Providing relief to Washington consumers from 2026 wildfires by addressing grace periods for nonpayment of premium and temporarily prohibiting cancellation and nonrenewal of property and automobile policies

PATTY KUDERER

STATE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER

STATE OF WASHINGTON

OFFICE OF

INSURANCE COMMISSIONER

Phone: 360-725-7000

www.insurance.wa.gov

Mailing Address: PO Box 40255 Olympia, WA 98504-0255

Street Address: 5000 Capitol Blvd Tumwater, WA 98501

Emergency Order No. 26-01

To:

All insurers authorized or admitted to transact property and/or automobile

insurance business in Washington State

From:

Patty Kuderer, Insurance Commissioner

Subject:

Providing relief to Washington consumers from 2026 wildfires by

addressing grace periods for nonpayment of premium and temporarily

prohibiting cancellation and nonrenewal of property and automobile

policies

Pursuant to RCW 48.02.060(4), the Insurance Commissioner of the state of Washington

(“Insurance Commissioner”) orders all property insurers, as follows:

A. Between August 3, 2026, and September 30, 2026, all regulated entities transacting

any property or automobile insurance business shall provide grace periods of no

less than 45 days for nonpayment of premium and shall waive otherwise

applicable charges and fees associated with nonpayment of premium, such as late

fees and reinstatement fees.

B. Between August 3, 2026, and September 30, 2026, no property or automobile

insurer shall cancel a policy issued for nonpayment of premium, unless

specifically directed to do so by the insured.

C. Between August 3, 2026, and September 30, 2026, the 60-day notice period for

nonrenewal notices in RCW 48.18.2901(1)(a)(i) is suspended during the state of

emergency. No property insurer shall issue a notice of nonrenewal less than 120

days before the expiration date of the policy.

D. Between August 3, 2026, and September 30, 2026, the 60-day notice period for

cancellation notices in RCW 48.18.290(1)(a) is suspended during the state of

emergency. No property insurer shall issue a notice of cancellation less than 120

days before the expiration date of the policy.

E

property insurer shall issue a notice of nonrenewal less than 120

days before the expiration date of the policy.

D. Between August 3, 2026, and September 30, 2026, the 60-day notice period for

cancellation notices in RCW 48.18.290(1)(a) is suspended during the state of

emergency. No property insurer shall issue a notice of cancellation less than 120

days before the expiration date of the policy.

E. Between August 3, 2026, and September 30, 2026, the 20-day notice period for

nonrenewal notices in RCW 48.18.292(1)(a) is suspended during the state of

emergency. No automobile insurer shall issue a notice of nonrenewal less than 60

days before the expiration date of the policy.

OFFICE OF THE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER

Emergency Order No. 26-01 Re: 2026 Wildfires

Page 2

F. Between August 3, 2026, and September 30, 2026, the 20-day notice period for

cancellation notices in RCW 48.18.291(1) is suspended during the state of

emergency. No automobile insurer shall issue a notice of cancellation less than

60 days before the expiration date of the policy.

Basis

1. On August 1, 2026, the Governor issued Proclamation 26-03 declaring an

emergency related to the multiple ongoing wildfires in Western, Central, and

Eastern Washington as well as the dry weather conditions that have persisted in

the state since 2023. The proclamation provides in pertinent part as follows

(emphasis added):

I, Bob Ferguson, Governor of the state of Washington, as a result of the above-

noted situation and under Chapters 38.52 and 43.06 RCW, do hereby proclaim that

a State of Emergency exists throughout the state of Washington, and direct the

plans and procedures in the Washington State Comprehensive Emergency

Management Plan be implemented

provides in pertinent part as follows

(emphasis added):

I, Bob Ferguson, Governor of the state of Washington, as a result of the above-

noted situation and under Chapters 38.52 and 43.06 RCW, do hereby proclaim that

a State of Emergency exists throughout the state of Washington, and direct the

plans and procedures in the Washington State Comprehensive Emergency

Management Plan be implemented. State agencies and departments are directed

to utilize state resources in accordance with the Washington State Comprehensive

Emergency Management Plan and to do everything reasonably possible to assist

affected political subdivisions to respond to and recover from the dangerous

wildfire conditions.

2. Wildfires have already caused significant damage to lands, infrastructure, and

homes, and the threat to life and property from wildfire remains significant and

may cause more extensive damage to homes, businesses, public facilities, natural

resources, agricultural lands, infrastructure, and utilities, which is a public disaster

that affects life, health, property, and/or the public peace.

3. RCW 48.02.060(4)(b) & (c) provides in pertinent part that, when the Governor

proclaims a state of emergency under RCW 43.06.010(12), the Insurance

Commissioner may issue an order that addresses any or all of the following matters

related to insurance policies issued in this state: (b) grace periods for payment of

insurance premiums and performance of other duties by insureds; and (c)

temporary postponement of cancellations or nonrenewals.

