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Checked against official sources · Last reviewed October 13, 2026

What homeowners insurance costs in Rhode Island: average premium, 2023 $2,396 a year in Rhode Island vs. $1,737 countrywide · 6th highest of 51 · All states (HO-3 policies; NAIC)

Rhode Island's market right now

Coastal homeowners have felt the squeeze. When the General Assembly passed the new nonrenewal notice law on June 8, 2026, sponsor Rep. Samuel Azzinaro of Westerly said constituents "have seen their homes and sometimes their entire neighborhoods dropped by their home insurance company with as little as two weeks' notice." Sen. Victoria Gu said insurers are "declining to cover homes in coastal areas or with older roofs or water heaters."

What changed in 2024-2026:

- Longer nonrenewal notice: 2026-H 7066 Sub A, signed by the governor on June 19, 2026, requires at least 60 days' written notice of nonrenewal for homeowners and residential fire policies as of July 1, 2027. - A FORTIFIED roof grant framework: 2026-H 7865 Sub A, signed June 23, 2026, creates the "strengthen Rhody homes" program (see Grants below). - FAIR Plan changes: the Rhode Island FAIR Plan raised its maximum homeowners dwelling limit to $1,250,000 on April 1, 2024, revised its homeowners and dwelling rates effective Sept. 15, 2025, and added $5,000, $7,500 and $10,000 deductible options on Sept. 1, 2026.

Insurers that plan to nonrenew a large block of homeowners policies (more than 25% of their premium in the state or in one building-code wind zone) must first file a nonrenewal plan with the DBR at least 90 days ahead, and an insurer that stops writing new home policies must give the DBR 90 days' notice. [2][3][5][9][10][11][12][13][14]

Last resort: the Rhode Island FAIR Plan

The DBR says: "If you are unable to secure property insurance coverage through the voluntary market, contact the Rhode Island Joint Reinsurance Association at (800) 851-8978." The Rhode Island Joint Reinsurance Association (RIJRA), "also known as the Rhode Island FAIR Plan," offers homeowners, dwelling fire and commercial policies and covers property "without consideration of environmental conditions associated with the property's location," which matters for coastal homes.

Key points:

- You apply through a licensed Rhode Island insurance agent or broker, and the home must pass the plan's inspection and underwriting standards. - It writes full homeowners forms (HO-3 and others) with dwelling coverage up to $1,250,000, not just fire coverage. - Coastal homes carry a mandatory hurricane deductible set by wind zone: 5% on Block Island, 2% in other Wind Zone 3 parts of Washington County, and 1% in Wind Zone 2 (Bristol and Newport counties, parts of Washington County, and East Greenwich). - It offers an eight-payment installment plan.

Details: Rhode Island FAIR Plan. [6][8][15]

If your insurer drops you

Notice today. Rhode Island's FAIR Plan regulation requires all insurers in the program (state law makes every insurer licensed to write property insurance here take part) to "give thirty (30) days notice prior to cancellation or non-renewal" of any property eligible for the FAIR Plan. Shorter notice is allowed for reasons that include nonpayment, material misrepresentation, owner or occupant arson, unrepaired damage, abandonment, and long-unpaid utilities or taxes. The standard fire policy in state law also requires "thirty (30) days' written notice of cancellation," or 10 days for nonpayment.

The FAIR Plan notice. When an insurer cancels or won't renew (other than for nonpayment, or because you already found other coverage), it must tell you that you may be eligible for the Rhode Island FAIR Plan, with the plan's address and phone numbers.

60 days starting July 1, 2027. The 2026 law amends R.I. Gen. Laws 27-8-11 so that, for homeowners and residential fire insurance, regulations "shall also require that the insurer furnish written notice of nonrenewal at least sixty (60) days prior to renewal" as of July 1, 2027.

Coverage cuts at renewal. If your insurer renews with lower limits, removed coverage or a higher deductible you didn't ask for, it must send written notice at least 30 days before the policy expires, marked "NOTICE OF REDUCTION IN COVERAGE." If it doesn't, your old coverage stays in effect until notice is given or you get replacement coverage.

What insurers can't hold against you. No insurer may refuse to insure, cancel, nonrenew or surcharge a home policy:

- "solely as a result of damages sustained in a catastrophic event"; - based solely on claims at the home under a previous owner, unless the cause wasn't fixed (mitigated); - solely because of a claim inquiry, a claim with no payout, or a payout under $500, unless there was more than one paid non-catastrophe claim in three years.

