State Farm and Allstate Are Moving to Reopen in California: What Mariposa Homeowners Should Know

The short answer

State Farm and Allstate have both filed plans to start writing new California homeowners policies again. Neither company is open for new business yet. The California Department of Insurance announced the filings on September 18, 2026, and both are still under review.

If you own, are buying, or are selling in Mariposa County, here is what I would take from it. This is good news, it is early, and State Farm's plan depends on how wildfire-ready your home is. Please don't put an insurance search on hold waiting for it.

What State Farm and Allstate actually filed

State Farm. California's largest home insurer stopped taking new homeowners applications in May 2023. On September 18 it filed a rule application with the Department of Insurance to start again, for homes that hold a wildfire-preparedness designation. More on that below.

Allstate. Allstate has not written new California home policies since 2022. On August 31 it submitted a filing under the state's Sustainable Insurance Strategy. The Department says the filing signals Allstate's intent to start writing new policies again. The alert does not say which homes Allstate would cover.

What has not happened yet

• Neither filing is approved. Both are under review, and every filing still goes through the state's rate review. As Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara put it, "A filing is a starting point, not a finish line."
• The state has not given a start date. News reports say State Farm is aiming for December 2026 if regulators approve.
• Coverage is not guaranteed. State Farm's plan describes which homes it would consider. It does not promise a policy to every home that meets the standard.

The catch: State Farm's plan is tied to wildfire-prepared homes

State Farm's plan only covers homes with a Wildfire Prepared Home designation from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS). There are two levels. IBHS is renaming them, so you will see both sets of names.

Essential (formerly Base)

This level is about wind-blown embers. Under State Farm's plan, it would qualify a home only in low and moderate wildfire severity zones. The main requirements:

• A Class A fire-rated roof, kept clear of debris
• A noncombustible zone for the first 5 feet around the home: no plants, wood mulch, wood fencing or stored items
• 30 feet of maintained defensible space, or to the property line if closer
• Ember-resistant vents, or existing vents covered with 1/8-inch metal mesh
• Metal gutters and downspouts
• At least 6 inches of noncombustible material at the base of exterior walls

IBHS says most existing homes can be retrofitted to this level, including homes with wood siding.

Enhanced (formerly Plus)

This level adds protection against flames and radiant heat. Under State Farm's plan, it would qualify a home anywhere in California. It includes everything in Essential, plus:

• Enclosed eaves
• Noncombustible siding such as stucco, fiber-cement, brick or metal
• Exterior windows with two panes of tempered glass
• Noncombustible or solid-core exterior doors
• Decks with a noncombustible walking surface
• No detached structures within 30 feet of the home

How you get the designation

You do the work first, then apply online at wildfireprepared.org. The application fee is $125 and is nonrefundable. IBHS reviews your photos and sends an evaluator to the property. The designation lasts three years, with a photo review each year.

Two things to know. Partial work does not count; every item for your level has to be done. And the designation belongs to the property, so it can transfer to a buyer for a small fee.

What this means in Mariposa County

Here is my local read. Mariposa County is foothill and forest country, and wildfire risk is part of owning a home here. The state's alert does not say how State Farm will define "low and moderate" zones, so I can't tell you today which addresses fall where.

Until we know more, I would not assume the Essential level will be enough for a home here. Enhanced is the level State Farm says it would consider anywhere in the state. On an older home with wood siding or a large wood deck, getting there is a real project, so I don't expect this to change the picture for most Mariposa homes in the next few months.

What it does give us is a written checklist of what a major insurer says it is willing to cover. That is worth having whether you are buying, selling or staying put.

If you are buying

• Start insurance quotes as soon as your offer is accepted, and get a firm answer inside your contingency period.
• Ask an independent agent or broker to check standard carriers before turning to the FAIR Plan. That is the Department of Insurance's own advice.
• Ask whether the home has a Wildfire Prepared Home designation, or how far it is from one.
• Look up the address on CAL FIRE's Fire Hazard Severity Zone viewer.

If you are selling

• Wildfire preparation is becoming something buyers ask about. The first 5 feet around the house, the vents and the gutters are where the Essential list starts.
• A designation transfers with the property, which gives your buyer something concrete to hand an insurance agent.
• In High and Very High fire hazard zones, California already requires sellers to give buyers defensible space compliance documentation, or to agree in writing that the buyer will obtain it within a year of closing. Work you do now counts toward both.

If you own and are not moving

• Keep the coverage you have. Don't cancel or let a policy lapse because of this news.
• If you are on the FAIR Plan, ask your broker to re-shop your policy. The Department says 12 insurance groups have now filed or been approved under the Sustainable Insurance Strategy.
• Walk your property with the IBHS checklist and see how close you already are.

If you are weighing a move and want to talk through how insurance could affect your purchase or your sale price, contact the team. We can also send you a free market report for your part of the county.

I am a real estate agent, not a licensed insurance agent. For coverage questions, talk with a licensed insurance agent or broker, or call the Department of Insurance at 1-800-927-4357.

Frequently asked questions

Is State Farm writing new home insurance policies in California right now?

No. State Farm filed a plan on September 18, 2026 to resume, and the California Department of Insurance is reviewing it. The company has not accepted new homeowners applications since May 2023.

When will State Farm start taking new applications?

The Department has not given a date. News reports say State Farm is aiming for December 2026 if the plan is approved.

Will my Mariposa County home qualify?

It depends on two things: whether your home holds an IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home designation, and which wildfire zone it sits in. Homes at the Enhanced level would be eligible statewide. Homes at the Essential level would be eligible only in low and moderate zones.

Is Allstate open for new California home policies?

Not yet. Allstate filed on August 31, 2026, and that filing is also under review. The state has not said which homes Allstate plans to cover.

Should I wait for State Farm or Allstate before I shop for insurance?

No. The Department of Insurance specifically tells consumers not to wait on an approval. Talk with an agent or broker about your options now.

Does a Wildfire Prepared Home designation guarantee coverage or a discount?

No. IBHS says discounts are not guaranteed and vary by insurer. The designation makes a home eligible to be considered under State Farm's plan. It is not a promise of a policy.