Pacific Specialty
Carrier website links, underwriting access points, mapped product lines, and appetite notes in one place.
This appetite summary is only a guide. Confirm eligibility, submission requirements, restrictions, and binding authority directly with the carrier or underwriter before relying on it.
Carrier appetite summary
Verified official underwriting material found for California Homeowners and California Pleasure Boat. For Homeowners, PSIC’s current published HO-3 manual (Ed. 14) is for owner-occupied single-family dwellings used principally for private residential purposes, with only one family, no more than two roomers/boarders, and no space rented to others. Published dwelling limits are $70,000 minimum and $3,500,000 maximum. Preferred fit is standard owner-occupied, well-maintained primary residences on permanent foundations with acceptable fire protection and evident pride of ownership. Key submit-for-approval items include replacement cost above $1.3M new / $1.6M renewal, private-party lenders, more than two unrelated individuals on deed of trust, disputed prior-loss circumstances, FireLine score above 3 unless paired with PO39 Difference in Conditions and concurrent CA FAIR Plan/equivalent, wood-burning stoves with completed inspection report/form PU1 and photo, and homes in or near brush/forested/high fire hazard areas unless PO39 is attached. Declined or unacceptable home risks include protection class 9 or 10 unless PO39 DIC is attached, isolated/inaccessible properties, landslide or mudslide areas, distressed neighborhoods or condemned dwellings, pools/spas not code compliant or not secured, pools with slides/diving boards unless excluded, unmaintained/partially filled pools, trampolines unless excluded, homes built before 1900, barns over $20,000 or farming/ranching equipment, mobile/modular/trailer/boat/houseboat/floating/prefab/canvas-type dwellings, unusual or irreplaceable construction, poor maintenance, non-permanent foundations, posts/stilts/pilings, certain poor-condition or prohibited roof types, seasonal or secondary homes, FAIR Plan/residual market participation unless written with PO39, prohibited animals/dog exposures, exotic/farm animals, and risks not occupied within 15 days of requested effective date. Operationally, all application questions must be fully completed; for online-bound business, signed applications and supporting documents must follow issuance. For non-online submissions, PSIC requires a fully completed PSIC application signed by applicant and producer, premium/down payment, and mailing within 15 days if paid in full or 5 days if direct bill is requested. Every HO-3 new and renewal risk is subject to independent inspection. PSIC also publishes catastrophe and emergency binding restrictions, including 30-day earthquake binding suspensions after a 5.0+ event within 150 miles of the epicenter and discretionary restrictions for fire, flood, mudslide, tropical storm/hurricane, or concentration management. For Boat/Watercraft, the official California Pleasure Boat guide (Ed. 4) shows a standard appetite for privately owned pleasure boats insured to full value, with hull/motor/trailer/accessories listed, current registrations included, and operation on U.S./Canada navigable waters including coastal waters up to 20 nautical miles offshore. Eligible craft are generally 15-26 feet for power boats and up to 36 feet for sailboats, owned/operated by insureds, household family members, or permissive users. Physical damage is available up to $75,000; agreed value is available for additional charge but not acceptable on watercraft over 25 years old. Submission requirements are more document-heavy: signed PSIC application by applicant and producer, full premium or down payment, all household operators listed or excluded, mailing/postmark within 2 business days of requested effective date, and inspection evidence/photos depending on value; boats under $50,000 need applicant inspection certification, photos, prior PD policy, or recent dealer sales contract if new; $50,000-$75,000 requires complete left-front and right-rear photos; agreed value may require receipt or market-value support from BUC, ABOS, NADA, dealer, or marine survey. Boat declines include missing mandatory lighting/safety equipment, higher-horsepower replacement engines, engine modifications without prior approval, more than 3 owners, business/commercial use, rental for a fee, loaned watercraft, apartment/common-area storage, unsupported power sources, full-time or seasonal residence use, under-construction or damaged craft, racing/speed-use or race-modified craft, more than 2 trailers, more than 3 motors excluding trolling motors, speed over 120 mph, corporate/business ownership, tunnel hull/pickle fork/hydroplane/airboat/inflatables, personal watercraft/wet bikes/watercycles, houseboats/homemade/ferro-cement/ice boats, older wood hull PD risks, boats over age 25 for PD unless renewal, under-18 named insureds, and operators without a verifiable valid license. Broker/producer notes: PSIC maintains an official Producer Center and login workflow; onboarding requires producer information review by underwriting, and active producers can quote/bind through the producer platform. Practical takeaway: PSIC’s published appetite is more clearly documented for California homeowners and pleasure boats than on its public marketing pages, with significant wildfire/catastrophe controls, strong documentation expectations, and several exposures handled only with DIC/FAIR Plan structure or prior underwriter approval.