Tuesday, September 15th, 2026 — Utah recorded the highest homeowners insurance non-renewal rate in the country in 2025, a rapid shift that puts wildfire exposure and property eligibility under greater scrutiny across the state.

Data released by Weiss Ratings showed Utah insurers declined to renew 4.45% of homeowners policies in force last year, or roughly one in 22. The rate was 8.4 times Utah’s 2018 level and more than 2.6 times its 2024 rate. Utah had ranked 17th nationally for non-renewals a year earlier. California ranked second in the latest data at 2.93%.

The change comes as Utah insurers reassess wildfire exposure, particularly in communities along the wildland-urban interface. Areas identified as facing greater pressure include Washington County near St. George, the Wasatch foothills, Park City and the Wasatch Back.

Utah homeowners have also faced substantial rate increases. S&P Global RateWatch data cited in the reporting showed homeowners insurance rates in the state increased 70.6% from 2019 through 2024, the second-largest increase nationally during that period. Even after those increases, 2026 estimates cited by LendingTree and Insurance.com put average Utah homeowners premiums below the national average.

State lawmakers have responded to wildfire insurance concerns with House Bill 48. The 2025 law established a statewide wildfire-risk mapping system and requires insurers to use it when evaluating a property’s wildfire risk. Properties within designated high-risk wildland-urban interface areas are also subject to fees ranging from $20 to $100 per structure to support wildfire-risk assessments.

The law provides additional disclosure rights for policyholders. If an insurer increases a rate by at least 20% or drops coverage because of wildfire risk, a homeowner can request notice and an explanation of the insurer’s decision. The provision does not prevent a non-renewal.

The 4.45% non-renewal figure covers 2025, before the law’s 2026 implementation could affect the market. That makes subsequent non-renewal data important for insurers, regulators and property owners assessing whether risk mapping and mitigation measures change carrier decisions.

For claims professionals, the contraction in coverage may have consequences beyond underwriting. Properties in wildfire-prone areas can face closer inspection of roofs, defensible space, prior losses and other property conditions as homeowners seek replacement coverage. After a catastrophe, adjusters may also encounter policyholders whose insurance options were already narrowing before the loss.

There are signs that insurers have not abandoned Utah’s homeowners market. A June 2026 market analysis from Insurance Geek reported that Openly introduced more competitive new-business rates in Utah and capped renewal rates. New carrier participation could preserve options in lower-risk locations even as underwriting remains more restrictive in wildfire-exposed communities.

For homeowners receiving wildfire-related non-renewals, Utah law provides a way to request the insurer’s stated reason. That explanation can identify whether the decision involves a wildfire-risk assessment or another underwriting factor and can help determine whether property mitigation or additional documentation could affect future eligibility.