Quick answer: A non-renewal notice means your insurer won’t renew your homeowners policy when it ends, but your coverage stays in force until the expiration date. Under current California law, the insurer must give you at least 75 days’ written notice and a reason (United Policyholders). Use that time: ask whether a fix would change the decision, check whether your ZIP code is under a wildfire moratorium, and start shopping with an independent agent right away. A new law, SB 1301, signed in September 2026, will lengthen the notice period to 90 days and give homeowners a path to fix problems and keep their policy (Governor’s Office; Consumer Watchdog).
Opening that letter is a gut punch. You’ve paid your premium for years, maybe never filed a claim, and now you’re told to find coverage somewhere else. Here’s the part that helps: you have more time and more options than it feels like in the moment.
This guide walks you through what a non-renewal notice means, what your rights are in California, a step-by-step plan for the next 75 days, and what changes under SB 1301.
⚠️ Scope note: This guide covers owner-occupied homeowners policies in California, with a focus on the Sacramento area. It isn’t legal advice. If you think your insurer broke the rules, contact the California Department of Insurance (CDI) or an attorney. Rules are changing in 2026 and 2027, so confirm details with a licensed California agent.
What does a non-renewal notice mean?
A non-renewal notice is a letter from your insurer saying it won’t offer you a new policy term when your current one ends. It’s different from a cancellation, which ends coverage in the middle of a policy term.
| Non-renewal | Cancellation | |
| When coverage ends | At the end of your current policy term | Before the term ends |
| Common reasons | Wildfire risk, property condition, roof, claims history, insurer pulling back in an area | Nonpayment, fraud, or a major change in risk |
| Your coverage right now | Still in force until the expiration date | Ends on the date in the notice |
| Notice required in California today | At least 75 days (United Policyholders) | Varies by reason |
The most important thing to know: you’re still covered. If your house is damaged before the expiration date, your current insurer still handles the claim.
How much notice does California require before a non-renewal?
Right now, California insurers must give you at least 75 days’ written notice before a homeowners policy ends, along with the reason (United Policyholders; Kin). If you got less than 75 days’ notice, that’s a reason to contact CDI.
That will change. SB 1301 by Senator Ben Allen was signed in September 2026 (Governor’s Office). Here’s how it compares with today’s rules:
| Rule | Current law | Under SB 1301 |
| Standard notice | 75 days | 90 days |
| Notice when you can fix the problem | 75 days | 120 days |
| Reason for non-renewal | Must be stated | Detailed, plain-language explanation, including wildfire risk information |
| Path to keep your policy | Not required | Insurer must explain what’s needed to keep coverage and give time to fix it |
| Roof age alone as the reason | Allowed | Not allowed |
| Claims the insurer didn’t pay | Could be a factor | Can’t be the reason for non-renewal |
Sources: Consumer Watchdog; Assembly Insurance Committee analysis.
Timing matters. The June 2026 Assembly analysis says SB 1301’s provisions don’t become operative until January 1, 2028 (Assembly Insurance Committee). If you got a notice this year, the 75-day rule is what applies to you.
What should you do after a non-renewal notice?
Act in the first week. Most people need the full 75 days to line up good replacement coverage (United Policyholders).
- Read the notice closely. Write down the expiration date and the exact reason. The reason tells you whether you can fix it.
- Check whether a moratorium protects you. After a governor’s wildfire emergency declaration, the Insurance Commissioner can bar non-renewals for one year in ZIP codes in or next to the fire (Kin). In August 2026, for example, the Gann Fire moratorium protected more than 64,000 policyholders in Amador, Calaveras, San Joaquin, Tuolumne, and Stanislaus counties (CDI). Check your ZIP code on CDI’s website.
- Ask your insurer what would change the decision. If the reason is your roof, vegetation, or another fixable condition, ask whether documented repairs would earn a renewal. United Policyholders recommends asking your agent to advocate for you (United Policyholders).
- Ask for your wildfire risk score. California requires insurers to give you your property’s wildfire risk score and a way to appeal it (CDI). If the score is based on wrong information, say so in writing.
- Call an independent agent right away. An independent agent can quote several insurers at once, including companies now expanding in California, such as CSAA, Mercury, Farmers, and Travelers (United Policyholders).
