Homeowners Insurance in Alaska
Checked against official sources · Last reviewed October 13, 2026
Alaska has no FAIR plan. If you can't get a regular homeowners policy, the Alaska Division of Insurance suggests asking about other policy forms, such as a dwelling fire policy, or a surplus lines insurer through a surplus lines broker. Since January 1, 2026, state law requires an insurer to mail a nonrenewal notice at least 45 days before your policy ends (up from 20 days), and after a policy's first 60 days it can cancel only for reasons listed in the law. [1][2][3][4][5]
At a glance
What homeowners insurance costs in Alaska: average premium, 2023 $1,216 a year in Alaska vs. $1,737 countrywide · 39th highest of 51 · All states (HO-3 policies; NAIC)
On this page
Alaska's market right now
The Division's 87th annual report (calendar year 2024) shows licensed insurers wrote about $239.1 million in homeowners premiums in Alaska in 2024, plus about $45.2 million in earthquake premiums. Surplus lines insurers (companies not licensed in Alaska) wrote another $15.4 million in earthquake premiums and $402,000 in homeowners premiums.
In that report the Division wrote that "Alaskans experience atmospheric rivers, windstorms, wildfires, landslides, winter storms, typhoons, and severe flooding each year."
Disaster orders. After a disaster declaration, the Division has ordered relief for policyholders:
- Western Alaska storm, October 2025. Bulletin B25-08 directed insurers "to suspend the issuance of cancellation or nonrenewal of policies" in the Northwest Arctic and North Slope boroughs and several western regional education attendance areas. It expired at 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 30, 2025. Insurers must give "reasonable notice to affected policyholders prior to reinstating such actions." - Ketchikan rain and landslides, August 2024. Bulletin B24-10 directed insurers to give affected policyholders at least two more weeks of premium grace period.
Both bulletins reminded insurers that state law (AS 21.36.125) requires a "reasonable investigation of all of the available information" before refusing to pay a claim. [9][10][11]
No FAIR plan: what the Division suggests
Many states have a FAIR plan, a state-created pool that sells basic insurance when regular insurers won't. Alaska has no member on the national list kept by PIPSO (the Property Insurance Plans Service Office), and the Division's homeowners guide does not mention one. See our FAIR plan guide.
The Division's guide says prior claims, certain types of losses, an older home or a remote location can leave "limited options." If you're told a homeowners policy isn't available, it suggests:
- Ask about other policy forms, such as a dwelling fire policy. A basic one (often called a DP-1) "may only provide coverage for losses from fire and lightning," with other perils added by endorsement; a DP-3 may cover more. These usually pay actual cash value (replacement cost minus depreciation). - Ask about surplus lines insurers, "companies who are not issued a certificate of authority by the Alaska division of insurance but can sell policies for difficult to insure situations." You can't buy from them directly; a surplus lines broker places the policy. Under AS 21.34.020, the broker must first document a "diligent search" among licensed insurers. See our surplus lines guide.
If you can't get or keep coverage, your lender may buy a policy, but the Division warns it "provides protection for the lender, not the homeowner" and you "may not have any protection under this policy for your property or liability exposure." [1][2][12]
Alaska's FEMA disaster record since 2000
Federal disaster declarations for Alaska, counted from FEMA's official declarations data. A "major disaster" declaration brings federal recovery aid; a "fire management" declaration helps pay to fight a wildfire that threatens homes.
Most recent
- Mukluk Fire Fire · Fire management · declared 2026-08-18
- Severe Storms, Flooding, And Remnants Of Typhoon Halong Flood · Major disaster · declared 2026-05-29
- Severe Storm Winter Storm · Major disaster · declared 2026-04-07
- Severe Storms, Flooding, And Remnants Of Typhoon Halong Flood · Major disaster · declared 2025-10-22
- Nenana Ridge Complex Fire · Fire management · declared 2025-07-06
- Himalaya Road Fire Fire · Fire management · declared 2025-06-23
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, downloaded 2026-10-14. Each declaration counted once, however many counties it covers. Flood history and flood insurance: FloodHawk.
Hail, wind and wildfire in Alaska
NOAA's Storm Events Database logs very few hail, thunderstorm wind or tornado reports in Alaska (fewer than 5 a year on average, 2016 to 2025), so they aren't shown here.
Wildfire
Homes in Alaska have, on average, greater wildfire risk than 78% of states, and greater wildfire likelihood (the chance of a wildfire burning in any given year) than 76% of states, according to the USDA Forest Service.
Of Alaska's 307,198 buildings, 62% are in the Forest Service's direct exposure zone (they may be ignited by flammable vegetation next to them, as well as by embers), 24% in the indirect exposure zone (embers or a neighboring burning building), and 14% have minimal exposure.
