Does your homeowners policy cover earthquakes?
No. Standard homeowners policies exclude damage caused by earthquake shaking, although California law requires homeowners insurance to cover fire damage caused by or following an earthquake, subject to the policy’s terms and limits. To cover shaking damage to your home and belongings, you need a separate earthquake policy, through the California Earthquake Authority or a private earthquake insurer.
Insurers that sell homeowners insurance in California must offer earthquake coverage, but buying it is up to you, and many homeowners decline it without knowing what the policy would have covered. The decision usually comes down to how much equity you have in the home, whether you could rebuild without insurance, and what the deductible would mean for you after a loss.
Oakview is an independent agency with access to more than 100 carriers, including 30+ primary A-rated carriers, and we are appointed with GeoVera and Palomar, so we can compare CEA coverage through your homeowners insurer with standalone private earthquake policies where they are available. Call (530) 674-5054 to talk with a licensed advisor. See our homeowners insurance page for what a home policy covers.
Is there earthquake risk near Yuba City?
Earthquake risk is not limited to homes sitting near a fault. Strong shaking from a large regional earthquake can travel a long way, and the Sacramento Valley is ringed by fault systems in the Coast Ranges to the west and the Sierra Nevada foothills to the east. The August 1975 Oroville earthquake, about magnitude 5.7, is a local reminder that damaging earthquakes have occurred nearby. Older homes, homes on raised foundations, and homes on softer soils can be more vulnerable to shaking.
How do CEA and private earthquake insurance differ?
The California Earthquake Authority (CEA) is a publicly managed, privately funded, not-for-profit provider of residential earthquake insurance. CEA policies are sold only through participating residential insurers, to customers who also have their homeowners, condo, renters, or mobilehome policy with that insurer. If your homeowners insurer participates, we can add a CEA policy alongside it.
Some private insurers, including GeoVera and Palomar, sell standalone earthquake policies that do not require your homeowners policy to be with them. They may offer different deductibles, higher limits for belongings, or different pricing, and they are often worth comparing when your homeowners insurer does not offer CEA coverage. Availability depends on the home and the insurer.
What does a CEA homeowners earthquake policy cover?
CEA offers two homeowners policies. Standard Homeowners includes all coverages under one deductible, and Homeowners Choice lets you set separate dwelling and personal property deductibles or buy dwelling coverage only. The table summarizes the main parts. Private policies are structured differently, so we compare the details side by side.
| Coverage | How it works | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Dwelling | Matches the dwelling limit on your homeowners policy | Subject to a percentage deductible |
| Personal property | Limits of $5,000 or $25,000, included in the Standard Homeowners policy and optional under Homeowners Choice | Under Homeowners Choice it carries its own deductible, and breakable items are limited |
| Additional living expenses (loss of use) | Options from $1,500 up to $100,000, included in Standard Homeowners and optional under Homeowners Choice | No deductible applies |
| Building code upgrades | $10,000 included, with $20,000 or $30,000 available | Helps with code-required work during repairs |
| Emergency repairs | Qualifying emergency measures to prevent further damage to covered property, up to 5% of the applicable coverage limit | The first $1,500 has no deductible, and amounts above that are paid once the applicable deductible is met |
CEA also offers policies for renters, condo unit owners, and mobile and manufactured home owners. Condo policies can include coverage for earthquake loss assessments charged by the association.
How do earthquake deductibles work?
CEA dwelling deductibles are a percentage of the dwelling coverage limit, with options from 5% to 25%. The 5% and 10% options are not available for homes with dwelling coverage above $1,000,000, or for frame-construction homes built before 1980 that are not on a slab foundation and lack a verified retrofit. On a home insured for $500,000, a 15% deductible is $75,000, so the damage would need to exceed that amount before the dwelling coverage pays. Personal property can carry a separate deductible, and additional living expenses have no deductible. We walk through what each deductible option would mean for you before you choose.
Can a retrofit lower the cost?
It can. CEA offers premium discounts of up to 25% for qualifying pre-1980 wood-frame homes with eligible non-slab foundations and verified seismic retrofits. The discount depends on the home’s age and foundation type, and other requirements apply. A typical retrofit bolts the house to its foundation and braces the cripple walls in the crawlspace, and a verified retrofit can also open the lower deductible options for an older raised-foundation home. The Earthquake Brace + Bolt program offers grants of up to $3,000 for qualifying pre-1980, wood-frame homes with raised foundations in eligible ZIP codes. Registration opens during limited periods, participation depends on program requirements and selection, and additional grant assistance may be available to income-eligible homeowners.