- Use the FAIR Plan only as a backstop. If no standard insurer will write your home, the California FAIR Plan covers fire, lightning, smoke, and internal explosion, but not water damage, theft, or liability. Pair it with a difference in conditions (DIC) policy (ValuePenguin).
- Bind the new policy before the old one ends. A gap in coverage can violate your mortgage and make the next insurer less willing to write you.
- Call CDI if something seems wrong. If you got less than 75 days’ notice or the reason seems unfair, call CDI’s consumer hotline at 1-800-927-4357 (CDI).
Why do insurers send non-renewal notices?
Most non-renewals come down to how the insurer sees your home’s risk or its own appetite for an area. In the Sacramento area, wildfire exposure is the most common driver, especially in the foothills and near open space.
Common reasons include:
- Wildfire risk score. Insurers use their own wildfire models, not CAL FIRE’s hazard maps, to decide (City of Folsom Fire Department).
- Property condition. Roof age or condition, overgrown vegetation, or deferred maintenance. Some insurers use aerial images.
- Claims history. Several recent claims can trigger a non-renewal.
- Insurer pulling back. Some companies limited business in California. State Farm, for example, announced in 2024 that it would non-renew about 72,000 policies statewide (AP via News4JAX).
Here’s what the numbers look like close to home. In 2023, insurers didn’t renew 11.9% of homeowners policies in El Dorado County and 17.2% in Nevada County (MoneyGeek). In most of the Sacramento Valley floor, non-renewals are much less common.
Can you fight a non-renewal?
Sometimes. You can’t force an insurer to renew under current law, but you can correct wrong information, show that you’ve fixed the problem, and ask the insurer to reconsider.
- Fixable reasons (roof, vegetation, missing ember-resistant vents): make the repair, document it with photos and receipts, and send it to the insurer and your agent.
- Wrong information (wrong roof type, wrong square footage, outdated aerial photo): send corrections in writing and ask for a re-review.
- Wildfire score you disagree with: use the insurer’s appeal process (CDI).
- Rule violations (short notice, no reason given): file a complaint with CDI (United Policyholders).
Even while you push back, keep shopping. A reconsideration can take weeks, and your expiration date won’t move.
How can you lower your chances of another non-renewal?
Make your home easier to insure. California’s Safer from Wildfires rules require insurers to offer discounts for specific upgrades, and those same upgrades make insurers more willing to write your home (CDI).
- Class A fire-rated roof
- A 5-foot ember-resistant zone around the house
- Ember-resistant vents with 1/16- to 1/8-inch metal mesh
- Enclosed eaves and multi-pane windows
- Defensible space that meets state and local rules
Keep a folder with photos and receipts for every upgrade. When you shop at your next renewal, that folder does a lot of talking for you.
Non-renewal notice FAQ
Question: Am I still covered after I get a non-renewal notice?
Answer: Yes. Your policy stays in force until the expiration date in the notice, and claims before then are covered under your current policy.
Question: How much notice does my insurer have to give me in California?
Answer: At least 75 days under current law (United Policyholders). SB 1301, signed in September 2026, raises that to 90 days, or 120 days when you can fix the problem, once it takes effect (Consumer Watchdog).
Question: Can my insurer drop me because of my roof’s age?
Answer: Today, roof age can be a reason. Under SB 1301, insurers won’t be able to non-renew based solely on roof age once the law is operative (Consumer Watchdog).
Question: What if no insurer will write my home?
Answer: The California FAIR Plan is the backstop. It covers fire, lightning, smoke, and internal explosion, and most homeowners add a difference in conditions policy for water damage, theft, and liability (ValuePenguin).
Question: Does a non-renewal mean I did something wrong?
Answer: Not necessarily. Many non-renewals reflect wildfire risk or an insurer pulling back from an area, not anything you did. It’s still worth asking for the specific reason so you know whether you can fix it.
About the author
Brandon Erickson | IVMG LLC
With 7 years of experience writing insurance content, I specialize in creating clear, informative, and engaging articles that help consumers better understand auto, home, and other types of insurance. My writing focuses on answering real customer questions, simplifying complex insurance topics, and creating useful content that performs well in search engines while providing genuine value to readers.
Last updated: October 2026 | Next review: Monthly (laws and rules are changing)
Disclaimer: This content is for general informational purposes only and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice. Brandon Erickson is not a licensed insurance agent. Please speak with a licensed insurance agent about any questions regarding your coverage.