Source: USDA Forest Service, Wildfire Risk to Communities (state data table updated April 15, 2026). The Forest Service says its ratings describe communities, not individual homes; they don't reflect work owners have done to lower their risk, and the tool isn't designed for insurance companies, which do their own wildfire assessments.
| Year | Fires | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 384 | 253,357 |
| 2022 | 595 | 3,110,976 |
| 2023 | 346 | 314,276 |
| 2024 | 377 | 667,075 |
| 2025 | 465 | 1,006,158 |
Source: National Interagency Coordination Center annual reports (table "Wildland Fires and Acres Burned by State and Agency", from the SIT/209 reporting system). Each year counts only the agencies listed for Alaska in that year's table, so a big change between years can come from which agencies reported.
2026 so far: 88,957 acres burned in wildfires reported to the national interagency fire-incident system (IRWIN) for Alaska, as of October 14, 2026. Preliminary: from NIFC's year-to-date wildfire locations (WFIGS), which doesn't include every state and local fire and isn't comparable to the annual totals above.
If your insurer cancels or won't renew
Alaska's rules are in AS 21.36.210-21.36.310 and cover "personal insurance," which includes homeowners, mobile and manufactured home, condo, renters and dwelling property coverage.
Nonrenewal. An insurer may refuse to renew a personal policy only on its annual anniversary, and must mail written notice at least 45 days before the policy expires. That rule took effect January 1, 2026, under Senate Bill 132 (signed June 24, 2025); before then the minimum for personal policies was 20 days. As of Oct. 13, 2026, the Division's Your Policy Rights page still says 20 days; the statute governs. If the insurer doesn't give proper notice, your existing policy continues until it does. The notice rule does not apply if the insurer offered to renew, if you didn't pay, or if it offers to place you with an affiliated insurer.
Cancellation. If your policy has been in effect less than 60 days and is not a renewal, the Division says the insurer may cancel it for any reason. After that, AS 21.36.210(f) allows cancellation only for:
- nonpayment of premium; - conviction of a crime that increases a hazard insured against; - fraud or material misrepresentation in getting the policy or pursuing a claim; - a grossly negligent act or omission that substantially increases the hazards insured against; - physical changes that make the property uninsurable; - "entire abandonment" of the property that increases a hazard (not if you show it is being reasonably maintained and monitored).
The notice must be mailed at least 30 days before the cancellation date, 20 days if you didn't pay, or 10 days for a crime conviction or fraud. It must state the reason. If you are 70 or older, you can ask the insurer in writing to also send cancellation notices to someone you choose.
Other protections:
- Since July 1, 2020, an insurer may not refuse to renew a homeowners policy based solely on your earliest claim in the past three years if that claim came from a crime committed by someone else. - Since Jan. 1, 2026, an insurer may not cancel or refuse to renew a property policy because of a claim filed only to meet a local, state or federal aid requirement, where the insurer applies no coverage and pays nothing. - If your renewal premium goes up more than 10 percent (for reasons other than more coverage or exposure), or your coverage will be materially reduced, the insurer must mail notice at least 45 days before the policy expires. This was also 20 days for personal policies before 2026; the Division's rights page still says 20. - Since Jan. 1, 2026, a residential property policy may not depreciate the cost of labor in valuing a loss, unless you bought an optional endorsement that says so and lowers your premium.
See our nonrenewal guide. [3][4][5][13][14][15]
Earthquake and landslide
The Division says "Most residential property insurance policies do not cover damage resulting from earthquakes." Earthquake coverage is a separate policy, and your homeowners agent can help you find it. According to the Division:
- Earthquake insurance covers shaking and cracking damage to your home, may cover detached structures, covers personal property and debris removal, may cover the cost to stabilize the land under your home, and pays additional living expenses while your home is repaired. - Fire and water damage from broken gas and water pipes after a quake is usually covered by a standard homeowners policy. - The earthquake deductible "may be 10 to 20 percent of the coverage limit." The Division's homeowners guide says it is usually 10%. - If your home is underinsured on your homeowners policy, you may not have enough earthquake insurance either, because the limits are usually the same.
Landslide is "earth movement," which a standard homeowners policy most likely excludes. The Division says a "Difference in Conditions" policy covering earth movement is sold by surplus lines insurers, through a surplus lines broker, but landslide damage is not covered when the slide is caused by rain, snow, flooding or earthquakes. See our difference in conditions guide. [2][8]
Wildfire
The Division's wildfire page says the work you do to reduce wildfire risk "may entitle you to discounts on future homeowner's insurance premiums," so ask your agent. Its suggestions: use fire resistant roofing and building materials, clear a firebreak around the home and outbuildings, thin brush, and move combustible materials away from the house and from under decks.
