Who insures Vacant commercial buildings?
Vacant commercial buildings is a risk most standard carriers decline on sight. The markets below say in their own published appetite or program pages that they write it; each line links to that page with the date it was read.
6 markets publicly write Vacant commercial buildings: Kinsale Insurance, US Assure, Vacant Express, USLI, Prime Insurance Company and others. 3 E&S carriers, 2 program administrators, 1 admitted carrier. 1 through surplus lines.
By Sam Alishahi, independent insurance broker
Who says they write it
From each market's own appetite, product or program page (or a trade article quoting it), read on the date shown. Appetites change: the linked page controls. A market listed here isn't necessarily one this agency is appointed with; a licensed broker reaches most of them directly or through a wholesaler.
| Market | What they say they write | Where | Paper | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kinsale Insurance E&S carrier | Small property division writes vacant buildings as a target class (apartments, condominiums and dwellings avoided); the commercial property division also lists vacant buildings among target classes for buildings located in the 50 states. “including cannabis, daycare facilities, offices, vacant buildings” | not stated (commercial property page: buildings located in the 50 states) | not stated | kinsaleins.com · read 2026-10-28 |
| US Assure Program administrator | Vacant property insurance for completely vacant homes and commercial vacant buildings, including structures under repairs, remodeling or renovations at 19% or less of completed value; no more than two losses in the past three years; insured by an A-rated carrier. “offers coverage for completely vacant homes and commercial vacant buildings.” | Nationwide except AK and HI; non-admitted in CA | not stated | usassure.com · read 2026-10-28 |
| Vacant Express Program administrator | 3-, 6- and 12-month policies for buildings with prior commercial occupancy that are 100% vacant, vacant apartment/condominium buildings with more than four units, vacant commercial buildings undergoing repairs or renovation and brand new construction; buildings intended for demolition excluded; J.H. Ferguson & Associates, a member of GBLI | Global Indemnity. “Buildings with prior commercial occupancy that are 100% vacant and not being used for storage” | most states (not listed) | not stated | vacantexpress.com · read 2026-10-28 |
| USLI Admitted carrier | Property owners coverage for dwellings and vacant buildings (also residential condominium owners). “We offer coverage for the following types of properties: Dwellings, vacant buildings” | not stated | not stated | usli.com · read 2026-10-28 |
| Prime Insurance Company E&S carrier | Commercial property including a Vacant Properties class covering incidents at a facility or parcel of land while it is empty; accepts applicants with an extensive claims history. “We take applicants who have an extensive claims history that often prevents them from getting coverage elsewhere.” | all 50 states | Surplus lines | primeis.com · read 2026-10-28 |
| James River Insurance E&S carrier | General casualty (premises liability) target classes include vacant buildings/vacant land; the small accounts casualty division also lists vacant building; E&S specialty insurer. “Vacant Buildings/Vacant Land” | not stated on product page (company page: all fifty states and D.C.) | not stated | jrvrgroup.com · read 2026-10-28 |
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