What does earthquake insurance usually exclude?
Earthquake policies commonly exclude or limit coverage for swimming pools, fences, landscaping, driveways and walkways, exterior masonry veneer, and damage that existed before the earthquake. Vehicles are not covered, though the comprehensive coverage on an auto policy may respond. Flooding is excluded, even when an earthquake causes it, so flood needs its own flood insurance policy. The policy wording controls, so we point out the exclusions on any policy we quote.
Serving Yuba City and the Yuba-Sutter region
We write earthquake insurance for homeowners, condo owners, renters, and mobile home owners in Yuba City, Marysville, Olivehurst, Linda, Live Oak, Gridley, Plumas Lake, and Wheatland, and across Yuba, Sutter, Colusa, and Butte Counties, with statewide California reach. Oakview has 850+ verified Google five-star reviews and was voted Best Insurance Company, Favorite Agent, and Favorite Customer Service by readers of the Appeal-Democrat in the Best of Yuba, Sutter and Colusa 2026.
Earthquake insurance FAQs
Does homeowners insurance cover earthquake damage?
No. Standard homeowners policies exclude damage caused by earthquake shaking, such as structural and foundation damage and broken contents. California law requires homeowners insurance to cover fire damage caused by or following an earthquake, subject to the policy’s terms and limits. Earthquake shaking damage requires a separate earthquake policy.
What is the California Earthquake Authority?
The California Earthquake Authority (CEA) is a publicly managed, privately funded, not-for-profit provider of residential earthquake insurance. CEA policies are sold only through participating residential insurers, to customers who also have their homeowners, condo, renters, or mobilehome policy with that insurer.
What is the difference between CEA and private earthquake insurance?
A CEA policy must be bought through the participating insurer that writes the underlying residential policy. Some private insurers, including GeoVera and Palomar, sell standalone earthquake policies that do not require the homeowners policy to be with them, and they may offer different deductibles, limits, and pricing. Availability depends on the home and the insurer.
How does a CEA earthquake deductible work?
CEA dwelling deductibles are a percentage of the dwelling coverage limit, with options from 5% to 25%. The 5% and 10% options are not available for homes with dwelling coverage above $1,000,000, or for frame-construction homes built before 1980 that are not on a slab foundation and lack a verified retrofit. On a home insured for $500,000, a 15% deductible is $75,000. Personal property can carry a separate deductible, and additional living expenses have no deductible.
Can retrofitting a home lower the cost of earthquake insurance?
It can. CEA offers premium discounts of up to 25% for qualifying pre-1980 wood-frame homes with eligible non-slab foundations and verified seismic retrofits, such as bolting the house to its foundation and bracing cripple walls. The discount depends on the home’s age and foundation type, and other requirements apply. The Earthquake Brace + Bolt program offers grants of up to $3,000 toward a retrofit for qualifying homes in eligible ZIP codes, with registration open during limited periods.
Does earthquake insurance cover personal belongings?
CEA personal property coverage is available with limits of $5,000 or $25,000. It is included under the Standard Homeowners policy and optional under Homeowners Choice, and loss of use coverage is also optional under Homeowners Choice. Private earthquake insurers may offer different limits. Breakable items and some property types can be limited or excluded, so the coverage terms are worth reviewing.
Is earthquake insurance required in California?
No. California law does not require earthquake insurance, and most lenders do not require it, though a lender can in some cases. Insurers that sell homeowners insurance in California must offer earthquake coverage, and the homeowner can choose whether to buy it.
Can renters, condo owners, and mobile home owners buy earthquake insurance?
Yes. CEA offers policies for renters, condo unit owners, and mobilehome owners through participating insurers, and condo policies can include coverage for earthquake loss assessments from the association. Some private insurers also write these risks.
Talk to Oakview
Call (530) 674-5054 or email info@oakviewins.com. Have your home’s age, foundation type, any retrofit records, and your current homeowners insurer ready, and we will compare CEA and private options and explain the differences in plain terms. There are no broker fees.