It also suggests reviewing your policy now, because "Once there is an impending disaster, insurance carriers may decide not to add or amend coverage." Check whether you have replacement cost or actual cash value coverage and whether your policy pays additional living expenses. The Division links to the Alaska Division of Forestry for more. See our wildfire home hardening guide. [16]
Discounts
The Division's homeowners guide lists discounts many insurers offer: for smoke detectors, fire extinguishers and security systems; updated plumbing, heating or electrical systems or a new roof; fire resistive construction; newer homes; buying more than one policy from the same company; and claim-free or long-time customers. It says discount amounts vary by insurer and that most insurers cap the total discount, so ask each company for its full list. [2]
Flood is separate
The Division's guide says "Flood insurance is not included in a homeowners policy." Our sister site FloodHawk covers flood zones and flood insurance. [2]
Where to get help
The Division's Consumer Services section can investigate complaints about cancellations, non-renewals, claim delays and denials, and underwriting errors:
- Anchorage: (907) 269-7900
- Toll free in Alaska outside Anchorage: (800) 467-8725 (1-800-INSURAK)
- Juneau: (907) 465-2515
- TTY/TDD: 711 or (800) 770-8973
- Email: consumerservices@alaska.gov
- Online: the Division's complaints page
The Division says it cannot give legal advice, recommend one insurer or agent over another, decide who is at fault, or negotiate settlements. [2][6][7]
Questions people ask
Does Alaska have a FAIR plan?
No. Alaska has no member on PIPSO's national list of FAIR and beach plans. If you can't get a homeowners policy, the Division of Insurance suggests asking about other forms, such as a dwelling fire policy, or a surplus lines insurer through a surplus lines broker. [1][2]
How much notice must an Alaska insurer give before not renewing my homeowners policy?
Since January 1, 2026, the notice must be mailed at least 45 days before the policy expires (it was 20 days before). The Division's consumer rights page still showed 20 days on Oct. 13, 2026, but the statute, AS 21.36.240, now says 45. If proper notice isn't given, the existing policy continues until it is. [3][4][5][15]
Can my Alaska insurer cancel my homeowners policy mid-term?
During the first 60 days of a new policy, yes. After that, only for reasons in AS 21.36.210(f), such as nonpayment, fraud, a crime conviction, gross negligence, physical changes that make the home uninsurable, or entire abandonment. Notice is at least 30 days (20 for nonpayment, 10 for a crime or fraud) and must state the reason. [3][15]
Does homeowners insurance cover earthquakes in Alaska?
Usually not. The Division says most residential policies don't cover earthquake damage, so you need a separate earthquake policy. Its deductible may be 10 to 20 percent of the coverage limit. Fire or water damage from broken pipes after a quake is usually covered by a standard homeowners policy. [8]
Sources (16)
- Current PIPSO Members and Links of Interest, Property Insurance Plans Service Office (PIPSO). Accessed October 13, 2026.
- Consumer Guide to Homeowners Insurance (revised October 2021), Alaska Division of Insurance. Accessed October 13, 2026.
- Alaska Statutes AS 21.36.210-21.36.310 (cancellation and nonrenewal), Alaska State Legislature. Accessed October 13, 2026.
- Enrolled SB 132 (HCS CSSB 132(FIN) am H), An Act relating to insurance (2025), Alaska State Legislature. Accessed October 13, 2026.
- Bulletin B25-09 (Reissued): SB132 Implementation and General Licensing Guidance (Dec. 23, 2025), Alaska Division of Insurance. Accessed October 13, 2026.
- Home Insurance, Alaska Division of Insurance. Accessed October 13, 2026.
- Complaints, Alaska Division of Insurance. Accessed October 13, 2026.
- Earthquake Insurance, Alaska Division of Insurance. Accessed October 13, 2026.
- 87th Annual Report: Calendar Year 2024 - Fiscal Year 2025, Alaska Division of Insurance. Accessed October 13, 2026.
- Bulletin B25-08: Fair Treatment to Consumers Following the 2025 Storm Impacting the West Coast of Alaska (Oct. 31, 2025), Alaska Division of Insurance. Accessed October 13, 2026.
- Bulletin B24-10: Fair Treatment to Consumers Following the 2024 Storm Impacting Ketchikan (Aug. 27, 2024), Alaska Division of Insurance. Accessed October 13, 2026.
- Alaska Statutes AS 21.34.020 (placement of surplus lines insurance), Alaska State Legislature. Accessed October 13, 2026.
- Alaska Statutes AS 21.36.460 (definition of personal insurance), Alaska State Legislature. Accessed October 13, 2026.
- Laws of Alaska 2020, CSSB 106(L&C): An Act relating to renewal of insurance coverage for homeowners and renters, Alaska State Legislature. Accessed October 13, 2026.
- Your Policy Rights, Alaska Division of Insurance. Accessed October 13, 2026.
- Wildfires, Alaska Division of Insurance. Accessed October 13, 2026.