The California Department of Insurance published a news release declaring a moratorium on cancellations and nonrenewals of eligible homeowners' and commercial insurance policies following the Dove Fire.
On July 26, 2026, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for Tuolumne County due to the Dove Fire. This gave the Insurance Commissioner the power to declare a moratorium on cancellations and nonrenewals of certain property insurance policies, per California statutes.
As a result, insurers cannot cancel or nonrenew a residential property insurance policy for those living within the fire perimeters or adjoining ZIP codes. Insurers may not cancel an eligible policy regardless of whether there was a loss. The moratorium also applies to certain commercial property, including policies with less than $25,000 in annual premium for homeowners' associations, apartment complexes, student housing, and senior living facilities.
The moratorium will be in place for one year after the Governor's state of emergency order on July 26, 2026.
The news release can be found here.
Ray Sugrim
Ray Sugrim is an Insurance Editor with FC&S Expert Coverage Interpretation, a division of National Underwriter Company and Arc Network. Ray is responsible for helping develop and edit content for subscribers. Ray is a St John’s University graduate with a degree in Risk Management & Insurance and is a CPCU candidate.