Home Insurance Cancellation Laws by State

Depending on your state’s home insurance cancellation laws, your insurer may have to contact you anywhere from five to 120 days before canceling your home insurance. In addition, your homeowners insurance company may only be allowed to drop you midway through the coverage period in certain situations, like if you have failed to pay your premiums or the risk associated with covering your property has risen dramatically.

Continue reading to learn more about homeowners insurance cancellations, including the circumstances you need to avoid to keep your home insurance coverage active.

Key Takeaways Many states only allow home insurance cancellations for serious reasons, like nonpayment of premium and material misrepresentation or fraud. Your insurer generally has to let you know before your coverage is canceled, but the mandatory notice period may be as short as five days or as long as 120 days, depending on where you live. State laws typically allow you to cancel your own homeowners insurance policy at any time. Insurers generally face fewer restrictions on nonrenewals that occur at the end of a policy period.

Home Insurance Cancellation Laws by State

Each state government sets its own laws regarding when an insurance carrier can terminate a homeowners insurance policy early and how much notice it must give to the affected policyholder. Generally, insurers can freely cancel policies during an initial underwriting period, which lasts for the first 60 days after a policy takes effect in many states. Afterward, insurance providers are limited when it comes to ending policies during the coverage term.

Fortunately, state laws typically don’t restrict your ability to cancel your own homeowners insurance policy, meaning you are free to change insurance companies anytime you find a better deal. See the following sections for a detailed breakdown of the home insurance cancellation rights and regulations that apply in each state.

Alabama

Currently, Alabama state law does not clarify the minimum amount of notice insurers must give before canceling property insurance policies, nor does it specify acceptable reasons for cancellation.^[1] Nevertheless, homeowners in Alabama generally have a right to receive a written notice explaining why their coverage is being canceled before the termination takes effect.^[2]

Alaska

In Alaska, your home insurance company must give you 10 to 30 days’ notice before canceling your policy, depending on the reason for the cancellation. Your coverage can only be terminated midterm for the following reasons:^[3]

• Nonpayment of premium
• Conviction of a crime that increases the risk associated with insuring you
• Fraud or material misrepresentation in the application or claims process
• Grossly negligent act or omission that increases the risk associated with insuring you
• Physical changes to the insured property that make it uninsurable

Arizona

Home insurance companies in Arizona are only required to give their policyholders five days’ notice before canceling their coverage. That said, your policy can only be canceled in the following situations:^[4]

• Nonpayment of premium
• Conviction of a crime that increases the risk associated with insuring you
• Fraud or misrepresentation in the application or claims process
• Negligent act or omission that increases the risk associated with insuring you
• Substantial change in the risk associated with your property
• Failure to eliminate or reduce conditions that make your property riskier

Arkansas

Your homeowners insurance coverage may be prematurely terminated with 10 to 20 days’ notice for any of the following reasons in Arkansas:^[5]

• Nonpayment of premium or relevant membership dues
• Fraud or material misrepresentation in the application or claims process
• Material change in the risk associated with your property
• Violation of a local fire, health, safety, building or construction regulation or ordinance that increases the risk associated with your property
• Material violation of any material provision of the policy

In many states, like Arkansas, the mandatory notice period is shorter if your insurer is canceling your policy due to nonpayment of premium.

California

Depending on the reason for the termination, home insurance cancellation laws in California may require your insurance carrier to give you advance notice of 10 to 20 days. Acceptable reasons for homeowners insurance cancellation in California include the following:^[6]

• Nonpayment of premium
• Fraud or material misrepresentation
• Physical changes that increase the risk associated with your property

Colorado

An insurance company in Colorado can only terminate your coverage midterm after providing 10 to 60 days’ advance notice. State law does not provide a comprehensive list of permissible grounds for canceling home insurance, but examples of things that could lead to a policy cancellation include nonpayment of premium, insurance fraud and owning a dog that is known to be dangerous.^[7][8][9]

Connecticut

After contacting you 10 to 30 days in advance, a Connecticut insurer may terminate your homeowners coverage for the following reasons:^[10]

