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Checked against official sources · Last reviewed October 13, 2026

What homeowners insurance costs in North Carolina: average premium, 2023 $1,852 a year in North Carolina vs. $1,737 countrywide · 15th highest of 51 · All states (HO-3 policies; NAIC)

How North Carolina sets homeowners rates

North Carolina does not let each insurer set its own homeowners rates the way most states do. The North Carolina Rate Bureau proposes rates for "residential real property with not more than four housing units," and the Insurance Commissioner reviews the filing. The last homeowners and dwelling rate cases both ended in negotiated settlements. The Rate Bureau is not part of the Department of Insurance; NCDOI says it "represents homeowners' insurance companies in North Carolina."

Insurers must use the Bureau's rates. An insurer can charge less only through a "deviation" that the Commissioner approves. It can charge more through consent to rate (explained below).

The latest homeowners rate case. The Rate Bureau filed in January 2024 for an average 42.2% increase, with "proposed increases of up to 99.4% in some areas." On Jan. 17, 2025, the Commissioner announced a settlement:

- Average statewide base rate up 7.5% for new and renewal policies starting on or after June 1, 2025. - Another 7.5% on top of that for policies starting on or after June 1, 2026. - No territory above 35%, according to the Commissioner. - The settlement order says neither side will change these rates with an effective date before June 1, 2027, unless the Rate Bureau and the Commissioner both agree.

Approved average changes for some territories, from NCDOI's settlement table:

See every territory in NCDOI's settlement table.

Dwelling policies are separate. A dwelling policy usually covers a home that is not the owner's main residence, such as a rental. On April 22, 2026, NCDOI announced a dwelling rate settlement: an average 5% increase on Oct. 1, 2026 and another 5% on Oct. 1, 2027. The Rate Bureau had asked for 68.3% over two years.

A new homeowners policy is coming. The Rate Bureau says its "North Carolina 2027 Homeowners Policy Program" takes effect June 1, 2027, with new coverages, exclusions and roof coverage options, including a "Roof Payment Schedule." Ask your agent how your renewal will change. [1][4][8][9][10][11][12]

Consent to rate: when your premium is above the approved rate

State law lets an insurer charge more than the Rate Bureau rate on a home with up to four units if it follows the Commissioner's rules. The policy must carry a bold, all-capitals notice on or before the declarations page that shows both amounts: "THE PREMIUM BASED UPON THE APPROVED RATES IN NORTH CAROLINA ... WOULD BE $____. OUR PREMIUM FOR THIS COVERAGE IS $____." This is called consent to rate.

It is common. NCDOI's data for policies written in 2025 shows:

- Statewide, 62.9% of homeowners policies were written on consent to rate. - The average consented premium was $724 above the approved premium per policy. - In beach territory 110, 52.8% of policies were consent-to-rate; in the Raleigh-Durham territory (270), 65.1%; in the Charlotte-area territory (340), 69.6%.

An insurer may not cancel, refuse to renew, or put your policy on consent to rate based solely on an inquiry about your policy that did not result in a claim, or on a claim closed without payment when the notice was only an inquiry.

Read NCDOI's 2025 consent-to-rate data summary. [5][9][13]

Last-resort options: the FAIR Plan and the Coastal Property Insurance Pool

If regular insurers turn you down, North Carolina has two last-resort associations. Both are run by insurance companies under state law, not by state government. They share one website, ncjua-nciua.org, and phone line, (800) 662-7048.

- North Carolina FAIR Plan (the North Carolina Joint Underwriting Association, NCJUA): covers all of North Carolina except the beach area. Its listed products are dwelling fire and commercial fire policies, which include windstorm; homeowners policies are not among them. - Coastal Property Insurance Pool (the North Carolina Insurance Underwriting Association, NCIUA; formerly the Beach Plan): covers the beach area and these 18 coastal counties: Beaufort, Brunswick, Camden, Carteret, Chowan, Craven, Currituck, Dare, Hyde, Jones, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Pender, Perquimans, Tyrrell and Washington. It sells homeowners policies and separate windstorm-and-hail policies. Dwelling fire is sold only in the beach area.

The "beach area" is land south and east of the inland waterway, including the Outer Banks.

Both plans are the "market of last resort," and the plans "highly recommend" that you try the regular market first. Your insurance agent can place coverage with either plan. Neither plan covers flood.

As of June 30, 2026, the Coastal Pool's financial statement counted 276,275 insured risks (about $169 billion of coverage) and the FAIR Plan's counted 318,455 (about $73.6 billion).

A statewide catch: if the Coastal Pool has a "deficit event" (losses beyond what its surplus, reinsurance and other funding can pay), state law allows a "catastrophe recovery charge" on residential and commercial property policies statewide, including the FAIR Plan's and the Pool's. It is capped at 10% of policy premium in a year.

