Homeowners Insurance Resources

WildlandAerial Photo of Residential in Chino Hills  fires have become a year-round threat nationwide, and California is no different!  The low humidity and dry vegetation in southern California, coupled with extreme weather conditions such as the Santa Ana winds, exacerbate the likelihood and occurrence of wildfires in the region. Many residents and businesses have received cancellation notices due to these conditions and find it challenging to obtain and keep adequate fire insurance coverage to protect the investment they have made in their homes.  

If you receive a cancellation notice, the State Insurance Commissioner’s office suggests you contact your insurance carrier and discuss any efforts you have made to protect your home from wildfire and the efforts that the City of Chino Hills and the Chino Valley Fire District (CVFD) make each year to reduce the fire risk.

Tools and Resources To Find Homeowners InsurancePhoto of Tractor Mowing

To help the community navigate this frustrating process, the Chino Hills City Council invited a representative from the California State Insurance Commissioner's Office to a past Council Meeting to talk about the resources available to residents and businesses. View the Council Meeting Here
View the State Insurance Commissioner's Office Presentation (PDF)

What to Do if You Receive a Cancellation Notice

The information below has been compiled from the California Department of Insurance on this page for convenience. The information may change without notice, so make sure to visit the website or call them directly at (800) 927-4357 for questions and to confirm all information.  The California Department of Insurance assists homeowners in obtaining insurance with the Home Insurance Finder tool.

The Department's number one tip for finding residential insurance, if you get a nonrenewal notice, is to contact your insurer and ask for specific actions you can take to mitigate your risk and retain your coverage. To assist you with this conversation, here are some of the ways the City and the CVFD work together to reduce the fire risk in Chino Hills.

  • CVFD has an active Vegetation Management program in place.
    As part of the program, CVFD conducts bi-annual weed abatement inspections to ensure compliance with the California Fire Code and other laws related to vegetation, which includes proper clearance of tumbleweeds and other combustible vegetation and defensible space. CVFD requires all parcels less than 5 acres to be clear of weeds that would pose a fire threat. Parcels greater than 5 acres are required to comply with fire breaks on the property and a 100’ fire break around the perimeter of the parcel. CVFD has specific requirements for Edison transmission lines as it relates to vegetation clearance under and adjacent to lines/towers, and they require a minimum of 20 feet of clearance along all private and public roads. The program is not just for vacant parcels but includes all residential, commercial, and industrial parcels that may have vegetation.
  • CVFD personnel are active members of the Carbon Canyon Fire Safe Council (CCFSC).
    The CCFSC takes a proactive approach to mitigate fire hazards within Carbon Canyon and has been recognized as a Firewise Community (more on Firewise Communities below). The CCFSC performs community outreach related to maintaining defensible space and educating the public on fire threats and holds two brush drop-off events each year, giving local residents a means of discarding excess vegetation from their respective properties.
  • CVFD personnel educates all residents and encourages participation in the Ready, Set, Go preparedness program.
    The City has had a long-standing requirement for Class A roofs and vents on chimneys. Homeowners can take steps to further harden their homes. CVFD outlines this information in the Ready, Set, Go! brochure (PDF). 
  • The City is committed to reducing the fire fuel in our open space areas by conducting annual weed abatement.
    This program begins in April each year and continues through July. The work is performed to provide a buffer or fuel modification zone between structures and the open space and is required pursuant to the CVFD code.
  • CVFD, in collaboration with the City, is recognized on the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection's 2024 Fire Risk Reduction Community List.
    CAL FIRE’s Fire Risk Reduction Community List incorporates the “Safer from Wildfires” framework to protect homes and communities from wildfires. The list consists of agencies in a very high fire hazard severity zone that meet best practices for local fire planning and is updated every two years. Agencies recognized in the list, like CVFD, receive priority on their CAL FIRE grant applications.
  • The City and CVFD have provided a joint letter homeowners can provide to their Insurance Company outlining the ways the fire risk is reduced in our community. Letter Addressing Reducing the Fire Risk (PDF) 

Photo of Open Space Crew WorkingLast Resort Insurance Option

If after shopping the market you are still having difficulty obtaining residential insurance, you may want to contact the California FAIR Plan to explore your coverage options. As the insurer of last resort, the California FAIR Plan should only be considered after a diligent search for coverage in the traditional insurance market. If you are turned down or non-renewed by your current insurance company or are otherwise in need of coverage, you may apply for coverage under the FAIR Plan through an agent or broker licensed to sell property insurance, or you may contact the FAIR Plan directly at (800) 339-4099.