• Nonpayment of premium
• Fraud or material misrepresentation in the application process
• Physical change that increases the risk associated with your property

Delaware

State law in Delaware permits the cancellation of a home insurance policy with 10 to 30 days’ notice for any of these reasons:^[11]

• Nonpayment of premium
• Fraud or material misrepresentation in the application or claims process
• Willful or reckless acts or omissions that increase the risk associated with insuring you
• Substantial change in the risk associated with your property
• Violation of a local fire, health, safety, building or construction regulation or ordinance that increases the risk associated with your property
• Determination by the Delaware insurance commissioner that the continuation of your policy violates a state law
• Unpaid property taxes that have been owed for at least two years

Florida

Under the Florida home insurance cancellation law, your homeowners insurance provider may have to inform you 10 to 120 days before canceling your policy. Florida state law only allows policy cancellations due to causes like these:^[12]

• Nonpayment of premium
• Material misstatement
• Failure to comply with underwriting requirements established before the policy took effect
• Substantial change in the risk associated with your property
• Cancellation of all policies held by a given class of insureds

Georgia

Following a written notice sent to your mailing address 10 to 30 days before your coverage ends, a Georgia insurance company may cancel your homeowners insurance policy for the following reasons:^[13][14]

• Nonpayment of premium
• Fraud, material misrepresentation or concealment in the application or claims process
• Substantial change in the risk associated with your property
• Violation of the terms and conditions of the policy

Hawaii

Existing laws in Hawaii require a 10-day notice period for insurers who want to cancel a homeowners insurance policy — though pending legislation would raise this to 60 days if passed.^[15][16] Potential reasons for cancellation are listed below:^[17]

• Nonpayment of premium
• Fraud in the application process
• Substantial change in the risk associated with your property

Idaho

Idaho insurance carriers must provide 10 to 30 days’ notice before canceling an insurance policy that covers fire damage — which should include homeowners insurance. The state’s laws don’t mention any specific reasons for cancellation besides nonpayment of premium, and government resources note that there are “few limitations” for insurance companies looking to cancel or nonrenew residential insurance policies.^[18][19]

Illinois

If you live in Illinois, your home insurance company must give you 10 to 30 days’ notice prior to terminating your policy for one of the following reasons:^[20]

• Nonpayment of premium
• Fraud or misrepresentation in the application process
• Increase in the risk associated with your property

Indiana

The Indiana state government allows your home insurance company to cancel your coverage as long as it sends you a written notice 10 to 20 days in advance.^[21] However, a premature policy cancellation is not valid unless it is based on one of these situations:^[22]

• Nonpayment of premium
• Fraud or material misrepresentation in the application or claims process
• Willful or reckless acts or omissions that increase the risk associated with insuring you
• Substantial change in the risk associated with your property
• Violation of a local fire, health, safety, building or construction regulation or ordinance that increases the risk associated with your property
• Determination by the Indiana insurance commissioner that the continuation of your policy violates a state law
• Unpaid property taxes that have been owed for at least two years

Iowa

In Iowa, a 10-day warning is necessary before your insurer can cancel your homeowners insurance for any of the following reasons:^[23][24]

• Nonpayment of premium or relevant membership dues
• Fraud or material misrepresentation in the application or claims process
• Actions or circumstances that substantially change or increase the risk associated with insuring you
• Violation of the terms and conditions of the policy

Kansas

Kansas state law provides minimal protections for homeowners insurance policyholders, as an insurance company is allowed to cancel your coverage for any reason at any time. Nevertheless, it must send you notice of the termination 10 days in advance for nonpayment of premium or 30 days in advance for any other reason.^[25]

Kentucky

Your policy may be canceled after an advance warning of 14 to 75 days in Kentucky, depending on whether you have failed to pay your monthly premiums.^[26] Allowable reasons for a midterm termination include these:^[27]

• Nonpayment of premium
• Fraud or material misrepresentation in the application or claims process
• Willful or reckless acts or omissions that increase the risk associated with insuring you
• Substantial change in the risk associated with your property
• Violation of a local fire, health, safety, building or construction regulation or ordinance that increases the risk associated with your property
• Lack of available reinsurance
• Determination by the Kentucky insurance commissioner that the continuation of your policy violates a state law or insurance regulation

