Burbank’s insurance questions follow its geography and its industry. Foothill homes face wildfire underwriting, the equestrian Rancho neighborhood raises horse liability, many owners are adding ADUs, and a large share of residents work in entertainment, often as independent contractors.
Homes in Burbank
Much of Burbank was built in the 1940s and 1950s, with streets of modest single-family homes on the flats, including around Magnolia Park. Many have been expanded, and a growing number of lots now include a backyard ADU or garage conversion.
Toward the northeast, hillside neighborhoods climb into the Verdugo Mountains. Near Griffith Park, the Rancho area is zoned for horses, with homes, stables and corrals on the same lot. Apartment and condo buildings are spread through the flats and near downtown and the Media District.
Burbank risks, and the coverage for each
Burbank’s biggest property exposures sit along the foothills, while liability questions come from horses, ADU tenants and home businesses.
- Wildfire in the VerdugosThe 2017 La Tuna Fire burned in the Verdugo Mountains above Burbank, and hillside neighborhoods are in higher fire hazard severity zones. When carriers decline, see FAIR Plan and DIC coverage.
- EarthquakeThe Verdugo fault runs along the foothills, and many Burbank homes predate modern seismic standards. Quake damage is excluded from home policies; earthquake insurance is separate.
- Horses in the RanchoHomeowners policies often limit liability for horses, especially when others ride or board them, and stables need their own other-structures limit.
- Debris after firesBurned slopes above hillside streets can send mud down in heavy rain. Earth movement is generally excluded from home policies; a flood policy may cover mudflow as it defines it.
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 6.7% in 91501, 7.5% in 91502, 7.3% in 91504, 7.2% in 91505 and 7.4% in 91506 (statewide, 9.4%), per California Department of Insurance figures. The FAIR Plan’s share of insured homes in 2022 was 5.0% in 91501, 2.5% in 91502, 2.7% in 91504, 1.2% in 91505 and 0.9% in 91506 (statewide, 3.2%). Every year and every ZIP.
Insurance problems I see in Burbank
- ADUs added without telling the carrier. A new unit raises the rebuild cost and, once rented, changes the liability exposure. Update the policy before the tenant moves in.
- Freelancers without coverage. Editors, camera operators and crew who work as independent contractors are often asked for certificates of insurance. General liability, professional liability and equipment coverage are common.
- Small production companies. Production and post-production companies need property, liability, workers’ comp and often cyber coverage for client files.
- Postwar homes with original systems. Older electrical panels, galvanized plumbing and aging roofs limit carriers until updates are documented.
- Foothill non-renewals. Homes near the Verdugos face the same wildfire non-renewals as the rest of the Southern California foothills.
Serving Burbank from Beverly Hills
Burbank is over the hills from my Beverly Hills office, and I serve Burbank homeowners and entertainment professionals by phone and online. For a production client or a new job, I can issue certificates of insurance once a policy is in force.
I don’t have an office in Burbank. I serve Burbank 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.
Burbank insurance, answered
I work in entertainment as an independent contractor. Do I need my own insurance?
Often, yes. Productions and studios may ask for general liability, professional liability or proof of workers’ compensation if you have employees, and your own equipment usually isn’t covered by a homeowners or renters policy once it’s used for work.
Does my homeowners policy cover my horse property in the Rancho?
The house is covered as usual, but stables and corrals need adequate other-structures limits, and liability involving horses is often limited or excluded. Boarding or lessons for others are typically treated as a business.
How do I insure a Burbank ADU I rent out?
Tell your carrier, raise the limits to cover the unit, and confirm the policy allows a rental. Some carriers endorse the homeowners policy; others require a separate landlord policy for the ADU.
Is earthquake insurance worth it for an older Burbank home?
It depends on your finances and the home. Older homes may benefit from bolting and bracing, which can reduce damage and may open more earthquake policy options. The deductible is the key number to compare.
General information about insurance in Burbank 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.