The national Homeowners guide covers the ISO HO forms, coverages and exclusions. This guide covers Mississippi's homeowners rules:

• the 45-day notice law for cancellation and nonrenewal (Miss. Code 83-5-28, as amended in 2025)
• the Homeowner Policyholder Bill of Rights (19 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 1, Ch. 34)
• named storm and hurricane deductibles (Ch. 41)
• the flood notice, the roof-age law and the coastal and rural residual markets

Cancellation, nonrenewal and renewal changes (83-5-28)

• For coverage issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2026 (HB 1611 of 2025), a notice of cancellation, nonrenewal or reduction must be mailed or delivered at least 45 days before it takes effect. The notice goes to the insured and any named creditor loss payee.
• A renewal with any term less favorable to the policyholder also needs 45 days' notice.
• Nonpayment cancellations aren't covered by this section. If there's a named creditor loss payee, at least 10 days' notice is required.
• If the insurer doesn't give proper notice, the insured may keep the policy for the rest of the notice period plus 45 days at the existing terms.
• Affiliate transfers: the insurer notifies the Department 45 days before telling policyholders.
  • The receiving affiliate must be at least as financially strong.
  • The new policy must be substantially similar: the same basic coverages, though incidental coverages and wording may differ.
• These notice rules are written into every liability, fire and multiperil policy, whether or not they're stated.

Roof age: since July 1, 2024 (SB 2130), an insurer can't cancel a policy or binder, or deny coverage on a residential structure, solely because of the roof's age.

Homeowner Policyholder Bill of Rights (Ch. 34)

• Since September 1, 2009, every homeowners policy delivered, issued or renewed must include a copy (Rule 34.04).
• It applies to personal residential coverage. That includes surplus lines, the MWUA, the MRPIUA, condo, dwelling fire, renters and mobile home policies. Creditor-placed coverage is excluded.
• Rights include:
  • a written explanation of any claim denial and of any cancellation or nonrenewal
  • copies of non-privileged adjuster, engineer and contractor reports used on the claim
  • the right to reject any settlement offer
  • the right to cancel and receive unearned premium (paid to a premium finance company if it funded the policy)
  • no denial, nonrenewal or rating based solely on credit
  • the right to file a complaint with the Department
• At issue and every renewal, the insurer provides an outline of coverage and a policy checklist.
  • The checklist shows whether perils like fire, wind and hail, flood, earthquake, collapse, mold and theft are covered.
  • It also shows coverages like debris removal, loss assessment and named storm deductibles.
  • The checklist is informational only. The policy controls (Rule 34.05).
• In an all-risk policy, the insurer bears the burden of proving that an exclusion applies (Rule 34.06).
• Mississippi law gives insureds a duty to read the policy (Rule 34.01).

Flood and earthquake notice (Reg. 2006-2)

• A written notice of the flood and earthquake exclusions is required at issue and every renewal. A statement goes on or with the declarations page in 10-point type.
• The notice says flood coverage requires a separate NFIP policy. It also says the flood exclusion may exclude damage from storm surge, surface water, flash floods, waves and tidal water.

Named storm and hurricane deductibles (Ch. 41)

• Insurers don't have to use these deductibles. If they do, they must follow the rule (Rule 41.04).
• A named storm is one named by the National Hurricane Center. A hurricane deductible is a percentage wind deductible that applies during a hurricane.
• The deductible period starts when a watch or warning is issued for any part of Mississippi. It ends 24 hours after the last watch or warning ends (Rule 41.06).
• With a percentage deductible, the insurer must offer an actuarially sound buy-back, unless waived (Rule 41.05). The dollar amount of the deductible must appear on the declarations page (Rule 41.08).

Residual markets

• Mississippi Windstorm Underwriting Association (MWUA) (83-34-1):
  • Writes windstorm and hail coverage in the six-county coast area: Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Pearl River, Stone and George.
  • It has no members. Every insurer writing property insurance directly is an assessable insurer.
  • It doesn't participate in the guaranty association.
• Mississippi Residential Property Insurance Underwriting Association (MRPIUA) (83-38):
  • Assures a market for residential fire and extended coverage in rural and other areas.
  • Coverage is capped at 95% of market value, excluding land.
  • Neighborhood and environmental hazards can't be considered.
  • Wind and hail in Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties go through the MWUA.
• See the Mississippi Other Property Insurance guide for details.

Mitigation grants and public adjusters

• Strengthen Mississippi Homes (83-1-191, as amended by SB 2409 of 2026): grants of up to $10,000 to retrofit a single-family primary residence to the IBHS FORTIFIED roof standard. A FORTIFIED certificate is required before payment.
• Public adjusters (83-17-523):
  • Fees are capped at 10% of the settlement. Since 2024, the fee is also limited to 10% of the amount above any written offer made before the contract.
  • Clients may cancel without penalty for 5 business days.
  • A public adjuster may not take part in repairs on a claim he or she adjusts.

Common exam traps

• Notice to cancel, nonrenew or reduce: 45 days for coverage on or after July 1, 2026. With a creditor loss payee, nonpayment needs 10 days.
• No cancellation or denial solely for roof age.
• The Bill of Rights and policy checklist come with every policy and renewal.
• In an all-risk policy, the insurer proves the exclusion.
• The named storm deductible period starts with a watch or warning anywhere in Mississippi and ends 24 hours after the last one ends.
• MWUA: six coastal counties, wind and hail only.