Short answer: Most states set claim deadlines by regulation. Insurers typically have 7 to 30 days to acknowledge a claim, often about 15 to 60 days after proof of loss to accept or deny it, and in some states 5 to 60 days to pay. Florida, for example, requires residential property claims to be paid or denied within 60 days. Some, such as Massachusetts, Connecticut and Washington, D.C., set no fixed number of days and instead require reasonable promptness. This table covers every state and D.C., with a link to the source for each.
The table
| State | Acknowledge | Accept or deny | Pay | Source | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 15 days | 30 days after properly executed proofs of loss (or the time set in the policy), with updates every 45 days if more time is needed | 30 days after accepting liability, agreeing on the amount, and receiving documents needed to settle (or the time set in the policy) | Ala. Admin. Code r. 482-1-125-.06 | Guide |
| Alaska | 10 working days | 15 working days after a properly executed proof of loss (unless the policy sets another time), with updates every 45 working days | 30 working days after proof of loss for the undisputed part of a first-party claim | Alaska Division of Insurance claims page | Guide |
| Arizona | 10 working days | 15 working days after a properly executed proof of loss, with updates every 45 days if more time is needed | 30 days after an acceptable proof of loss for first-party claims; late payments earn interest | A.A.C. R20-6-801 | Guide |
| Arkansas | 15 working days | 15 working days after properly executed proofs of loss, with updates every 45 calendar days if more time is needed | 10 working days after the claim is processed and ready for payment (check mailed or delivered) | Arkansas Rule 43 | Guide |
| California | 15 calendar days | 40 calendar days after proof of claim (updates every 30 days if more time is needed) | 30 calendar days after acceptance | 10 CCR §2695.5 and §2695.7 | Guide |
| Colorado | No fixed number of days. The law says reasonably promptly | 60 days after a valid and complete claim, unless there is a reasonable dispute | 60 days after a valid and complete claim; if not paid, the insurer must explain why every 30 days | 3 CCR 702-5-1-14 | Guide |
| Connecticut | No fixed number of days. The law says reasonable promptness | No fixed number of days. The law says within a reasonable time after proof of loss | No fixed number of days for property claims | C.G.S. §38a-816(6) | Guide |
| Delaware | 15 working days | 30 days after proof of loss is received (or a written reason why the insurer can't decide yet) | No fixed number of days in the rule | 18 Del. Admin. Code 902 | Guide |
| Florida | 7 calendar days for residential property claims | 60 days after notice of the claim (pay or deny, in whole or in part) | the same 60-day window (late payments earn interest from the date of notice) | Fla. Stat. §627.70131 | Guide |
| Georgia | 15 days | 15 days after a completed proof of loss (30 days after the report if no proof of loss is required); 60 days total | No fixed number of days in the regulation | Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 120-2-52-.03 | Guide |
| Hawaii | 15 working days to respond to claim communications | No fixed number of days. The law says within a reasonable time after proof of loss | 30 calendar days after the insurer accepts liability, if the amount is settled and not in dispute | HRS §431:13-103(a)(11) | Guide |
| Idaho | No fixed number of days. The law says reasonably promptly | No fixed number of days. The law says within a reasonable time after proof of loss | No fixed number of days. If the insurer doesn't pay the amount justly due within 30 days after proof of loss, it may owe attorney fees in a lawsuit (Idaho Code §41-1839) | Idaho Code §41-1329 | Guide |
| Illinois | 15 working days for pertinent claim communications | No fixed decision deadline. A written explanation of the delay is due if the claim isn't resolved within 45 days (for fire and extended coverage, within 75 days or 25 days after proof of loss, whichever is less) | No fixed number of days is stated in the rule | 50 Ill. Adm. Code 919.40 | Guide |
| Indiana | No fixed number of days. The law says reasonably promptly | No fixed number of days. The law says within a reasonable time after proof of loss | No fixed number of days for property claims | Ind. Code §27-4-1-4.5 | Guide |
| Iowa | 15 days | 30 days after properly executed proofs of loss for first-party property claims, or a notice explaining why more time is needed | 30 days after the insurer accepts liability, if the amount is settled and not in dispute | Iowa Admin. Code r. 191-15.42 | Guide |