And if you took the storm-protection steps your insurer asked for, it can't later nonrenew you because of its catastrophe exposure, except for reasons such as nonpayment, fraud, letting the mitigation lapse, insurer solvency concerns or adverse loss history.

Note: R.I. Gen. Laws 27-29-17.2, which requires 60 days' nonrenewal notice today, covers commercial policies, not homeowners. [1][2][3][4][5][7][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]

Hurricane deductibles

Rhode Island limits how hurricane deductibles work on home policies:

- Cap: no more than 5% of the insured value of the dwelling (Coverage A). A flat-dollar hurricane deductible also can't exceed 5%. Separate (non-hurricane) windstorm deductibles are not allowed. - Trigger: it applies only to hurricane losses from the time the National Weather Service issues a hurricane warning for the applicable part of the state until 24 hours after the last warning ends. On Block Island, the loss must come from hurricane-force sustained winds on Block Island; elsewhere, from hurricane-force sustained winds anywhere else in the state. - Once a year: it applies only once per calendar year for all hurricanes. - Notice: the insurer must give clear notice with at least two worked examples, and show the dollar amount on your declarations page. - Waiver for mitigation: if you install the approved measures, the insurer must waive the hurricane deductible after inspection or proof. In wind Zone 2 the most an insurer can require is precut plywood shutters with pre-installed anchors; in Zone 3, shutters plus roof tie-downs. Permanent storm shutters or hurricane glass also qualify. In Zone 1, insurers can't require any measures, but if you add them voluntarily the deductible must be waived. You may choose to keep the deductible in writing for a lower premium.

These rules don't apply to homes insured by surplus lines insurers. More: hurricane deductible guide and hurricane deductible calculator. [5][7][23]

Grants and discounts

Strengthen Rhody homes. A 2026 law (signed June 23, 2026) creates the "strengthen Rhody homes" program in the DBR's Insurance Division "to make grants available to residential Rhode Island homeowners" to retrofit homes to IBHS FORTIFIED Roof, Silver or Gold standards. Under the law:

- the home must be an owner-occupied, single-family primary residence (not a condo or mobile home) in good repair; - a certified FORTIFIED evaluator must pre-qualify the home (you pay the evaluator), and you must get bids from at least three approved FORTIFIED contractors; - you need wind coverage in force, and flood insurance if the home is in a special flood hazard area; - grants are paid directly to the contractor after the FORTIFIED certificate is issued.

The program "does not create an entitlement," and implementation "is subject to the receipt of federal grants or funds from other sources." In April 2026 testimony, the DBR director said that if the bill passed, the DBR would work on building contractor expertise, decide what insurance discounts FORTIFIED roofs should earn, and find funding for the grants. Ask the Insurance Division at (401) 462-9520 whether grants are available yet. See our FORTIFIED roof guide.

Hurricane deductible credits. Insurers must give premium credits for hurricane deductibles, and the deductible is waived when you install approved mitigation (above). [5][7][10][11][24]

Surplus lines

If regular insurers and the FAIR Plan don't fit, an agent may place you with a surplus lines insurer (a company not licensed in Rhode Island but allowed to sell here through a surplus lines broker). Rhode Island's hurricane deductible and nonrenewal rules in Chapter 27-76 "do not apply to residential property insurance issued by approved surplus lines insurers." The DBR's regulation says agents and surplus lines brokers should review surplus lines policies at renewal to see whether the home now qualifies for the regular market or the FAIR Plan. See our surplus lines guide. [5]

Flood is separate

The DBR says: "Homeowners insurance is not flood insurance. Homeowners insurance does not cover losses from flood." Rhode Island law requires insurers to tell you at issue and renewal that the policy may not cover flood damage. For flood zones and flood insurance, see our sister site FloodHawk. [6][25]

Where to get help

- DBR Insurance Division: (401) 462-9520, or file a complaint online. - After a hurricane: the DBR can open a non-binding mediation program by bulletin for disputed home claims from a specific hurricane, no sooner than 90 days after the storm. Insurers and the FAIR Plan must take part, and the insurer pays the mediator's and administrator's fees. - Rhode Island FAIR Plan: (800) 851-8978. [5][6][26]

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