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Pennsylvania FAIR Plan

Checked against official sources · Last reviewed October 13, 2026

What the Pennsylvania FAIR Plan is

The Pennsylvania FAIR Plan, formally known as the Insurance Placement Facility of Pennsylvania, "commenced operating October 28, 1968, to make basic property insurance available to persons who have an insurable interest in real or tangible personal property located in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and who have been unable to secure such insurance from the voluntary insurance market." It was created under Act 233 of 1968, the Pennsylvania Fair Plan Act. FAIR stands for fair access to insurance requirements.

It is not a state agency. The plan is "an association of the property insurance companies doing business in Pennsylvania," and "No Federal, State, or local funds are used to support or subsidize this Plan." By law, every insurer writing basic property insurance in Pennsylvania (including homeowners policies) must take part, sharing the plan's expenses, profits and losses in proportion to its premiums. A board of seven directors elected by the member companies runs it, under the supervision of the Insurance Commissioner.

This site is not the Pennsylvania FAIR Plan and is not affiliated with it. We explain the plan's published rules; the plan makes the decisions. [1][12][13]

Who is eligible

People. Any individual, partnership, corporation, estate or other entity "having an insurable interest in any real or personal property which has a fixed location in this state may apply." Mortgage lenders and tenants can apply for an owner, but the application must be in the owner's name and signed by the owner. You are not eligible if you:

• have been convicted of, or have an outstanding indictment for, arson or insurance fraud;
• put misrepresentations on the application that affect whether the risk is accepted (any policy issued "shall be null and void"); or
• "will not provide access to their property for inspection."

Property the plan won't insure includes motor vehicles and farms; buildings vacant or unoccupied for more than 30 days unless boarded up (with exceptions, such as homes under active renovation, listed for sale, or seasonal and second homes); buildings vacant under the same owner for more than a year (with exceptions such as an estate being settled); property "in extremely dilapidated condition" or substantially damaged; buildings in danger of collapse, including from mine subsidence damage; and buildings under a government order to vacate or raze. It also won't insure buildings where, for example:

• real estate taxes haven't been paid for a year after they were due;
• utilities were shut off and the bill went unpaid for 60 days;
• there are current fire safety, health, building or construction code violations; or
• after a fire, permanent repairs haven't started within 60 days of the loss being settled.

Condition. Insured properties "must be reasonably well maintained with windows and doors intact and electrical wiring in good condition." An inspection can lead the plan to decline coverage or restrict which perils it covers, for conditions like loose or exposed wiring, roof, wall or plumbing leaks, broken windows or piles of combustible material.

The 1968 law also says the plan may not consider an "environmental hazard" beyond the property owner's control when deciding whether a property is insurable. [9][13][14]

What it covers and what it doesn't

The broad form is not available for a home that is vacant, a mobile home, under construction or rehabilitation, heated by a source that isn't thermostatically controlled, showing roof, ceiling, wall, window or plumbing leaks, insured for less than 80% of its replacement cost, or with a roof "in poor condition or not properly maintained."

Limits (most the plan will insure):

• One- to four-family home: $500,000 occupied, $335,000 vacant, for building and household contents combined.
• Any one location, however many policies: $1,750,000.
• Homes bought within 6 months of applying: owner-occupied homes up to 200% of the recent purchase price, tenant-occupied up to 125%, unless the plan agrees to more after inspection or proof of renovation spending.

Other terms: every policy runs one year; deductibles are the amount you choose, but the plan can require a higher one "where conditions warrant"; coinsurance applies where a coinsurance rate exists; and the plan doesn't write excess policies. Vandalism and sprinkler leakage coverage are not normally available on fully vacant property.

The plan's rules describe coverage for "direct loss to real or tangible personal property"; they don't list personal liability coverage. Confirm with the plan what your policy includes. Flood is not among the listed perils; for flood insurance see our sister site FloodHawk. [4][9][10][11][15]

How to apply

1. Choose how to file. "An application may be filed on behalf of the applicant by a producer (licensed property insurance agent or broker). Also, an application may be filed directly by any person or legal entity having an insurable interest in the property." Producers may not charge you a fee for placing a dwelling fire policy with the plan or for helping with the application; they are paid a 10% commission by the plan.
2. Fill out one application per location, on paper (the Dwelling Fire Application from the plan's How to Apply page) or electronically through the plan's online services. It must be complete and signed; incomplete applications "will not be processed and will be returned." Answer carefully: misrepresentations "may render coverage null and void."
3. Pay the premium. If the application is complete, the premium is paid and the plan tentatively finds the property eligible, it issues a one-year policy, subject to the inspection and final rates. Coverage starts at noon Eastern time on the day the plan receives the premium, or a later date you choose; earlier dates are not accepted. The minimum premium for a dwelling policy is $75. Vacant property, estates and properties in bankruptcy are not eligible for immediate coverage.
4. Inspection. An inspector from an independent agency may inspect the outside or inside, and "MUST BE ACCOMPANIED by the applicant or by another responsible adult." The inspection is free. The inspector is told not to discuss what he or she sees; you may ask for a copy of the inspector's report. If the plan can't get in, it sends a "Lockout Notice," and if you don't reply within 10 days the file is closed (or an existing policy is cancelled).
5. Result. After inspection, the plan sets the final rate, which may include surcharges for conditions such as unapproved space heaters, exposed wiring or rubbish buildup. Fixing those conditions and asking for a reinspection may remove the charges. If the property is ineligible or uninsurable, the plan mails a declination stating the conditions, and may allow time to correct them.