4. RCW 48.02.060(5) provides that an order by the Insurance Commissioner under

subsection (4) of this section may remain effective for not more than sixty (60) days

unless the Insurance Commissioner extends the termination date for the order for

an additional period of not more than thirty (30) days. The Insurance

Commissioner may extend the order if, in the Insurance Commissioner’s judgment,

the circumstances warrant an extension

der by the Insurance Commissioner under

subsection (4) of this section may remain effective for not more than sixty (60) days

unless the Insurance Commissioner extends the termination date for the order for

an additional period of not more than thirty (30) days. The Insurance

Commissioner may extend the order if, in the Insurance Commissioner’s judgment,

the circumstances warrant an extension. An order of the Insurance Commissioner

under subsection (4) of this section is not effective after the related state of

emergency is terminated by proclamation of the Governor under RCW 43.06.210.

The order must specify, by line of insurance:

(a) the geographic areas in which the order applies, which must be within

but may be less extensive than the geographic area specified in the Governor’s

OFFICE OF THE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER

Emergency Order No. 26-01 Re: 2026 Wildfires

Page 3

proclamation of a state of emergency and must be specific according to an

appropriate means of delineation, such as the United States postal service zip

codes or other appropriate means; and

(b) the date on which the order becomes effective and the date on which the

order terminates.

5. Emergency action by the Insurance Commissioner is necessary to protect the

property, safety and welfare of Washington citizens affected by the 2026

Wildfires in the state of Washington.

Order

Now, therefore, the Insurance Commissioner hereby activates the provisions of RCW

48.02.060(4)(b) & (c) in order to protect the property, safety and welfare of Washington

citizens affected by the 2026 wildfires in the state of Washington, as set forth above.

This Emergency Order shall remain in effect until September 30, 2026, subject to the further

order of the Insurance Commissioner extending its effect.

The geographical extent of this Emergency Order is all zip codes, and adjacent zip codes of

the state of Washington where (1) wildfires have burned homes and other structures and/or

2026 wildfires in the state of Washington, as set forth above.

This Emergency Order shall remain in effect until September 30, 2026, subject to the further

order of the Insurance Commissioner extending its effect.

The geographical extent of this Emergency Order is all zip codes, and adjacent zip codes of

the state of Washington where (1) wildfires have burned homes and other structures and/or

(2) official evacuation orders are issued.

This Emergency Order is effective immediately and is entered at Olympia, Washington, this

3rd day of August, 2026.

Patty Kuderer

Insurance Commissioner

Office of the Insurance Commissioner | 800-562-6900

Purpose

This notice lists the affected areas subject to the August 3, 2026 Wildfire Emergency Order (Emergency

Order No. 26-01) by ZIP code.

Affected areas subject to the emergency order

ZIP codes listed below are covered by the Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) Emergency Order

No. 26-01 issued on August 3, 2026.

County

ZIP codes

Adams

99344

Benton

98944

Chelan

98801, 98816, 98817, 98822

Douglas

98802, 98830, 98843, 98845, 98850, 98858, 99115, 99133

Ferry

99138, 99140, 99141, 99166

Franklin

99343

Grant

98823, 98837, 98848, 99123, 99321, 99349, 99357

Kittitas

98926, 98950

Lincoln

99029, 99103, 99117, 99122, 99147, 99185

Okanogan

98812, 98813, 98819, 98827, 98829, 98840, 98841, 98844, 98846, 98849, 98855,

98856, 98859, 98862, 99116, 99124, 99155

Pend Oreille

99119, 99139, 99153, 99156, 99180

Spokane

99001, 99003, 99004, 99005, 99006, 99009, 99016, 99020, 99021, 99022, 99023,

99025, 99026, 99027, 99031, 99036, 99037, 99201, 99202, 99203, 99204, 99205,

99206, 99207, 99208, 99212, 99216, 99217, 99218, 99223, 99224, 99251

Stevens

99013, 99034, 99040, 99101, 99109, 99110, 99114, 99126, 99129, 99131, 99137,

99148, 99157, 99167, 99173

Pend Oreille

99119, 99139, 99153, 99156, 99180

Spokane

99001, 99003, 99004, 99005, 99006, 99009, 99016, 99020, 99021, 99022, 99023,

99025, 99026, 99027, 99031, 99036, 99037, 99201, 99202, 99203, 99204, 99205,

99206, 99207, 99208, 99212, 99216, 99217, 99218, 99223, 99224, 99251

Stevens

99013, 99034, 99040, 99101, 99109, 99110, 99114, 99126, 99129, 99131, 99137,

99148, 99157, 99167, 99173

Office of the Insurance Commissioner | 800-562-6900

2

Yakima

98901, 98902, 98903, 98908, 98933, 98936, 98937, 98939, 98948, 98951, 98952,

98953

This information was updated on August 4, 2026. As the wildfire situation changes, the OIC will update

the listed ZIP codes. The OIC will post updated information on the website and send it through

GovDelivery.

Insurers are also encouraged to allow consumers to attest to being affected by the fires and, in good

faith, try to provide relief.

Insurers are encouraged to consider any alternative workplaces for employees or secondary business

locations that may be outside of the principal place of business and were affected by an evacuation

order.

This notice takes effect immediately.