Real Estate and Tangible Water Assets, Net (Details) Components of Real Estate (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Real Estate [Abstract]
Real estate and improvements, net of accumulated amortization of $10 million in 2013 and $9.1 million in 2012	$ 208,506,000	$ 167,398,000
Tangible water assets	45,702,000	44,882,000
Real estate and water assets, net	254,208,000	212,280,000
Accumulated amortization	$ 10,000,000	$ 9,100,000

Real estate and water assets include the cost of water rights, water in storage, real estate, including raw land and real estate being developed and any real estate improvements. Costs to develop real estate and water assets are capitalized. Water rights consist of water acquired or developed independently or in conjunction with the acquisition of real estate. Water in storage includes the direct construction costs to build a water storage site.

No definition available.

Name:	pico_RealEstateAndWaterAssetsNet
Namespace Prefix:	pico_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant