077-2025.cfm) [(California Department of Insurance, "Commissioner Lara protects thousands of Californians in Mono and Inyo countie...", 2025)](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/0400-news/0100-press-releases/2025/release077-2025.cfm) | December 9, 2025 | Mono, Inyo | 93514 (Inyo) | Shields more than 14,800 policyholders in Sierra foothill communities. | | **TCU September Complex Fire**
[Sept 19, 2025 Declaration](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/0400-news/0100-press-releases/2025/release062-2025.cfm) [(California Department of Insurance, "Commissioner Lara protects 124,000 Californians across six counties in Sierra...", 2025)](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/0400-news/0100-press-releases/2025/release062-2025.cfm) | September 19, 2025 | Calaveras, Tuolumne, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Mariposa, Merced | (see Bulletin) | Protects approximately 124,000 homes across 39 ZIP codes in six Sierra foothill counties. | | **Franklin Fire**
[June 18, 2025 Declaration](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/140-catastrophes/MandatoryOneYearMoratoriumNonRenewals.cfm) [(Ibid., "Mandatory 1 Yr Moratorium on Non-Renewals", 2026)](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/140-catastrophes/MandatoryOneYearMoratoriumNonRenewals.cfm) | June 18, 2025 | Los Angeles | (see Bulletin) | One-year protection from June 2025 declaration. | | **Palisades, Eaton, Hurst, Lidia, Sunset, Woodley & Olivas Fires**
[Bulletin 2025-1 (Jan 17, 2025)](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/0250-insurers/0300-insurers/0200-bulletins/bulletin-notices-commiss-opinion/upload/Bulletin-2025-1-One-Year-Moratorium-Updated-ZIP-Codes-Amended-17-January-2025.pdf) [(California Department of Insurance, "Bulletin 2025 1 One Year Moratorium Updated Zip Codes Amended 17 January 2025", 2026)](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/0250-insurers/0300-insurers/0200-bulletins/bulletin-notices-commiss-opinion/upload/Bulletin-2025-1-One-Year-Moratorium-Updated-ZIP-Codes-Amended-17-January-2025.pdf) | January 7, 2025 | LA & Ventura | 90049, 90077, 91362, 91361, 93010, 93003 | Moratorium shields properties **within or adjacent** to fire perimeters, regardless of actual loss. | | **Hughes Fire**
[Supplemental Bulletin (Feb 25, 2025)](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/0400-news/0102-alerts/2025/upload/022525-Commissioner-Lara-Expands-Moratorium-to-Protect-More-Wildfire-Survivors-from-Non-renewals.pdf) [(California Department of Insurance, "Commissioner Lara expands moratorium bringing wildfire survivors protected to...", 2025)](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/0400-news/0100-press-releases/2025/release021-2025.cfm) | January 27, 2025 | Los Angeles | 91367, 90068, 90046, 90069 | Adds ZIPs contiguous to the Hughes perimeter under the same one-year protection. | **Key Distinguishing Details** * **Perimeter‐based ZIP inclusion**: Moratorium applies to ZIPs *within or adjacent* to CAL FIRE–mapped perimeters [(Ibid., "Mandatory 1 Yr Moratorium on Non-Renewals", 2026)](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/140-catastrophes/MandatoryOneYearMoratoriumNonRenewals.cfm). * **Retroactive coverage**: Bulletins may include cancellations issued up to 90 days before a Governor’s declaration [(Ibid., "Mandatory 1 Yr Moratorium on Non-Renewals", 2026)](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/140-catastrophes/MandatoryOneYearMoratoriumNonRenewals.cfm). * **Total‐loss extension**: Properties with complete loss get two additional annual renewals beyond the one-year moratorium [(CalMatters, "SB 824: Insurers: declared disaster: homeowners’ insurance policies.", 2026)](https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_201720180sb824). * **Commercial protection**: Beginning January 1, 2026, SB 547 extended moratorium protections to businesses, HOAs, condominiums, affordable housing, senior living facilities, and non-profits. --- *To see the full ZIP code lists for any fire above, click its Bulletin link.* --- ### Beyond Year One: What Happens Next The moratorium buys homeowners time, but it's not permanent: * **Non-Renewals Resume:** After one year, insurers may again cancel or non-renew based on wildfire risk. [Understanding California's broader insurance landscape](https://www.coveragecat.com/blog/between-the-fault-and-the-flames-californias-home-insurance-market) helps homeowners prepare for what comes after moratorium protection expires. * **FAIR Plan Reliance:** Many displaced homeowners turn to the California FAIR Plan, which covers fire perils only and often comes with higher premiums and limited coverage [(Faegre Drinker, "CDI Expands Moratorium on Policy Cancellations to Include ZIP Codes Impacted ...", 2025)](https://www.faegredrinker.com/en/insights/publications/2025/2/cdi-expands-moratorium-on-policy-cancellations-to-include-zip-codes-impacted-by-hughes-fire). * **Market Constraints:** Post-moratorium, insurance options can be scarce—especially in ZIP codes with repeated wildfire losses [(Ibid., "CDI Expands Moratorium on Policy Cancellations to Include ZIP Codes Impacted ...", 2025)](https://www.faegredrinker.com/en/insights/publications/2025/2/cdi-expands-moratorium-on-policy-cancellations-to-include-zip-codes-impacted-by-hughes-fire). --- ### Extra Protections & Extensions In certain cases, CDI has gone further: * **Total Loss Renewals:** If your home suffered a total loss, insurers must offer coverage for **two additional** annual renewal periods from the loss date [(California Department of Insurance, "Mandatory 1 Yr Moratorium on Non-Renewals", 2026)](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/140-catastrophes/MandatoryOneYearMoratoriumNonRenewals.cfm). * **Voluntary Stays:** Commissioners have asked carriers to withdraw pending cancellations issued up to 90 days before a disaster [(Ibid., "Bulletin 2025-1 One-Year Moratorium for Palisades and Eaton Fires", 2025)](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/0250-insurers/0300-insurers/0200-bulletins/bulletin-notices-commiss-opinion/upload/Bulletin-2025-1-One-Year-Moratorium-for-Palisades-and-Eaton-Fires-9-January-2025.pdf). * **Grace Period Extensions:** Insurers may extend the usual 60-day premium grace period for wildfire-affected policyholders. Since 2019, Commissioner Lara's moratorium actions have protected more than 4 million homeowners, with more than 1.2 million homeowners protected in 2025 alone [(Ibid., "Commissioner Lara protects nearly 150,000 Californians in Kern, Santa Barbara...", 2025)](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/0400-news/0100-press-releases/2025/release002-2026.cfm). --- ### Making the Most of the Moratorium 1. **Review Your Policy:** Use this year to ensure dwelling limits and endorsements (e.g., ordinance & law, extended replacement cost) meet your needs. 2. **Shop Broadly:** An independent broker can scan multiple carriers and surplus-lines markets before your moratorium ends. For a full picture of [navigating California's home insurance options](https://www.coveragecat.com/blog/homeowners-guide-to-californias-insurance-maze), consider both traditional carriers and alternative markets. 3. **Mitigate Risk:** Invest in wildfire-hardening upgrades—defensible space, ember-resistant vents—to secure credits and wider carrier options. 4. **Prepare for Renewal:** Six months before expiry, explore quotes to prevent last-minute coverage gaps.