I’ve done mitigation work — but my insurer isn’t crediting it.
You cut the brush. You replaced the mulch. Maybe you put in a new roof. You did the work, documented it, told your agent — and nothing changed on your premium, or your non-renewal notice still came. This situation is more common than it should be, and there’s a specific legal framework in California that gives you tools most homeowners don’t know they have. This page tells you what those tools are and how to use them.
Your legal rights under California law
10 CCR § 2644.9 — the Safer from Wildfires regulation — requires insurers to apply specific discounts to policyholders who complete qualifying mitigation actions. Insurers must also provide your wildfire risk score upon request, at renewal, and after you notify them of completed mitigation. If you have completed qualifying work and your insurer has not credited it, you have the right to appeal. If the appeal fails, you have the right to file a complaint with the California Department of Insurance.
Why this happens — and why it’s a systemic problem
California’s Safer from Wildfires program was created in 2022 by the California Department of Insurance in partnership with CAL FIRE and CalOES. It requires every insurer writing homeowner policies in California — if they use any wildfire risk pricing — to apply discounts when specific mitigation actions are completed. The California FAIR Plan implemented its own Safer from Wildfires discount structure effective November 15, 2025.
The program exists because of documented evidence that mitigation works. Post-fire analysis and CAL FIRE research consistently show that defensible-space-compliant homes survive at significantly higher rates than non-compliant homes in major California wildfires. Insurers have actuarial reasons to price this risk differently. The Safer from Wildfires regulation compels them to do so.
The gap between “you did the work” and “your insurer credited it” usually comes down to one of three problems: (1) the documentation you provided didn’t match what the insurer’s system requires; (2) your insurer’s risk model weights the completed work differently than expected, or the score calculation didn’t update; or (3) the agent or broker didn’t know how to submit the documentation internally. All three are correctable.
What to do — in order
Request your wildfire risk score in writing
Contact your insurer or agent and request your current wildfire risk score in writing. Under Safer from Wildfires (Insurance Code 2644.9), your insurer is required to provide this score at policy application, before any renewal or non-renewal decision, and any time you request it after completing a mitigation measure. Ask for: (a) the current score; (b) a detailed explanation of all factors driving the score; (c) a list of completed mitigation actions currently reflected in your score; and (d) what additional actions would reduce it. Get this in writing or by email.
Audit your documentation against the Safer from Wildfires discount table
California’s Safer from Wildfires regulation specifies 12 qualifying discount categories. Match your completed work against this list. The categories most commonly missed in documentation: Zone 0 cleared to hardscape within 5 feet of structure (requires photo evidence showing noncombustible surface material); noncombustible fencing within 5 feet of structure; under-deck clearance of combustible materials; ember- and fire-resistant vents (photo showing vent type, model number if possible); enclosed eaves with noncombustible material; multi-pane windows with at least one tempered layer; defensible space compliant (Zones 1 and 2) by photo documentation or official compliance inspection report; Class A fire-rated roof by permit, roofing contract, or manufacturer certification.
Submit a formal mitigation documentation package
If your prior submission was informal — a verbal conversation with your agent, or a few photos without written context — prepare a proper documentation package. This should include: a written cover letter stating the specific Safer from Wildfires discount categories you are claiming; dated, geotagged before/after photos for each item; any permits, contractor completion statements, or manufacturer certifications; and a request for the discount to be applied retroactively from the date the work was completed (if within the current policy period). Send by email and request written confirmation of receipt.
If the score doesn’t update, formally appeal
Under Safer from Wildfires, you have the right to appeal your wildfire risk score if you believe it is inaccurate — including if it doesn’t reflect completed mitigation. Submit a formal written appeal to your insurer, referencing the specific 10 CCR § 2644.9 right of appeal. Include your documentation package. Give the insurer 30 days to respond. If the appeal is denied, escalate to the California Department of Insurance.
Contact the California Department of Insurance
The CDI Consumer Hotline is 800-927-4357. Online: insurance.ca.gov. You can file a formal complaint against your insurer if: (a) they are not applying Safer from Wildfires discounts you have qualified for; (b) they are refusing to provide your risk score or a detailed explanation; or (c) they have issued a non-renewal without the required 75-day notice. CDI complaints are formal regulatory actions — insurers take them seriously.
Pursue the IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home designation as your strongest credential
The IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home (WPH) designation — particularly WPH Plus — is the most powerful mitigation credential for accessing voluntary insurance markets and maximizing discounts. Some major California insurers now recognize homes meeting the IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home standard in their retention and underwriting criteria. WPH Base designation requires Zone 0, 30-foot defensible space, ember-resistant vents, and key structural upgrades. The $125 application process runs through IBHS at wildfireprepared.org and takes approximately 6–8 weeks.
Key things to know
The FAIR Plan now has Safer from Wildfires discounts. The California FAIR Plan implemented Safer from Wildfires hardening discounts effective November 15, 2025. FAIR Plan policyholders who complete all 12 qualifying actions can save up to 16.4% on the wildfire portion of their Dwelling Fire premium — but all 12 must be completed to reach that maximum. If you are on the FAIR Plan and have done mitigation work, contact your broker immediately to submit documentation and claim the applicable discounts. Many FAIR Plan policyholders are unaware these discounts exist.
You have the right to 75 days’ notice before non-renewal. California requires insurers to provide a minimum of 75 days’ notice before non-renewing a residential policy. If you received a non-renewal notice with less than 75 days’ notice, that is a regulatory violation. Contact the CDI at 800-927-4357 immediately.
SB 824 moratorium protections may apply to you. SB 824 prohibits insurers from canceling or non-renewing residential policies in ZIP codes covered by a Governor’s wildfire state of emergency declaration for one year following the declaration. If you received a non-renewal notice after a wildfire emergency in your area, verify whether your ZIP code is protected before accepting the notice as final. Contact CDI if you believe you’re in a protected area.
Carrier landscape. As of 2025–26, some major carriers have been re-entering the California market under the state’s Sustainable Insurance Strategy. Mercury Insurance and CSAA are among carriers actively writing policies. If your current carrier isn’t crediting your mitigation work and won’t improve your terms, it is worth working with an independent broker who specializes in fire country properties to assess what market alternatives currently exist.
Cal Wildfire Defense
The documentation your insurer actually recognizes.
A professional wildfire risk assessment from Cal Wildfire Defense produces a written, photo-documented report that maps every completed and outstanding mitigation action against the Safer from Wildfires discount categories — giving you a professionally organized evidence file to submit to your insurer. Our report also identifies which IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home designation requirements you already meet and what remains — so you know the clearest path to your strongest insurance credential.
This page provides educational context, not legal or insurance advice. Insurance regulations, discount programs, and carrier availability change. Always verify current requirements with the California Department of Insurance or a licensed professional before acting. Last reviewed April 2026.