Wildfire Insurance for Vacation Homes

Vacancy clauses in standard homeowners policies can limit or eliminate coverage when a property is unoccupied for more than 30–60 days. For vacation homes that are only used seasonally, this can create significant coverage gaps. Specialty vacation home policies and surplus lines carriers typically have more flexible vacancy provisions that better accommodate seasonal use patterns.

Vacation homes in wildfire risk areas may also face challenges with carrier appetite. Some carriers that are willing to write primary residences in high-risk areas are less willing to write vacation properties, citing the reduced monitoring and maintenance that comes with seasonal occupancy. Insure Pacific has access to carriers that specialize in vacation and seasonal properties in wildfire risk areas.

The dwelling coverage limit for a vacation home should reflect the actual cost to rebuild — not the property's market value or purchase price. In popular vacation destinations like Lake Tahoe, Bend, or Flagstaff, rebuilding costs can be significantly higher than in other areas due to location premiums and limited contractor availability. Insure Pacific can help you determine the appropriate dwelling limit for your vacation property.

Additional living expense coverage is less critical for vacation homes than for primary residences, but other coverage components — including personal property, liability, and debris removal — are equally important. Make sure your vacation home policy includes adequate coverage for all of these components, not just the dwelling structure.