North Carolina’s Insurance Commissioner has rejected a proposed average 18.7-percent rate increase for homeowners insurance requested by the North Carolina Rate Bureau.

The percent hikes range from the negative in some mountainous areas to a capped 25-percent increase for property owners and 40-percent increases for tenants and condominium unit owners. By far, the largest increases in the request are aimed at coastal counties, specifically beach areas.

According to filed rate level changes chart, Beaufort County falls into territory 150, which translates to a requested increase of 8.2 percent for property owners, 40 percent for tenants and 38 percent for condo owners. Pamlico and Hyde counties’ rate hike request is greater at a 25-percent increase for owners, 38.1 percent for tenants and 40 percent for condo owners.

“We are not in agreement with the Rate Bureau’s proposed increases filed Nov. 17, 2017. The next step, according to statute, is to set a hearing date,” Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey stated in a press release. “After hearing and reading the more than 9,000 comments from residents across the state and studying the figures in the filing, it is now necessary to hold a hearing to reach a resolution that will make the most financial sense for our residents and insurance companies.”

Causey has set up a hearing on July 23, however, NCRB and the Department of Insurance can come to a settlement at any time before that date. If a hearing is held, however, Causey has 45 days to issues an order. That order can be appealed in the N.C. Court of Appeals.

Beaufort County was represented by Sen. Bill Cook during a public comment forum held in December. Cook was one of six people who attended the forum.

The last NCRB homeowners rate increase filing was in 2014 that resulted in an order of “no change” from the Commissioner of Insurance. In 2012, the NCRB requested a 17.7-percent increase, which was settled for an increase of 7 percent that took effect in 2013, according to the press release.