Submitting an application doesn't bind the plan or oblige you to buy. For a price estimate, use "Get a Free Quote" in the plan's online services. [2][3][5][6][15][16][17]

Paying, claims and policy changes

• Online services: the plan's online portal has an insured login (register as an insured), "Get a Free Quote," "Submit a Claim" and "Make a Payment."
• Ways to pay: personal check, money order, an agent's, broker's or lender's check, bank cashier's check, premium finance company check, or credit card or bank transfer through the website. Cash only in person at the plan's office (don't mail cash). Make checks payable to "The PA. FAIR Plan" or "The Insurance Placement Facility of Pennsylvania."
• Extra premium after inspection: the plan mails a bill, and not paying it by the due date "may cause the policy to be cancelled." Asking for a reinspection does not extend the due date.
• Claims: report promptly online, by the ACORD loss notice form (mail, email or fax), or by phone at (215) 629-8800, option 2. For an emergency (the home is uninhabitable, in danger of collapse or more damage, or under a demolition order), call the claims department at (800) 462-4972. Agents can't assign adjusters; the plan does. Claim payments normally go to your agent or broker of record to pass to you, or to your public adjuster or attorney if you have one.
• Changes: request endorsements (changes) through the plan's endorsement request form; a reinspection can be requested on its reinspection form.
• Cancelling your policy: it ends on the day the plan receives your signed request (earlier only with supporting documentation), with a pro-rata refund.

[5][7][8][17][18][19][20]

If the plan cancels, won't renew, or turns you down

Cancellation notice. The plan must give you at least 30 days' written notice before it cancels or nonrenews, but may give as little as 5 days in listed situations, such as fire damage that won't be repaired, permanent repairs not started within 60 days after a fire loss is settled, abandoned property, utilities shut off for nonpayment for 60 days, real estate taxes unpaid for a year, current code violations, arson, or material misrepresentation. For a short-notice cancellation (other than for arson or misrepresentation), the notice must give the reasons and tell you of your right to appeal to the Insurance Department; the cancellation stands unless the department rules otherwise.

Nonrenewal. The plan reviews each policy before it expires. It says "Lack of underwriting compliance, ineligibility or inability to complete an inspection" can lead to a nonrenewal notice. If a policy lapses, you can ask within 30 days after expiration to have it reinstated without a gap, if it meets underwriting rules, you pay, and you send a letter confirming no losses in the meantime.

Appeals. You can appeal any underwriting decision or action of the plan "within thirty days after any ruling," in writing, giving the basis for the appeal. You can appeal that decision to the Insurance Commissioner within 30 days. The 1968 law gives applicants the same 30-day right to appeal to the Commissioner, with a hearing on at least 10 days' written notice. [13][18][21][22]

Rates, size and recent finances

The plan's base rates come from Insurance Services Office loss costs multiplied by factors in its rules, plus any surcharges for conditions found at inspection. The plan's rules and procedures are filed with the Insurance Commissioner.

The plan is small. Its president told members in April 2025 that "annual policy counts have only once been as high as 113,672" and that annual premiums written "exceeded $17,000,000 in only one year." The plan does not publish a current policy count in its quarterly statements.

In the first half of 2026, owner-occupied homes accounted for $1,909,113 of premiums written, rented homes $654,734 and commercial property $728,179. In 2024, new business received rose 59.01%, and the board chair said the plan was "seeing more new business applications from outside of the city of Philadelphia." [10][23][24][25][26]

Getting back to a regular insurer

The plan's rules say "The FAIR Plan is not intended to replace normal markets," and the 1968 law's stated purposes include encouraging "maximum use" of the normal insurance market. Every plan policy runs for one year.

If you were dropped by a regular insurer, Pennsylvania law gives you rights on the notice and a 10-day window to ask the Insurance Commissioner to review it. See Homeowners Insurance in Pennsylvania. [10][13]

Help

• Pennsylvania FAIR Plan: (215) 629-8800, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern; customerservice@pafairplan.com. Office: 190 N. Independence Mall West, Suite 301, Philadelphia, PA 19106-1554.
• Complaints about an insurer, agent or the plan: Pennsylvania Insurance Department, (877) 881-6388, or its help page.

[1][7][27][28]

Questions people ask