Louisiana

Upon receiving 10 to 30 days’ worth of prior notice, you may encounter the cancellation of your home insurance policy due to causes such as these in Louisiana:^[28][29]

• Nonpayment of premium
• Fraud
• Material change in the risk associated with your property
• Two or more claims within three years of each other over the past five years
• Continuation of the policy threatens the solvency of the insurer

Maine

It is mandatory for Maine homeowners insurance companies to send you a notice 10 to 30 days before canceling your policy. Examples of things that can contribute to a policy termination include the following:^[30]

• Nonpayment of premium
• Fraud or material misrepresentation in the application or claims process
• Substantial change in the risk associated with your property
• Failure to comply with reasonable loss control recommendations
• Substantial breach of contractual duties, conditions or warranties
• Determination by the Maine insurance superintendent that the continuation of your policy threatens the solvency of the insurer or violates a state law

Maryland

Legally required notice periods for homeowners insurance cancellations range from 10 to 45 days in Maryland. Your policy could be canceled if any of these situations apply to you:^[31]

• Nonpayment of premium
• Fraud or material misrepresentation in the application or claims process
• Threat to public safety
• Increase in the risk associated with your property
• Conviction of arson

Massachusetts

In Massachusetts, your insurance carrier may only have to inform you five to 10 days prior to canceling your policy, though it will have to let your mortgage company or other lender know about the termination 20 days in advance. Your insurance contract may end early because of these reasons:^[32]

• Nonpayment of premium
• Conviction of a crime that raises the risk associated with insuring you
• Fraud or misrepresentation in the application process
• Willful or reckless acts or omissions that increase the risk associated with insuring you
• Physical changes that make the property uninsurable
• Determination by the Massachusetts insurance commissioner that the continuation of your policy violates a state law

Michigan

After an initial 55-day underwriting period, your homeowners insurance provider must give you 30 days’ advance notice if it intends to cancel your policy before its expiration date in Michigan. State law does not specify the reasons for which your coverage can be canceled other than nonpayment of premium, but it does note that all cancellations must conform with the insurer’s existing underwriting rules.^[33]

Minnesota

Fire insurance policies in Minnesota can only be canceled following 20 to 30 days’ notice for reasons like these:^[34]

• Nonpayment of premium or relevant membership dues
• Fraud or misrepresentation in the application or claims process
• Acts or omissions that increase the risk associated with insuring you
• Unaddressed physical changes that make the property uninsurable

Mississippi

A Mississippi insurance company cannot carry out the early termination of your homeowners insurance policy unless it first mails you a written notice 10 to 30 days before the cancellation is slated to take effect.^[35] While you have a legal right to know why your coverage is ending, state law does not expressly limit the reasons for which your policy could be canceled.^[36]

Missouri

Your insurer must get in touch with you 10 to 30 days before it cancels your home insurance coverage in Missouri.^[37] Acceptable grounds for cancellation include these:^[38]

• Nonpayment of premium
• Fraud or material misrepresentation in the application or claims process
• Violation of the terms and conditions of the policy
• Conviction of a crime that raises the risk associated with insuring you or another person who lives on your property
• Physical changes that raise the risk associated with your property

Montana

For homeowners insurance providers in Montana, premature cancellation of a policy requires 20 days’ notice, and it is only allowable if the policyholder has missed their monthly premium payments. If your insurer wants to terminate your coverage for any reason other than nonpayment of premium, it will have to wait to nonrenew your policy at the end of the term.^[39]

Nebraska

You can expect to receive a heads-up from your home insurer 10 to 60 days before it cancels your existing policy in Nebraska. Reasons for cancellation that are allowed by state law include the following:^[40]

• Nonpayment of premium
• Material misrepresentation in the application process
• Fraudulent claims
• Violation of the terms and conditions of the policy
• Substantial increase in the risk associated with your property
• Loss of reinsurance
• Determination by the Nebraska director of insurance that the continuation of your policy violates a state law

Nevada

Nevada homeowners are entitled to 10 to 30 days’ notice before their insurance can be canceled due to one of these occurrences:^[41]

