The 30-second version
- The declarations page is the 2-3 page summary at the front of your policy — it lists everything you're actually covered for.
- Coverage A (dwelling) should be at 100% of replacement cost — not market value, not what you paid.
- Wildfire and smoke are usually included in standard California policies but may have separate deductibles.
- Code-upgrade coverage (Ordinance & Law) is usually undersized — check yours, it matters for post-loss rebuilds.
What the declarations page is
Every homeowners insurance policy has a "declarations page" (sometimes called "the dec page" or "coverage summary") — a 2-3 page summary at the front that lists exactly what you're covered for, in what amounts, and under what deductibles. It's the practical reference document — the rest of the policy is 60-100 pages of legal language defining terms and exclusions.
Most homeowners glance at the declarations page when the policy renews and never read it carefully. The result: they find out what's not covered after a loss. This guide walks through the LA-specific things to check.
Coverage A: Dwelling
The primary coverage for the physical structure of your home. Should be at 100% of replacement cost — the amount it would cost to fully rebuild your home from scratch at current construction rates. In LA in 2026:
- Basic reconstruction runs $250-$400/sqft for standard finishes
- Higher-end reconstruction runs $400-$700/sqft for premium finishes
- Estate-level reconstruction can exceed $1,000/sqft
If your dwelling coverage is significantly below current-market replacement cost, you're underinsured. A common failure mode: coverage was set at replacement cost 10 years ago and never updated for LA construction inflation. Check with your carrier — they typically offer a "replacement cost estimator" service and increased coverage is often less expensive than expected.
Coverage B: Other Structures
Detached structures on your property — garages, sheds, fences, gazebos, ADUs, pool cabanas. Typically 10% of dwelling coverage by default. If you have significant detached improvements, verify the coverage is adequate.
Coverage C: Personal Property
Everything inside your home that isn't the structure. Typically 50-70% of dwelling coverage. Two important sub-topics:
- Actual Cash Value vs Replacement Cost: ACV pays what your used stuff is worth (depreciated). Replacement cost pays what it costs to buy new. Verify you have replacement cost — the premium delta is small and the recovery differential is enormous.
- Sub-limits on specific categories: jewelry, art, firearms, cash, and business property have specific per-item and category caps ($1,500-$5,000 typical). If you have valuable items exceeding these caps, add scheduled personal property endorsements.
Coverage D: Loss of Use (Additional Living Expenses)
Pays for temporary housing, meals, and other expenses if your home is uninhabitable during repair or rebuild. Typically 20-30% of dwelling coverage. For a post-wildfire full rebuild that takes 18-30 months, this coverage is critical — verify you have enough to house your family for that duration at LA rental rates. Many LA residents post-Palisades found their ALE was inadequate for the actual duration and cost.
Ordinance & Law (code-upgrade coverage)
This is the sneaky one. When you rebuild after a loss, current building code applies — including Chapter 7A for VHFHSZ properties, current energy code, current seismic code. If your policy has 10% Ordinance & Law coverage (the default), that pays for up to 10% of dwelling coverage in code-upgrade costs. On a $1M dwelling that's $100k of code-upgrade coverage — often insufficient for a Chapter 7A rebuild in a VHFHSZ.
Recommendation: bump Ordinance & Law to 25-50% of dwelling coverage. The premium delta is small (usually $50-$200/year) and the potential recovery differential can be $200-$500k on a major rebuild.
Wildfire coverage and deductibles
California policies typically include wildfire and smoke damage. But check for:
- Separate wildfire deductible: some carriers apply a higher deductible specifically for wildfire claims (2-5% of dwelling vs the 0.5-1% typical for other perils). On a $1M dwelling that's $20-$50k out of pocket instead of $5-$10k.
- Smoke damage sub-limit: some policies cap smoke damage cleanup at $10-$25k regardless of dwelling coverage. Verify this isn't undersized for a major smoke event.
- Debris removal: post-fire debris removal is expensive ($30-$80k for a typical LA home). Standard policies cover this as part of dwelling but verify.
Personal liability
Typically $300,000-$500,000 default. If your net worth exceeds the coverage amount, consider an umbrella policy — much cheaper per dollar of coverage than raising the home policy limit.
Medical payments to others
Typically $1,000-$5,000 for guests injured on your property (no-fault coverage). Rarely relevant but not worth reducing.
What to actually do
- Pull your declarations page (usually emailed at renewal, or available in the carrier portal).
- Verify Coverage A dwelling is at current replacement cost, not what it was 5-10 years ago.
- Verify Ordinance & Law is at 25-50% of dwelling coverage, especially in VHFHSZ.
- Verify Coverage D (ALE) is adequate for 18-30 months at LA rental rates.
- Check for separate wildfire deductibles and smoke sub-limits.
- Confirm Coverage C (personal property) is replacement cost, not actual cash value.
- Add scheduled personal property endorsements for valuables exceeding category sub-limits.
Halo Build Co can quote current LA-market reconstruction cost for insurance valuation purposes — useful if you're trying to right-size your Coverage A. Request a valuation consultation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the declarations page of my homeowners insurance policy?
The declarations page (or 'dec page') is the 2-3 page summary at the front of your policy that lists everything you're actually covered for — dwelling coverage, other structures, personal property, loss of use, liability, deductibles, and endorsements. It's the practical reference; the rest of the policy defines legal terms and exclusions. Most homeowners never read it carefully until after a loss.
How much dwelling coverage should I have on my LA home?
Dwelling coverage should equal 100% of current-market replacement cost — what it would cost to rebuild your home from scratch at current LA construction rates. In 2026 LA: $250-$400/sqft for standard finishes, $400-$700/sqft for premium, $1,000+/sqft for estate-level. If your dwelling coverage hasn't been updated in 5-10 years, it's likely underinsured relative to current construction cost.
Do I have wildfire coverage on my LA homeowners policy?
Almost certainly yes — California policies typically include wildfire and smoke damage. But check the declarations page for: (1) separate wildfire deductibles (some carriers apply 2-5% of dwelling for wildfire vs 0.5-1% for other perils), (2) smoke damage sub-limits ($10-$25k caps on some policies regardless of dwelling coverage), and (3) debris removal coverage adequate for post-fire cleanup ($30-$80k typical).