Utica First Insurance Company
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 current official commercial underwriting guide is the October 1, 2024 Commercial Lines Underwriting Guide & Procedure Manual, which appears to supersede the older 2011 PDF. Utica First states it writes small and medium-sized commercial and personal lines business in CT, FL, MA, MD, NJ, NY, OH, PA, and VA. Commercial appetite is oriented to above-average risks with acceptable loss experience, positive management/housekeeping, compliance with safety recommendations, and proper insurance to value. The guide indicates a general loss tolerance of no more than 2 losses per location in the past 3 years, with each loss under $20,000, subject to class/program rules. Submission expectations commonly require a completed ACORD application or use of the Utica First quoting/binding platform, plus class-specific supplemental applications where applicable. For some classes the guide specifically calls for supplemental forms and declared high-value items. Commercial umbrella/excess is available only for some classes Utica First writes, generally up to $5,000,000 in $1,000,000 increments, and may be written over commercial auto; website directs insureds/producers to work through a local independent agent. The commercial guide shows restrictions such as alcoholic beverage receipts generally not exceeding 40% for eligible food/grocery/supermarket-type liquor risks, no liquor legal liability for taverns, assault and battery exclusion on taverns, no Protection Class 10 for taverns, required semi-annual hood/duct service for taverns, and no sale/serving of cannabis, THC, or CBD products in that tavern section. The guide also identifies certain ineligible tenant classes including medical, religious, political/government, and fitness/gym risks, and references classes marked 'no new business' in class submission lists. For Home, verified current official personal lines guidance located was the New York Homeowners Agency Underwriting Guidelines effective November 1, 2024. Home appetite includes Elite/Special/Classic/Standard, tenant/condo, and seasonal/secondary programs, with mandatory replacement-cost estimation via E2Value (or equivalent), minimum deductibles, and construction/protection criteria. Examples: Special program is for newer homes built 1985 or newer, roof 20 years or newer, loss free in prior 5 years, and seasonal properties are not eligible; Classic targets homes built 1920-1949 with roof 20 years or less; Standard catches other eligible risks with no more than one loss in prior 5 years and no roof over 25 years old. Utility and condition rules include thermostatically controlled central heat, supplemental heat not as primary source, minimum 100-amp breakers (200-amp if electric heat), and no fuses, knob-and-tube, aluminum wiring, or Federal Pacific breakers. New business provisions in the NY home guide make risks ineligible if coming from non-standard/excess-surplus markets, if prior coverage was cancelled or non-renewed by the prior carrier, or if there is a lapse in coverage. Seasonal/secondary homes require underwriter approval. For higher-value homes, Coverage A at $1,000,000 or more requires central station fire alarm in eligible programs. Landlord package guidance within the personal manual states signed applications must be submitted to and approved by the company before binding, and some personal umbrella-type exposures show binding authority as none. Broker/producer notes: Utica First’s agent portal supports quoting/binding new policies, policy service, reports, commissions, and loss runs; website and product pages direct business through independent agents.