| Kansas | 10 working days | 15 working days after properly executed proofs of loss, with updates every 45 days if more time is needed | No fixed number of days in the rule | K.A.R. 40-1-34 (KID compilation) | Guide |
| Kentucky | 15 days | No fixed decision deadline, but if the insurer needs more time it must tell you within 30 calendar days after proof of loss, then every 45 days | 30 calendar days after proof of loss for any payment due | 806 KAR 12:095 | Guide |
| Louisiana | No fixed acknowledgment deadline. Loss adjustment must start within 14 days after notice (30 days after a catastrophic loss) | 30 days after satisfactory proof of loss (written offer to settle) | 30 days after satisfactory proof of loss | La. R.S. 22:1892 | Guide |
| Maine | No fixed number of days. The law says within a reasonable time | No separate deadline. Payment timing controls | 30 days after proof of loss and agreement on the amount (60 days for fire coverage); overdue undisputed amounts earn 1.5% interest a month | 24-A M.R.S. §2436 | Guide |
| Maryland | 15 working days | 15 working days after completed claim forms or proof of loss; a written explanation is due if the investigation takes more than 45 days, then every 45 days | No fixed number of days in the regulation | COMAR 31.15.07.03 | Guide |
| Massachusetts | No fixed number of days. The law says reasonably promptly | No fixed number of days. The law says within a reasonable time after proof of loss | No fixed number of days | M.G.L. c.176D §3(9) | Guide |
| Michigan | 30 days to specify the proof of loss needed | No fixed number of days | 60 days after proof of loss (overdue amounts earn 12% interest) | DIFS FIS-PUB 0216 | Guide |
| Minnesota | 10 business days | 30 business days after notice of the claim, unless the insurer explains why the investigation isn't done; also 60 business days after a properly executed proof of loss | 5 business days after a settlement is agreed | Minn. Stat. §72A.201 | Guide |
| Mississippi | No fixed number of days for property claims | No fixed number of days for property claims | No fixed number of days for property claims | Miss. Code §83-5-35 | Guide |
| Missouri | 10 working days | 15 working days after all forms are submitted, with updates every 45 days if more time is needed | No fixed number of days in the regulation | 20 CSR 100-1.030 | Guide |
| Montana | No fixed acknowledgment deadline in the statute | 30 days after proof of loss (60 days if the insurer reasonably asks for more information) | The same 30-day window (pay or deny) | MCA §33-18-232 | Guide |
| Nebraska | 15 days (the rule counts working days) | 15 days after settlement information or a properly executed proof of loss | No fixed number of days in the rule | 210 NAC ch. 60 | Guide |
| Nevada | 20 working days | 30 working days after properly executed proofs of loss | 30 days after the claim is accepted; late payments earn interest | NAC 686A.665 | Guide |
| New Hampshire | 10 working days | 30 days after notice of the claim (a complete decision on coverage and payment), or a delay letter with reasons and updates every 30 days | 5 working days after agreement on the amount or after the insurer receives the documents it asked for | N.H. Admin. Code Ins 1002.05 | Guide |
| New Jersey | 10 working days | 30 calendar days after proof of loss (or a written explanation of why more time is needed, with updates every 45 days) | 30 calendar days after properly executed proof of loss for first-party property claims | N.J.A.C. 11:2-17.6 | Guide |
| New Mexico | No fixed number of days. The law says reasonably promptly | No fixed number of days. The law says within a reasonable time after proof of loss | No fixed number of days for ordinary property claims | NMSA §59A-16-20 | Guide |
| New York | 15 business days | 15 business days after proof of loss and requested items (30 business days if arson is suspected); if the insurer needs more time, it must send updates every 90 days | 5 business days after a settlement is agreed | 11 NYCRR 216.4 | Guide |
| North Carolina | 30 days after written or electronic notice that identifies the coverage | No fixed number of days in the statute | No fixed number of days in the statute | G.S. 58-3-100(c) | Guide |
| North Dakota | No fixed number of days. The law says reasonable promptness | No fixed number of days. The law says within a reasonable time after proof of loss | No fixed number of days | N.D.C.C. §26.1-04-03 | Guide |
| Ohio | 15 days | 21 days after a properly executed proof of loss, with written updates at least every 45 days if more time is needed | 10 days after acceptance, when the amount is determined and not in dispute | Ohio Adm. Code 3901-1-54 | Guide |
| Oklahoma | 30 days | 60 days after properly executed proofs of loss (accept, deny, or say more investigation is needed) | No fixed number of days in the rule | 36 O.S. §1250.6 | Guide |