Full details, limits and how to apply: see our NCIUA and North Carolina FAIR Plan guide. [2][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]

Wind-only policies on the coast

Near the coast, some insurers exclude windstorm and hail from the homeowners policy. NCDOI says you may then buy a separate windstorm-and-hail policy, often from the Coastal Property Insurance Pool, and that it has its own deductible.

To get a Coastal Pool wind policy, you must already have a primary policy from a licensed insurer that excludes wind.

NCDOI explains percentage deductibles this way: "A 2% named storm deductible on a home insured for $300,000, would be $6,000." Our hurricane deductible guide explains how these deductibles work.

Read NCDOI's windstorm and hail page. [2][21]

If your insurer cancels or won't renew

NCDOI is direct about nonrenewal. Asked "The company is not renewing my homeowner policy. Can they do that?", it answers: "Yes. Homeowners insurance is not required by NC law." Each company sets its own guidelines for who qualifies.

Which notice rules apply. North Carolina's general law on cancellations and nonrenewals (G.S. 58-41) requires 15 days' written notice of a cancellation and 45 days' written notice of a nonrenewal, each stating the "precise reason." But that law says it "does not apply to insurance written under Articles 21, 26, 36, 37, 45 or 46" or to "insurance written for residential risks in conjunction with insurance written under Article 36." Article 36 is the Rate Bureau law, which covers rates for homes of up to four units, and Articles 45 and 46 are the Coastal Pool and the FAIR Plan.

For homeowners policies, NCDOI's filing checklist for insurers points to "Policy Provisions" for cancellation and nonrenewal notices rather than to that law, and the Rate Bureau files the homeowners policy forms. So the notice period that applies to you is the one in the cancellation and nonrenewal conditions of your policy. The same checklist (dated 2002) says that cancellation notices, except for nonpayment, "must include knowledge of the availability" of the FAIR Plan or the Beach Plan (now the Coastal Property Insurance Pool).

Rate or coverage changes: the Rate Bureau law says that when an insurer changes your coverage (other than at your request) or changes your premium rate, it must give you written notice at least 15 days before the change takes effect.

Call NCDOI at 855-408-1212 if your notice seems short, gives no reason, or doesn't match your policy.

One protection that does apply to homeowners: an insurer may not cancel or refuse to renew based solely on a question you asked that did not become a claim.

If you get a nonrenewal notice, our nonrenewal guide walks through next steps. [3][8][13][22][23][24][25][26][27][28]

Discounts for a stronger roof and home

NCDOI says mitigation credits "may be available for qualifying homeowners insurance policies in North Carolina's beach and coastal territories." They lower the wind and hail part of your premium for features such as a FORTIFIED roof, a voluntary standard from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS). The 2025 homeowners settlement order includes approved wind mitigation credits by territory, and NCDOI says the April 2026 dwelling settlement adds mitigation credits for fortified homes and roofs in many eastern North Carolina territories.

To find out what your home could qualify for, NCDOI says to contact your agent or insurance company. Our FORTIFIED roof guide explains the IBHS levels.

Read NCDOI's Fortified Homes & Mitigation Credits page. [4][11][29]

Roof grants (Coastal Pool policyholders only)

North Carolina's FORTIFIED roof grants are run by the Coastal Property Insurance Pool (NCIUA) for its own policyholders. They are not open to people insured elsewhere.

Grants are first come, first served until the money runs out. You must finish the roof and receive the IBHS FORTIFIED Roof designation within 18 months of approval. NCIUA says the grants are currently considered taxable income.

The amounts differ between sources: IBHS's North Carolina incentives page still says Strengthen Your Roof grants are "up to $8,000," while NCIUA's own program site says up to $10,000. Confirm the current amount with the program.

Status: on Oct. 13, 2026, both program websites were inviting eligible policyholders to check eligibility and start an application. Confirm that funds remain by calling Strengthen Your Roof at 844-627-6637 or Strengthen Your Coastal Roof at 877-472-6862.

More detail: NCIUA roof grants. [6][7][30][31][32][33][34]

Flood is separate

NCDOI says: "Homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage." Flood insurance is sold through the National Flood Insurance Program, and NCDOI notes a 30-day waiting period before a new policy takes effect, with some exceptions. The FAIR Plan and Coastal Pool do not cover flood either.

Our sister site FloodHawk explains flood zones and flood insurance. [17][35]

Where to get help

The NCDOI Consumer Services Division answers insurance questions and takes complaints. It can send your complaint to the insurer, require a response, and require corrective action if the company broke North Carolina rules. It cannot act as your lawyer or decide how much a claim is worth.

• Phone: 855-408-1212 (toll-free)
• File a complaint online
• Request assistance or file a complaint (all options)
• Mail: North Carolina Department of Insurance, 1201 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699

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Questions people ask