Please note that the FAIR Plan only provides coverage for the losses caused by Fire or Lightning, Internal Explosion, and Smoke. For an additional premium, Extended Coverage (windstorm, hail, explosion, riot or civil commotion, aircraft, vehicles, and volcanic eruption) and Vandalism or Malicious Mischief may be added to the policy. 

Since the FAIR Plan policy does not cover all the perils insured under a traditional homeowners' insurance policy such as theft or liability, you may want to consider purchasing a separate Differences in Conditions (DIC) policy in addition to the FAIR Plan policy. DIC insurance is designed to fill in gaps in insurance coverage. It provides expanded coverage for some perils that are not covered by the FAIR plan policy. This page provides a list of carriers currently offering DIC policies. You may also wish to contact an agent or broker to help you shop around for this type of coverage.

Two Programs to Help You Keep Insurance and Save Money

Safer from Wildfires Program

The Safer from Wildfires program is a ground-up approach that a homeowner can take to increase their wildfire resilience with three layers of protection for the structure, the immediate surroundings, and the community.  Following these achievable steps could help you save money on your insurance.  Every action under Safer from Wildfires may qualify you for an insurance discount.  Make sure to talk to your insurance provider to make sure you understand how these steps may assist you before undertaking any of them.  It's our understanding that, by doing more, you can possibly save more.

  • Class A fire-rated roof
  • 5-foot ember-resistant zone around the structure
  • Noncombustible 6 inches at the bottom of walls
  • Ember- and fire-resistant vents
  • Double pane windows or added shutters
  • Enclosed eaves
  • Cleared vegetation and debris from under decks
  • Move sheds and outbuildings at least 30 feet away
  • Trim trees and remove brush in compliance with state and local defensible space laws
  • Neighborhoods can form a Firewise USA community
  • Cities, counties, and local districts can become certified as a Fire Risk Reduction Community (Make sure your insurance carrier knows that Chino Valley Fire District has acquired this designation.)

 Wildfire Prepared by the Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS)

IBHS’s Wildfire Ready provides guidance on preparing homes for wildfires, suggested exterior home upgrades, tips for creating a wildfire-resistant yard, and home evacuation steps. This program is similar to the Safer From Wildfires program (listed above) and Homeowners can apply for one of two Wildfire Prepared designations and pay for an inspection to get a certificate of compliance that would follow the standards listed below: 

  • Wildfire Prepared Home Base - Retrofit existing homes with non-combustible 5-foot home buffer; ensure the roof is Class A fire rated and gutters are made of metal and routinely clear debris from them; install ember resistant vents or cover gutters with 1/8" metal mesh; ensure 6-inch vertical non-combustible material at the base of walls & decks; routinely clear debris from decks & yard; enclose low elevation decks and maintain debris underneath; replace combustible furniture; prune and space trees & vegetation; move firewood and large propane tanks to 30+ feet; place structures at least 10 feet away from the home.     
  • Wildfire Prepared Home Plus - New construction or renovations to enclose the underside of eaves; cover gutters; move structures 30+ feet away from home; upgrade windows and doors; install noncombustible siding; enclose under bay windows; build or retrofit a noncombustible deck; remove back to back fencing.     

Becoming a Firewise Community

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) oversees a grassroots, community-based wildfire preparedness program called Firewise USA. Firewise USA serves as a framework for neighbors to learn about their fire risks and take mitigative actions to protect their communities. More than 1,900 communities across the country are currently taking steps to reduce their wildfire risk as Firewise sites. 

In Chino Hills, three neighborhoods have become recognized as Firewise Communities: Canyon Hills, Carbon Canyon, and Butterfield Ranch. To earn recognition as a Firewise site, interested communities must complete five steps:

  1. Create a board or committee of residents and other local stakeholders interested in wildfire protection;
  2. Obtain a written wildfire risk assessment from the State Forestry Agency or local fire department that identifies risky areas and recommendations for improvement;
  3. Create an action plan to be updated every three years that identifies community education and mitigation activities;
  4. Host an outreach and education event that addresses items from the action plan;
  5. Track the hours and financial investments from the community in wildfire mitigation.

Visit the NFPA Firewise website for more information.

Locate a Residential Policy Post Declared Disaster

If you cannot recall the name of the insurance company covering your residential property, visit the Department's Residential Insurance Policy Locator page.