Owners, builders and licensed contractors
Applicant rules vary by market. Some programs require a licensed general contractor and experience history, while others accept an owner builder. The form keeps both routes open.
Builders Risk Insurance in California
Protect your investment from groundbreaking to completion. We compare specialized builders risk markets to find coverage aligned with your project and timeline.
We shop the market for you, no broker fees
Eight relevant markets are shown for comparison. Availability depends on the risk and location, and a logo does not imply a direct appointment.
Alchemy
National builders risk, admitted and surplus
Blitz
E&S builders risk to $5M per location
Green Shield
Builders risk and property programs
Great American
One Shot builders risk through BTIS
Navigators / The Hartford
Navigators builders risk through BTIS
BTIS
Submission marketplace for documented programs
Builders Mutual
Construction and builders risk programs
Travelers
Construction property and builders risk
What the builders risk market writes in California
Projects from $150k to roughly $65 million
Online programs handle smaller new construction and renovation risks, while a broad paper route documents capacity up to roughly 65 million depending on construction type and underwriting review.
The location decides eligibility
Wildfire hazard, active-fire proximity, coastal distance and over-water construction affect different programs differently. The broker checks the address across the shopping path instead of applying one carrier's cutoff to all.
One form, several construction markets
The intake captures the construction, values, schedule and risk details used to route an inland marine course of construction placement. Settlement terms and optional soft-cost limits vary by market.
How it works
10 minute form
A few questions about your business or home.
We shop the market
We compare carriers and read the forms line by line.
Quote and bind
We pick the best policy and get you covered.
Why an instant online quote fails on this line
A single online rater applies one program's geography, applicant and project rules. Menlo checks the same submission against several documented construction markets so one carrier's decline does not become the buyer's dead end.
Geography changes the route
Wildfire, active-fire proximity and coastal distance can end one program while another remains available. The address belongs in the quote early because it decides where the submission goes.
Renovations are priced on two values
The work you are doing is covered at replacement cost while the existing structure is covered at actual cash value, so the split between the two numbers changes the premium. Getting that split right up front is the difference between a real quote and a renegotiation.
The term has to match the schedule
Available terms and extension rules vary by market. A policy that expires before the certificate of occupancy is a gap your lender will notice, so the broker matches the route and term to the real build schedule.
Written for California builders and projects, including:
- Residential 1-4 family new construction
- High-value residential new construction
- Frame construction up to $10 million
- Light commercial projects
- Remodeling and renovation of existing residential structures
- Mid-completion projects
What changes your premium
These details help insurers assess your business and price the coverage. Terms and available options vary by insurer.
- Construction type and number of stories
- Distance from the nearest fire hydrant and the protection class
- Percent of construction already complete and months vacant
- Project duration in months
- The builder's years of experience and prior claims
- Completed value of the project and the cost of the work
Questions we get asked
Is course of construction insurance the same as builders risk?
Yes. Course of construction is another name for the same inland marine policy that covers a building while it is being built or renovated. Lenders and contracts use the two names interchangeably.
Who buys builders risk, the owner or the contractor?
Either may buy it, depending on the market. Some programs require a licensed general contractor, while owner builders route to markets that accept them. The form stays open so the broker can make that match.
Why does my lender require builders risk before funding?
The lender's collateral is a building that does not exist yet. Builders risk covers the structure, materials and the work in progress while it is being built, which is why funding is conditioned on proof of coverage before the first draw.
How are renovations covered differently from new construction?
The renovation work itself is covered at replacement cost while the existing structure is covered at actual cash value. The two values are scheduled separately, which is why the broker asks for both numbers.
How long does the policy run?
New construction writes a standard 12 month term and renovations write in 1 to 12 month increments. Premium is fully earned, and the policy expires automatically at the end of the term, so the term has to match the build schedule.
What makes a project ineligible?
Over-water or non-conventional construction, recent bankruptcy or foreclosure, and fraud or arson history can close individual programs. The current form collects those facts for routing and review; it does not call them lane-wide declines without evidence from every market.
Can you write this where my business is?
We are currently licensed in California only. Start a quote if the business or risk is in California, and we will confirm eligibility before you spend time on it.
What happens after I start a quote?
Tell us about the coverage you need and complete the application. We use those details to approach suitable markets and may ask follow-up questions. Requesting a quote does not put coverage in force.
Ready to compare your coverage options?
Start your application online, or talk with a licensed broker about your situation.