ANSWER
For a condo, you usually need two layers: the HOA’s master policy for the building/common areas and your own HO-6 policy for the inside of your unit, personal belongings, liability, and loss of use. Standard policies do not cover earthquakes, and California says floods and landslides also require separate coverage.
YOUR NEXT DECISION
Turn the answer into your next step
- Get the HOA master-policy summary and declarations.
- Buy an HO-6 condo policy for the unit interior, belongings, liability, and loss of use.
- Ask about separate earthquake coverage.
- Do not assume flood or landslide damage is included.
What to buy for a condo
A condo owner should carry an HO-6 policy, while the HOA carries the master policy for the building and shared areas. The HO-6 is the part that protects what your HOA usually does not: your belongings, interior features, liability, and temporary living costs if a covered loss makes the unit unlivable.
- HO-6 is the standard condo-owner policy.
- The HOA master policy usually covers the structure and common areas.
- Read the association documents to see whether the master policy is bare walls, single-entity, or all-in.
What this means for hazards in California
Separate coverage is needed for earthquakes, and California says homeowners, renters, and condominium policies do not cover earthquake, flood, or landslide damage. That means a condo owner in Monterey Bay should not assume the base condo policy handles those risks.
- Earthquake damage needs a separate policy or endorsement.
- Flood damage is not part of standard condo or homeowners coverage.
- Landslide damage is also excluded from standard coverage.
What to verify before you bind coverage
Check the HOA’s master policy summary, bylaws, and declarations so you know where the association’s coverage ends and your own starts. Then ask your insurer whether your HO-6 limits fit the unit’s interior boundary and whether you need separate earthquake coverage.
- Confirm the master-policy type and deductible responsibility.
- Make sure your policy includes liability and loss of use.
- Ask whether any separate earthquake policy is available through the carrier or another source.
Sources
- Earthquake Insurance - California Department of Insurance ↗
- California Homeowners Insurance Guide: Coverage, Costs ↗
- What Condo Owners Need to Know About Master Policies (Updated May 2026) ↗
- HOA Insurance Explained for Boards and Homeowners ↗
- Condo vs. Townhome Insurance | Reasons Insurance ↗
- Condo Insurance California: What Your HOA Doesn't Cover | Blackstone ↗
KEEP EXPLORING
More CSUMB resources when you need them
Ask a follow-up about CSUMB
Ask a question to get the answer first. CH2 opens a tool or broader page directly only when you ask to use or view it.