• Nonpayment of premium
• Conviction of a crime that raises the risk associated with insuring you
• Fraud or material misrepresentation in the application or claims process
• Act or omission that raises the risk associated with insuring you
• Violation of the conditions of the policy
• Any change that substantially and materially increases the risk associated with your property
• Determination by the Nevada insurance commissioner that the continuation of your policy threatens the solvency of the insurer or violates a state law

New Hampshire

It takes 10 to 45 days’ advance notice for your home insurance policy to be eligible for cancellation in New Hampshire.^[42] Your insurer can only cancel your policy against your will for one of the reasons listed below:^[43]

• Nonpayment of premium
• Conviction of a crime that raises the risk associated with insuring you
• Fraud or material misrepresentation in the claims process
• Grossly negligent acts or omissions that raise the risk associated with insuring you
• Physical changes that make your property uninsurable

New Jersey

After sending a notice of termination 10 to 30 days in advance, your New Jersey insurance company may be allowed to end your coverage early.^[44] For a cancellation to qualify as valid, it must be based on grounds such as these:^[45]

• Nonpayment of premium
• Moral hazard
• Material misrepresentation or nondisclosure of risk in the application process
• Unpredictable increase in the risk associated with your property
• Substantial breach of contractual duties, conditions or warranties
• Failure to comply with reasonable loss control recommendations
• Fraud
• Financial struggles that limit the amount of properties the insurer can reasonably cover
• Material increase in the insurer’s exposure due to changes in statutory or case law
• Loss of or substantial changes to reinsurance
• Failure to comply with a federal, state or local fire, health, safety, building or construction regulation, law or ordinance that increases the risk associated with your property
• Failure to provide reasonable and necessary underwriting information
• Dismissal of the insured’s insurance agent

New Mexico

Depending on the circumstances surrounding your policy cancellation, a property and casualty (P&C) insurance provider may need to send you a notice 15 to 30 days in advance in New Mexico. Potential causes for early policy termination include:^[46]

• Material misrepresentation or fraud in the application or claims process
• Willful and negligent acts or omissions that increase the risk associated with insuring you
• Substantial change in the risk associated with insuring you

New York

New York state law is unclear when it comes to how much notice a home insurance company must give before canceling a policy, but it does note that an insurer with the legal right to cancel a policy must provide 20 days’ notice if it intends to lower the policy’s coverage limits or remove certain coverage types rather than canceling it. Reasons for cancellation allowed under state law include the following:^[47]

• Nonpayment of premium
• Conviction of a crime that raises the risk associated with insuring you
• Fraud or material misrepresentation in the application or claims process
• Willful or reckless acts or omissions that raise the risk associated with insuring you
• Physical changes that make the property uninsurable
• Determination by the New York insurance superintendent that the continuation of your policy threatens the solvency of the insurer or violates a state law

North Carolina

Once you’ve been given 15 days’ worth of upfront warning, your home insurance could be canceled for reasons like the following in North Carolina:^[48]

• Nonpayment of premium
• Material misrepresentation in the application or claims process
• Unpredictable, material increase in the risk associated with insuring you
• Substantial breach of contractual duties, warranties or conditions
• Fraud
• Willful failure to implement reasonable loss control measures
• Loss of or substantial changes to reinsurance
• Conviction of a crime that raises the risk of insuring you
• Determination by the North Carolina insurance commissioner that the continuation of your policy violates a state law
• Failure to meet the requirements in the insurer’s corporate charter, articles of incorporation or bylaws (only applies if the insurer was set up exclusively to cover members of a certain organization)

North Dakota

Your homeowners insurance company must mail you a notice 10 to 30 days before it is allowed to prematurely terminate your policy for any of these causes in North Dakota:^[49]

• Nonpayment of premium
• Fraud or material misrepresentation in the application or claims process
• Willful or reckless acts or omissions that raise the risk associated with insuring you
• Violation of a local fire, health, safety, building or construction ordinance that increases the risk associated with your property
• Determination by the North Dakota insurance commissioner that the continuation of your policy violates a state law
• Conviction of a crime that raises the risk associated with insuring you

