Reviewed by Lee Benson, licensed Arizona broker. Updated October 27, 2026.
Start with the written notice and the property’s current condition. An insurer may decline or non-renew because of occupancy, building condition, losses or its own appetite. The stated reason helps identify what information another underwriter may need; it does not guarantee a replacement option.
Start a property insurance intake and include the notice date, requested effective date and any lender or lease deadline. An intake is a request for review and does not bind coverage.
What does the notice mean?
| Situation | What to review next |
|---|---|
| New submission declined | The insurer’s stated reason, submission details and possible alternatives. |
| Existing policy non-renewed | The notice, expiration date, renewal correspondence and replacement requirements. |
| Existing policy cancelled | The reason, stated effective date, payment history and applicable cancellation terms. |
A building update or a change in occupancy may affect the review. Describe what has actually changed, with records where available. Do not assume repairs, a new tenant or a different broker automatically resolve an insurer’s concern.
Which Arizona notice rules apply?
ARS 20-1671 defines the scope of Arizona’s commercial cancellation and non-renewal article and excludes surplus lines and certain other policies. For policies within that scope, ARS 20-1674 addresses cancellation notices, and ARS 20-1676 addresses non-renewal notices, including exceptions.
Send the actual notice and policy for review. Notice requirements and any remedies depend on the applicable law and facts. Do not assume requesting a replacement quote extends existing coverage, or that one statutory notice period applies to every property policy.
What to send for a property review
- The written notice, including all pages, its stated reason and effective date.
- Current declarations, policy forms and endorsements, plus any renewal offer.
- The legal owner, property address, building use, tenants and actual vacant areas.
- Construction details, square footage, building values, roof age and documented updates or repairs.
- Available loss runs, claim details and evidence of completed corrective work; identify anything still missing.
- Security, utilities, fire protection and any renovation, sale or occupancy changes.
- Your requested effective date, deadline, and the lender or lease’s written insurance requirements.
The current commercial property guide and hard-to-place property checklist explain other information an underwriter may request. For an empty building, see the vacant commercial property guide.
How should I compare replacement terms?
| Compare | Questions to bring to the review |
|---|---|
| Building values and valuation | What value and settlement basis are proposed, and are there coinsurance or other conditions? |
| Causes of loss and exclusions | Which losses are included or excluded by the actual forms and endorsements? |
| Deductibles and limits | Are separate wind, hail or other deductibles proposed? Are requested limits available? |
| Occupancy and planned work | What vacancy, renovation, inspection or protective-safeguard conditions apply? |
| Total cost and written requirements | What are the premium, taxes and fees, and how do the terms compare with the lease or lender’s request? |
Excess and surplus lines may be an option when a risk does not fit standard markets, but an offer is not assured. Compare the policy rather than assuming the same protection as the expiring contract. ARS 20-410 requires a disclosure that insureds or claimants are not eligible for insurance guaranty fund protection if the surplus lines insurer becomes insolvent. Ask the broker to explain the insurer and proposed terms before binding.
What if a loan or lease deadline is involved?
Send the deadline and the actual insurance requirements early. A requested certificate or evidence of insurance does not change the policy, and an intake or quote does not guarantee funding or coverage. The commercial loan insurance checklist explains documents to gather; lenders can also use BrokerPro’s lender referral page.
Start your property insurance review. Tell us what happened, what is currently insured and what needs to change. Availability, terms, pricing and any binding conditions remain subject to underwriting and the actual policy.