Wildfire mitigation discounts: How to qualify and save

What is a wildfire mitigation discount?

A wildfire mitigation discount is a home insurance discount that reduces your premiums in return for making efforts to harden your home against fire damage. Structural upgrades, landscaping changes, debris clearing and participation in community-wide wildfire preparedness efforts may earn you a discount.

Why does it matter? Discounts incentivize homeowners to reduce wildfire risk in return for a lower insurance rate, and may even make it easier to get insurance in a high-risk area.

Who qualifies for a wildfire mitigation discount?

Eligibility depends on where you live and what your insurance company offers. Generally, you need to meet three requirements:

Live in a high-risk wildfire area (generally western states)
Buy insurance from an insurer that offers discounts (all insurers in California are required to)
Provide evidence of the mitigation efforts (photos, videos, documentation)

“I am not aware of any states other than California that mandate insurer wildfire mitigation discounts, but instead are working with insurers on WUI building codes, mitigation grant funding and community-wide mitigation initiatives,” says Carole Walker, executive director of the Rocky Mountain Insurance Association (RMIA), which represents Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.

Wildfire mitigation strategies that qualify for a discount

You can take a few different steps to qualify for a home insurance discount for wildfire mitigation, although the specific requirements for a discount may vary by company.

Some of the things that can earn you a wildfire mitigation discount are:

Upgrading your roof to fire-resistant materials
Creating defensible space on the property around the home by clearing vegetation and combustible debris
Installing enclosed eaves and ember/fire-resistant vents to prevent sparks and embers from igniting the house
Installing multi-pane windows or deployable non-combustible shutters
Community-level wildfire mitigation

“Mitigation is crucial to lessening the risk of loss from wildfire. Individual home hardening, land clearing and community wildfire mitigation go a long way to keeping communities safe and resilient. Programs such as Wildfire Prepared Home and Firewise USA offer homeowners and communities excellent resources,” says Janet Ruiz, director of strategic communications for the Insurance Information Institute in California.

How to apply for a wildfire mitigation discount

You can apply for a discount by:

Check eligibility. Determine if your home qualifies for the discount based on your location and the insurance company's offerings.
Complete the appropriate mitigation efforts. Implement qualifying upgrades and document the work.
Submit proof. Provide the requested documentation, including inspections or certifications.
Follow up. Check your policy to ensure the discount has been applied.

California wildfire discount requirements

In California, all home insurance companies must offer some type of wildfire mitigation discount, either at the community level, such as Firewise communities or for specific mitigation on the property itself.

By law, insurance companies must offer discounts for the items listed in the table below. Insurance companies can add further discounts to this list..

Community level	Immediate surroundings	Building hardening
Fire Risk Reduction Community	Clear debris and vegetation under decks	Class-A fire-rated roof
Firewise USA site	Clear debris, vegetation, mulch, combustible materials and objects within five feet of the building	Enclosed eaves
	Have only noncombustible materials within five feet of the building	Fire-resistant vents
	Have no combustible structures within 30 feet of the building	Multi-pane windows
	Create a defensible space around the building	At least six inches of noncombustible vertical clearance at the bottom of the exterior

How much can you save?

Discount amounts vary by location and insurer, and information is limited. Here’s a selection:

Insurer	Discount range	Requirements
California insurers (general)	2% to 18%	Specific community and property-level efforts
USAA	Not listed	Available in 10 states and only in Firewise communities
State Farm	2% to 5%	In California, but it may be available in other states
Mercury	Up to 18%	In California

Discount amount depends on the scope of the mitigation efforts, the risk level in your area and the documentation of your efforts.

States where wildfire discounts may be available

Currently, the only company known to offer discounts outside of California is USAA, which offers discounts to homes in Firewise USA communities in the following 10 states: