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Checked against official sources · Last reviewed October 13, 2026

What homeowners insurance costs in North Dakota: average premium, 2023 $1,414 a year in North Dakota vs. $1,737 countrywide · 33rd highest of 51 · All states (HO-3 policies; NAIC)

North Dakota's market right now

Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread spoke on insurance affordability at a North Dakota Residential Resiliency Roundtable on Sept. 21, 2026. The department's release on it says "the rising costs of materials, labor and recent severe weather have put pressure on property insurance rates," and that economic factors have increased the cost of damages from wind, hail and fire. Godfread said: "North Dakota has a strong and competitive insurance market, and our goal is to keep it that way." The roundtable discussed homeowners insurance affordability and availability, property loss trends, housing costs, resilience and potential solutions.

After a severe storm in June 2025, the commissioner said "the scale and intensity of last night's storm were especially significant" and urged people to check roofs, siding and windows for hail, wind or water damage and to file claims promptly. [8][9]

Can't find insurance? No FAIR plan, but a standby law

A FAIR plan is a state-created pool that sells basic property insurance when regular insurers won't. The member list of the Property Insurance Plans Service Office (PIPSO), the national group of these plans, includes none for North Dakota (checked Oct. 13, 2026).

North Dakota law does provide for one if the market fails. Under NDCC chapter 26.1-52, the commissioner may set up a "property insurance placement facility" for residents who can't get property insurance in the standard market. The commissioner first holds a public hearing, on at least 20 days' notice, on how available property insurance is. Only after finding a lack of availability does the commissioner order the facility, which is formed by the insurers that write property insurance in the state. If it were set up:

- You could apply if you have been refused coverage, in writing, by at least five standard insurers because of underwriting, claims or credit history. - It would use standard policy forms for basic property and homeowners insurance. A licensed agent could submit your application. - Its rates must be approved by the commissioner and "may not actively compete with rates in the voluntary market."

The department's homeowners guide does not mention a facility. It says to compare quotes because prices and coverage vary between companies, and that the department "can provide guidance on licensed insurers." Call (701) 328-2440. If licensed insurers turn you down, a surplus lines insurer may be an option (see below and our surplus lines guide). [1][2][5][6]

If your insurer cancels or won't renew

North Dakota's rules (NDCC 26.1-39-10 to 26.1-39-21) cover policies on a home of up to four units where one unit is your main home, your household belongings and your personal liability. They do not apply to policies issued through a residual market mechanism.

The seven reasons for cancelling: nonpayment of premium; fraud or material misrepresentation in getting the policy or in a claim; willful or reckless acts that increase a hazard; a change in the risk that substantially increases a hazard; a fire, health, safety, building or construction code violation that substantially increases a hazard; a finding by the commissioner that keeping the policy would break state insurance law; or a conviction for a crime that increases a hazard.

Other rules in the law:

- Five-day cancellations. An insurer may cancel on 5 days' notice in listed situations, such as a home left unoccupied 60 straight days (seasonal homes and homes being built or repaired are excepted), a building damaged by a covered peril that the insured has said, or it is clear, will not be repaired, or a building with an order to vacate or a demolition order. - Reasons in writing. If a cancellation notice doesn't state the reason, you can ask in writing at least 10 days before the cancellation date, and the insurer must answer within 10 days. For a nonrenewal, ask at least 10 days before the policy expires. - No notice, no nonrenewal. If the insurer doesn't send the required notice, your coverage is treated as renewed on the same terms when you pay the premium, until you accept replacement coverage or agree to the nonrenewal. - Forbidden reasons. An insurer may not decline, cancel or nonrenew because another insurer turned you down or dropped you, because you once had coverage through a residual market (a last-resort pool), or because of the age or location of your home unless it's for a genuine business purpose that isn't a pretext for unfair discrimination. - Turned down for new coverage. An insurer that declines to insure you must give you the specific reasons in writing, or tell you it will within 21 days of your written request. You have 90 days to ask. Offering coverage on different terms than you asked for counts as a declination.