Ohio

As long as it sends you a forewarning 30 days prior to the end of your coverage, an Ohio insurance company may be able to cancel your policy for reasons such as these:^[50]

• Nonpayment of premium
• Evidence of arson
• Misrepresentation or fraud
• Two or three claims filed within a five-year period

Oklahoma

An insurer in Oklahoma only has to give you advance notice of 10 days before the cancellation date of your homeowners insurance coverage.^[51] Circumstances that can lead to insurance termination include the following:^[52]

• Nonpayment of premium
• Fraud or material misrepresentation in the application or claims process
• Willful or reckless acts or omissions that raise the risk associated with insuring you
• Substantial increase in the risk associated with insuring you
• Violation of a local fire, health, safety, building or construction regulation or ordinance that increases the risk associated with your property
• Determination by the Oklahoma insurance commissioner that the continuation of your policy violates a state law
• Conviction of a crime that raises the risk associated with insuring you

Oregon

Oregon home insurance companies need to give you 10 to 30 days’ notice before canceling your policy on any of the following grounds:^[53]

• Nonpayment of premium
• Fraud or material misrepresentation in the application or claims process
• Violation of the terms and conditions of the policy
• Substantial increase in the risk associated with insuring you
• Determination by the director of the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services that the continuation of your policy threatens the solvency of the insurer or violates a state law

Pennsylvania

Your homeowners insurance company may be able to cancel your policy with 30 days’ notice in Pennsylvania — as long as the cancellation is based on a factor like fraud or material misrepresentation in the application process, a substantial change in the risk associated with your property or nonpayment of premium.^[54]

Rhode Island

Insurance companies that participate in the Rhode Island Basic Property Insurance Inspection and Placement Program may cancel a homeowners policy insuring a property that is eligible for coverage through that program with 30 days’ notice for the following reasons:^[55]

• Nonpayment of premium
• Material misrepresentation
• Owner or occupant incendiarism
• Unrepaired damage
• Abandonment of property or unexplained removal of undamaged items from the property
• Disconnection of or failure to pay for utilities
• Unpaid taxes that have been owed for at least two years
• Reasonable cause to suspect that the covered property will be burned in an attempt to commit insurance fraud
• Conviction or unresolved indictment of arson
• Two house fires in a one-year period or three house fires in a two-year period that the insured is responsible for
• Discovery of any information that would have caused the insurer to decline to cover the property in the first place

South Carolina

In South Carolina, an insurance company may be able to cancel a homeowners policy with 30 days’ notice on account of the following situations:^[56]

• Nonpayment of premium
• Material misrepresentation or fraud
• Breaches of contractual duties
• Unpredictable physical changes that make the property uninsurable

South Dakota

You are entitled to a 20-day notice period before your home insurance is prematurely terminated for one of these reasons in South Dakota:^[57][58]

• Nonpayment of premium
• Fraud or material misrepresentation in the application or claims process
• Acts or omissions that raise the risk associated with insuring you
• Substantial increase in the risk associated with your property
• Violation of a local fire, health, safety, building or construction regulation or ordinance that increases the risk associated with your property
• Determination by the director of the South Dakota Division of Insurance that the continuation of your policy threatens the solvency of the insurer or violates a state law
• Violation of the terms and conditions of the policy
• Any other reason approved by the director of the Division of Insurance

Tennessee

Homeowners insurance policies in Tennessee may be canceled before they come up for renewal for reasons like nonpayment of premium, fraud in the application process or a substantial change in the risk associated with the property.^[59] However, state law does not specify the minimum amount of notice an insurance carrier must give before canceling a policy.

