Home › States › Maryland

Checked against official sources · Last reviewed October 13, 2026

What homeowners insurance costs in Maryland: average premium, 2023 $1,578 a year in Maryland vs. $1,737 countrywide · 25th highest of 51 · All states (HO-3 policies; NAIC)

Maryland's market right now

Maryland's insurance regulator has not published a recent statewide report on homeowners availability (its property and casualty reports page lists auto, workers' compensation and medical liability reports for fiscal years 2026 and 2027). What it does publish, and what the legislature has done recently:

- Rate comparison guide. The Maryland Insurance Administration's Homeowners & Renters Insurance: A Comparison Guide to Rates is dated "As of August 2026" and shows sample premiums by region (Western Maryland, the Washington, D.C. suburbs and Southern Maryland; the Greater Baltimore suburban area; and the Eastern Shore, without Cecil County). The Administration says it "cannot recommend a particular policy or insurance company." - Condo owners hit by an insurer pulling out (2025). A 2025 law (Chapter 381, effective October 1, 2025) bars an insurer from refusing to sell you condo unit coverage solely because your coverage lapsed, if the lapse happened because your old insurer withdrew from the market, lasted no longer than 90 days, and you sign an affidavit that you had no losses during the gap (plus any other documents the insurer requires). - Climate and insurance study (2026). Chapters 696 and 697 of 2026 (effective June 1, 2026) require the University System of Maryland to study climate change, homeowner's insurance and disaster preparedness and report to the General Assembly by July 1, 2027. - A bill that did not pass (2026). House Bill 283 / Senate Bill 52 would have set how actual cash value claims are calculated and required insurers to tell you, before renewal, how a renewal policy differs from the expiring one. The legislature's site shows no action after committee hearings. [3][9][10][11][12][13][14]

Last resort: the Maryland Joint Insurance Association

The Maryland Joint Insurance Association (MJIA, also called the JIA) is Maryland's FAIR plan, the "Maryland Property Insurance Availability Program." State law created it, every insurer licensed to sell property insurance in Maryland must belong to it, and it is not a state agency.

Who can apply: under state law, anyone with an insurable interest in property at a fixed location who has been unable to get essential property insurance or homeowners insurance, or could get only partial coverage. The MJIA sells homeowners policies (owner-occupied homes only), renters and condo policies, dwelling fire policies for rentals, and commercial fire policies.

Things to know:

- Shop first. The Maryland Insurance Administration says that if one company turns you down, "try obtaining coverage through another company or other companies. Do not assume that you will be turned down by all companies." - The coverage is limited. The Administration says MJIA coverage "may be more restrictive than that provided by other insurance companies, and may also be more expensive." The most it writes on a home is $614,000 on the dwelling and $307,000 on contents, and it does not cover flood. - You can apply with or without an agent. The MJIA says you can apply "by contacting a licensed property/casualty insurance Producers, or applying with the JIA directly." Homeowners applications must include a copy of the cancellation or nonrenewal notice from your current insurer and photos of the house. - It inspects every property, free of charge under state law, and the inspection can add charges or exclusions. - Neighbors' houses don't count against you. The Administration says a policy "will be issued if those guidelines are met, even if the dwelling or building to be insured is adjacent to vacant properties."

Details, limits and how to apply: our Maryland Joint Insurance Association (MJIA) page. [6][7][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]

If your insurer cancels or won't renew

Maryland's notice rule for personal insurance (which includes homeowners policies) is in Insurance Article § 27-602:

- 45 days' notice. At least 45 days before a cancellation (for any reason other than nonpayment) or a nonrenewal, the insurer must send written notice to your last known address "by a first-class mail tracking method," and keep proof of mailing. Proof that you actually received it is not required. - 10 days for nonpayment. If you don't pay, the insurer needs to give only 10 days' notice. The Administration warns an insurer may cancel "even if the payment is just one day late." - The notice must point you to the MJIA. It must tell you of your possible right to replace the insurance through the Maryland Property Insurance Availability Act (the MJIA) and give that plan's current address and phone number. - A clear, specific reason. Under § 27-604 the insurer must give you "a statement of the actual reason," and vague terms like "living conditions" or "personal habits" don't count. - Mid-term cancellations are limited to fraud or material misrepresentation, a threat to public safety, a change in the property that increases the hazard, nonpayment, or (for homeowners) an arson conviction. - New policies: the Administration's guide says insurers have "an initial 45-day underwriting period," during which a policy may be cancelled with 15 days' notice if you turn out not to be eligible.

Limits on dropping you (§ 27-501):

- Weather claims: an insurer may not cancel or refuse to renew based on weather-related claims "unless there were three or more weather–related claims within the preceding 3–year period." The exception: a weather claim can count if the insurer gave you written notice of specific "reasonable or customary repairs" that you didn't make and that would have prevented the loss. - Old claims: it may not cancel or nonrenew because of a claim that occurred more than 3 years before the policy or renewal date. - Questions aren't claims: it may not cancel, refuse to renew or raise your premium because of an "inquiry" about your coverage that did not result in a paid claim. - Credit: it may not refuse, cancel or nonrenew homeowners coverage based in whole or part on your credit history. - Bundling: it may not drop your homeowners policy solely because your car isn't insured with the same company.

Ask for a review before the termination date. If you ask the Insurance Commissioner to review the cancellation or nonrenewal before it takes effect and the Commissioner begins action, the policy stays in effect until the Commissioner issues a finding (the law's only exception is for medical professional liability insurance). At a hearing, the insurer has to show its decision was justified. [1][2][3][4][22][23]

Discounts and storm deductibles

Mitigation discount. Under § 19-210, every homeowners insurer "shall offer at least one actuarially justified premium discount" if you submit proof of improvements that mitigate loss from a hurricane or other storm. Examples in the law: hurricane shutters, a secondary water barrier, reinforced roof coverings, braced gable ends, reinforced roof-to-wall connections, tie downs, reinforced opening protection, and repair or replacement of exterior doors, including garage doors. The improvements must be inspected by a contractor licensed by the Maryland Department of Labor, the insurer may inspect them too, and the insurer must send you a yearly statement on how to apply. The size of the discount is up to each insurer's filed rates; ask yours.

Hurricane deductibles. Under § 19-209, a mandatory percentage hurricane deductible may apply only from the time the National Hurricane Center issues a hurricane warning for any part of Maryland until 24 hours after the last warning ends. An insurer that wants to require a hurricane deductible above 5% of the dwelling limit must file that rule with the Commissioner at least 60 days before using it, and you must get a yearly statement explaining how a percentage deductible works. [4][8][24]

Surplus lines (non-admitted insurers)

Surplus lines insurers are companies not licensed (admitted) in Maryland that can cover risks regular insurers won't. Maryland law allows surplus lines coverage only through a qualified surplus lines broker after "a diligent search" among licensed insurers, and it may not be bought "to replace coverage on residential property which is insured by an authorized insurer and for which a renewal offer has been made on substantially the same terms and conditions as the current coverage." [25]

Flood is a separate policy

The Attorney General's People's Insurance Counsel Division says: "Standard residential property insurance does NOT cover flood damage," and the MJIA's policies do not cover flood either. For flood zones and flood insurance, see our sister site FloodHawk. [19][26]

Where to get help

- Maryland Insurance Administration: (800) 492-6116 toll-free or (410) 468-2000; property and casualty complaints (410) 468-2340. File online through the complaint page, or by mail to 200 St. Paul Place, Suite 2700, Baltimore, MD 21202. The Administration's guide says complaints "must be received in writing." - Rapid Response Program: for some homeowners and auto claim problems, the Administration offers a quicker route without a formal complaint, at (410) 468-2340. - People's Insurance Counsel Division (Office of the Attorney General): an independent state office that represents homeowners' interests before the Administration and the legislature. It "cannot provide legal representation for individual consumers" but answers questions; see its page. - MJIA (last-resort coverage): (410) 539-6808 or (800) 492-5670, mdjia.org. [4][5][9][27][28]

Questions people ask