If the commissioner finds after a hearing that an insurer broke these rules, the commissioner may order it to reinstate or continue your coverage and may fine it up to $500 per violation, or up to $5,000 for each willful and knowing violation. See our nonrenewal guide. [3]

Hail and wind claims: what can count against you

NDCC 26.1-25.2-03 says an insurer may not use these to surcharge, decline, nonrenew or cancel a homeowners policy:

- A first-party wind or hail claim, if you had no other wind or hail claim on that property in the previous five years with any insurer, unless the insurer can show you unreasonably failed to maintain the property and that contributed to the loss. - A question about your coverage, or about whether a loss is covered, if you don't file a claim. - A claim the insurer never investigated or paid, unless it involved deceptive practices. - A claim more than 10 years old, unless poor upkeep contributed to the loss.

An insurer also may not turn down a home you just bought based only on the previous owner's losses, unless it can show the previous owner didn't repair the damage. When you apply, the insurer must tell you in writing that it will consider your claims history and report claims to an insurance support organization (a claims database). [4]

2025 changes to property claims

Senate Bill 2374, signed in 2025 and in effect since Aug. 1, 2025, changed several rules for property insurance:

- Claim deadlines. A reopened claim is barred unless you notified the insurer within one year after the date of loss. A supplemental claim (more money for the same loss after a payment) is barred unless you notified the insurer within 12 months after its last payment for that part of the loss. These limits also apply to surplus lines policies, and they pause while an insured service member is deployed to a combat zone or combat support posting that materially affects the ability to file. - Arbitration only if you sign. A policy may require binding arbitration only through a separate endorsement that you accept in writing, on its own form, in exchange for a stated premium discount. The form must say you are giving up your right to go to court and to a jury trial. You can ask in writing to remove it. - Managed repair programs. If a policy gives you a premium discount for using the insurer's chosen contractors, the declarations page must say it limits your choice of repair vendors, and you must get a separate disclosure form. - Bad-faith suits. Before suing a property insurer for bad faith, you must first win a court judgment that it broke the insurance contract.

After storms, the department has warned about contractor scams. It says contractors offering to pay or cover your deductible in exchange for the repair job are breaking North Dakota law. It suggests getting at least three written estimates and working with your insurance company. Report suspected contractor fraud to the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division at (701) 328-3404. [3][10][11][12]

Discounts, fire protection class and grants

The department's homeowners guide does not list a state roof grant program or a required discount for storm-resistant roofs (checked Oct. 13, 2026). It suggests asking about discounts, saying many insurers offer savings for being claim-free, having a good credit score or making home improvements, and that smoke detectors, burglar alarms and deadbolts can reduce your premium.

Fire protection class. Your rate depends partly on how close you are to a responding fire department. Under NDCC 26.1-39-09.3, within 30 days after your policy is quoted, issued or renewed, you may assert a different fire protection class than the insurer used, with factual support, and the insurer must use your class. Within 90 days it may investigate and either change the class from the start of the policy or document why the original class is right, and it must tell you what it decided.

For roof standards that some insurers reward in other states, see our FORTIFIED roof guide. [2][3]

Surplus lines insurance

Surplus lines insurers are not licensed in North Dakota but may cover risks that licensed insurers won't. Under NDCC 26.1-44-03, as changed in 2025, a surplus lines producer may place your policy if the producer knows the full amount and type of coverage isn't available from licensed insurers writing it in the state, or if a licensed North Dakota agent referred you.

The producer must give you a notice to sign, in 16-point type, that says the insurer "is not subject to the financial solvency regulation and enforcement that applies to licensed insurers in this state" and that these insurers generally don't take part in state guaranty funds, which "will not pay your claims or protect your assets if the insurer becomes insolvent." North Dakota's Insurance Guaranty Association covers insurers that were licensed in the state, up to $300,000 per claim. A surplus lines insurer based in North Dakota is also exempt from the cancellation and nonrenewal rules in chapter 26.1-39. [10][13][14]

Flood is separate

The department says most homeowners and renters policies do not cover floods, and homeowners can buy separate flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program. Our sister site FloodHawk covers flood zones and flood insurance. [2]

Where to get help

- Phone: (701) 328-2440; TTY (800) 366-6888 - Email: insurance@nd.gov - Complaints: the department's complaint page links to its online consumer complaint form.

Before filing, the department asks whether you have contacted your agent and the company and sent the company what it asked for. Include copies (not originals) of letters, your policy and your claim. The department says it cannot determine liability, give legal advice, rule on factual disputes, determine the cause of loss, or force a company to satisfy you if no laws were broken. Its role "is to determine if the company is in compliance with the insurance laws of the state and following the coverage provided by the policy." [6][7]

Questions people ask