| Oregon | 30 days (acknowledge or pay) | No fixed number of days in this rule | No fixed number of days in the rule | OAR 836-080-0225 | Guide |
| Pennsylvania | 10 working days | 15 working days after properly executed proofs of loss; the investigation should finish within 30 days, with updates every 45 days if it takes longer | No fixed number of days is stated in the regulation | 31 Pa. Code §146.5 | Guide |
| Rhode Island | 15 days, in writing | 21 days after properly executed proofs of loss, or a notice explaining why more time is needed | No fixed number of days in the rule | 230-RICR-20-40-2 | Guide |
| South Carolina | No fixed number of days. The law says reasonable promptness | No fixed number of days in the statute | No fixed number of days in the statute | S.C. Code §38-59-20 | Guide |
| South Dakota | 30 days (acknowledge and act on claim communications) | No fixed number of days in the statute | No fixed number of days in the statute | SDCL §58-33-67 | Guide |
| Tennessee | 30 days | No fixed number of days in the rule | No fixed number of days. After a formal demand, an insurer that refuses in bad faith for 60 days can owe a penalty of up to 25% (T.C.A. §56-7-105) | Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-01-05-.07 | Guide |
| Texas | 15 days (30 business days for eligible surplus lines insurers) | 15 business days after receiving all requested items (30 days if arson is suspected; up to 45 more days if the insurer explains a delay) | 5 business days after notice of acceptance (20 business days for surplus lines) | Tex. Ins. Code ch. 542 | Guide |
| Utah | 15 days | 30 days after a complete proof of loss, with updates every 45 days if more time is needed | No fixed number of days in the rule | Utah Admin. Code R590-190-6 | Guide |
| Vermont | 10 business days | 15 business days after properly executed proofs of loss, or a notice explaining why more time is needed | No fixed number of days in the rule | Vermont Regulation I-79-2 | Guide |
| Virginia | 15 calendar days | 15 calendar days after a properly executed proof of loss, or an explanation of why more time is needed | No fixed number of days in the regulation | 14VAC5-400-50 | Guide |
| Washington | No separate deadline stated | 15 business days after completed forms, per the OIC (a 2026 rule proposal would change this) | No fixed number of days stated | OIC claim guide | Guide |
| Washington, D.C. | No fixed number of days. The law says reasonably promptly | No fixed number of days. The law says within a reasonable time | No fixed number of days | D.C. Code §31-2231.17 | Guide |
| West Virginia | 15 working days | 10 working days after the investigation is complete (deny in writing or make a written offer); written delay notices if more than 30 days after proof of loss | 15 working days after a settlement is agreed | W. Va. Code R. §114-14-5 | Guide |
| Wisconsin | No fixed acknowledgment deadline in the statute | No separate deadline. Payment timing controls | 30 days after written notice of the covered loss and its amount; overdue payments earn 7.5% simple interest a year | Wis. Stat. §628.46 | Guide |
| Wyoming | No fixed acknowledgment deadline in the statute | 45 days after the claim and supporting evidence (accept or reject, and pay) | The same 45-day window | W.S. §26-15-124 | Guide |
How to read it
- Many deadlines start only when the insurer has your proof of loss or the documents it asked for.
- "Working days" and "business days" leave out weekends and holidays.
- Most of these rules are for first-party claims. Auto, health and surplus lines claims can follow different rules.
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Methodology
Each row was checked against the state's statute, regulation or regulator guidance in October 2026. Where the rules set no fixed number of days, the table says so. This is general information, not legal advice.
Questions? Contact Alishahi Insurance or call (877) 711-4545.
Frequently asked questions
Which state has the shortest acknowledgment deadline?
Florida, at 7 calendar days for residential property claims.
Do all states set claim deadlines?
No. Massachusetts, Connecticut and Washington, D.C., for example, require reasonable promptness without a fixed number of days.
When does the clock start?
Often when the insurer receives your proof of loss and requested documents. Check your state's row.
Alishahi Insurance · 439 N Canon Dr, Penthouse, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 · (877) 711-4545 · CA License #4348151. General information only. This isn't legal, tax or financial advice or a coverage determination. Coverage depends on policy language and underwriting, and rules vary by state.