Brentwood splits into two insurance markets. North of Sunset, estates and canyon homes are underwritten on wildfire exposure, access and rebuild cost. South of Sunset, condos and apartments raise HOA, earthquake and water damage questions.
Homes in Brentwood
Brentwood is a neighborhood of the City of Los Angeles. North of Sunset, Brentwood Park is known for large traditional homes on wide lots, while the canyons, including Mandeville Canyon, hold hillside and ranch-style properties reached by long, narrow roads. Custom rebuilds and extensive remodels are common throughout.
South of Sunset, along San Vicente Boulevard and toward Wilshire, the housing shifts to condominiums, townhomes and apartment buildings, along with smaller single-family streets such as Brentwood Glen. Owners here need HO-6 policies and coordination with HOA master coverage more often than estate programs.
Brentwood risks, and the coverage for each
Brentwood has been close to two destructive fires in recent years, which is reflected in how carriers treat hillside addresses here.
- WildfireThe 2019 Getty Fire destroyed homes in the Brentwood hills, and the 2025 Palisades Fire brought evacuation orders to canyon neighborhoods. Parts of Brentwood are in very high fire hazard severity zones; see FAIR Plan and DIC if carriers decline.
- Access and responseCanyon homes on a single road in and out are harder to defend and evacuate, and underwriters notice. Defensible space, ember-resistant vents and a documented roof help.
- EarthquakeHillside foundations, retaining walls and older condo buildings all raise earthquake exposure, which home and condo policies exclude. Earthquake coverage is separate.
- LiabilityPools, household staff and entertaining add liability exposure that an umbrella policy can extend above the home and auto limits.
Los Angeles County’s record: about 294,804 acres burned in the wildfires CAL FIRE posted from 2013 through 2025, the largest the Woolsey Fire (2018, 96,949 acres in all); 1,844 National Flood Insurance Program claims since 2005, paid $28 million; 15 federal major disaster declarations since 2000. The county’s full storm history; wildfires by county.
Non-renewals here: of the homeowners policies that came up for renewal in 2023, insurers declined 9.0% in 90049 (statewide, 9.4%), per California Department of Insurance figures. The FAIR Plan’s share of insured homes in 2022 was 11.8% in 90049 (statewide, 3.2%). Every year and every ZIP.
Insurance problems I see in Brentwood
- Canyon non-renewals. Hillside homes that were insured for years are being non-renewed. Start shopping the day the notice arrives; more time means more markets.
- Estates that outgrow standard limits. Brentwood Park homes often need high-value coverage built from the rebuild cost, with scheduled art and jewelry.
- Condo master policy gaps. Condo owners south of Sunset should read the HOA master policy to see where it stops, then set their HO-6 dwelling and loss assessment limits to match.
- Remodels and vacancy. Homes gutted for renovation may lose coverage under a standard policy; renovation coverage fills that period.
- Household employees. Nannies, housekeepers and gardeners raise workers’ compensation and liability questions that should be answered before a claim.
Serving Brentwood from Beverly Hills
Brentwood is a few miles west of my Beverly Hills office. I handle most Brentwood policies by phone and online, and I’m glad to meet at the office when there’s a lot of paperwork to review.
I don’t have an office in Brentwood. I serve Brentwood clients from my Beverly Hills office, and quotes, applications and policy changes are handled by phone and online. Call (424) 552-4545, answered 24/7, or send a quote request.
Brentwood insurance, answered
Why was my Brentwood home non-renewed when it has never had a claim?
Most wildfire non-renewals are about location and exposure, not claims. Carriers score distance to brush, slope, access and roof type. Another carrier, a surplus lines insurer or a FAIR Plan policy with DIC coverage may still write the home.
Does a Brentwood condo need earthquake insurance?
It’s a choice, but consider how the HOA handles earthquake. If the association has no quake coverage, or a high deductible, owners can face large assessments after a quake. A unit earthquake policy can include loss assessment coverage.
How much umbrella coverage should I carry?
There’s no single answer; it depends on what you own, your income and your exposures such as pools, staff, teen drivers and rental properties. I’ll walk through those rather than use a rule of thumb.
Does my homeowners policy cover my housekeeper if she’s hurt?
California homeowners policies generally include some workers’ compensation for residence employees, subject to conditions such as hours worked. Confirm the details on your policy, especially with several household employees.
General information about insurance in Brentwood as of September 2026, not legal advice. Hazard maps, local rules and carrier appetite change; check current CAL FIRE, FEMA and city or county sources for a specific address. Coverage depends on underwriting and the terms, conditions and exclusions of the policy actually issued.