Texas

Once the initial underwriting period is completed in Texas, a home insurance cancellation may only take effect after 10 days’ notice if it is based on any of the following justifications:^[60]

• Nonpayment of premium
• Fraudulent claims
• Determination by the Texas Department of Insurance that the continuation of the policy violates a state law
• Preventable increase in the risk associated with the property

Utah

You can expect to receive notice 10 to 30 days before your homeowners insurance is canceled for one of these reasons in Utah:^[61]

• Nonpayment of premium
• Material misrepresentation
• Substantial, unpredictable change in the risk associated with your property
• Substantial breach of contractual duties, conditions or warranties

Vermont

Under Vermont state law, a fire or casualty insurance policy may be terminated early due to the following circumstances:^[62]

• Nonpayment of premium
• Fraud or material misrepresentation in the application or claims process
• Violation of the terms and conditions of the policy
• Substantial increase in the risk associated with your property (cancellations for this reason must be approved by the Vermont insurance commissioner)

Your insurer must send you a notice of cancellation in the mail 15 to 45 days before your coverage ends in Vermont.^[62]

Virginia

With 10 to 30 days’ notice, your insurer may have the right to cancel your Virginia homeowners insurance policy because of these causes:^[63]

• Nonpayment of premium
• Fraud or material misrepresentation
• Conviction of a crime that raises the risk associated with insuring you
• Willful or reckless acts or omissions that increase the risk associated with insuring you
• Physical changes that make the property uninsurable
• Sale of the property due to foreclosure efforts

Washington

The mandatory notice period before canceling a Washington home insurance policy generally ranges from 10 to 60 days, depending on the cause of the termination.^[64] Permissible reasons for cancellation under the rules of the Washington Essential Property Insurance Inspection and Placement Program include these:^[65]

• Nonpayment of premium
• Discovery of any information that would have caused the insurer to decline to cover the property in the first place
• Any other reason approved by the program’s governing committee

West Virginia

West Virginia insurance companies are required to submit a written notice before canceling homeowners insurance, although state law does not establish a minimum notice period. Here are the allowable reasons for policy cancellation:^[66]

• Nonpayment of premium
• Fraud or material misrepresentation in the application or claims process
• Conviction of a crime that raises the risk associated with insuring you
• Willful or reckless acts or omissions that raise the risk associated with insuring you
• Substantial increase in the risk associated with your property
• Violation of a local fire, health, safety, building or construction regulation or ordinance that raises the risk associated with your property
• Determination by the West Virginia insurance commissioner that the continuation of your policy violates a state law
• Unpaid property taxes that have been owed for at least two years
• Withdrawal from the state or discontinuation of sales of a certain line of insurance by the insurer
• Substantial breach of the provisions of the policy

Wisconsin

Following a prior warning period lasting 10 days, you may face the cancellation of your homeowners insurance coverage for these reasons in Wisconsin:^[67]

• Nonpayment of premium
• Material misrepresentation
• Substantial, unpredictable change in the risk associated with your property
• Substantial breach of contractual duties, conditions or warranties

Wyoming

A Wyoming homeowners insurance policy can be canceled midway through the coverage period with 10 to 45 days’ notice on account of the following circumstances:^[68]

• Nonpayment of premium
• Material misrepresentation
• Substantial, unpredictable change in the risk associated with your property
• Substantial breach of contractual duties, conditions or warranties

Why Do Some Home Insurance Companies Cancel or Refuse Policy Renewals?

Homeowners insurance companies frequently cancel or decline to renew insurance policies when the covered property experiences an unexpected change that makes it riskier to insure. For example, if a sudden crime wave strikes your neighborhood, your insurer may view you as more likely to file an insurance claim related to theft, and it may raise your rates or terminate your coverage accordingly.

You should note that state laws generally grant insurance providers more leeway when it comes to nonrenewing a policy at the end of the coverage period — as opposed to canceling it before the end of the coverage period. For example, insurers in Arizona are allowed to nonrenew homeowners insurance policies for any reason.^[4]

How To Get Home Insurance if It’s Recently Been Canceled

A coverage lapse can lead to higher home insurance prices; as a result, if you receive a cancellation notice from your insurance carrier, it’s important to find a new policy before your current coverage ends.^[69] Shopping around is crucial because it enables you to determine which insurer offers the best deal on the right coverage for your circumstances.

SmartFinancial can help you comparison shop more efficiently. All you have to do is answer a few questions online, and then we’ll get you in touch with an insurance agent who can help you sort through various homeowners insurance options. Begin comparing home insurance quotes for free by clicking here!