Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of PICO Holdings, Inc. and subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company” or “PICO”) have been prepared in accordance with the interim reporting requirements of Form 10-Q, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for complete consolidated financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments and reclassifications considered necessary for a fair and comparable presentation of the financial statements presented have been included and are of a normal recurring nature. Operating results presented are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2016. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 filed with the SEC. Use of Estimates in Preparation of Financial Statements: The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses for each reporting period. The significant estimates made in the preparation of the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements relate to the assessment of other-than-temporary impairments, the application of the equity method of accounting, goodwill and intangibles, real estate and water assets, deferred income taxes, stock-based compensation, and contingent liabilities. While management believes that the carrying value of such assets and liabilities are appropriate, it is reasonably possible that actual results could differ from the estimates upon which the carrying values were based. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements: In April 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued guidance on simplifying the presentation of debt issuance costs, which requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability. For public business entities, the guidance was effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Entities are to apply the new guidance on a retrospective basis, wherein the balance sheet of each individual period presented should be adjusted to reflect the period-specific effects of applying the new guidance. The Company adopted the guidance effective January 1, 2016. Prior to adoption, the Company included debt issuance costs in other assets on its condensed consolidated balance sheets. Beginning with the Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company changed its presentation of debt issuance costs for all periods presented and the Company reclassified $1.5 million of debt issuance costs at December 31, 2015 as a direct deduction from the carrying amounts of its debt liabilities both on the condensed consolidated balance sheets and in the notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements. In February 2016, the FASB issued guidance on leases to increase transparency and comparability among organizations. The guidance will require the lessee to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclose key information about lease arrangements for all leases with a term greater than 12 months. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years for public business entities. Early adoption of the guidance is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect this guidance will have on the consolidated financial statements. In March 2016, the FASB issued guidance to simplify the accounting for equity method investments. The guidance eliminates the requirement that an entity retroactively adopt the equity method of accounting if an investment qualifies for use of the equity method as a result of an increase in the level of ownership or degree of influence. The guidance requires that the equity method investor add the cost of acquiring the additional interest in the investee to the current basis of the investor’s previously held interest and adopt the equity method of accounting as of the date the investment becomes qualified for equity method accounting. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption of the guidance is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect this guidance will have on the consolidated financial statements. In March 2016, the FASB issued guidance on accounting for share-based payments to employees. The guidance clarifies income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. It is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods for public business entities. Early adoption is permitted in any interim or annual period. If early adoption is selected in an interim period, any adjustments should be reflected as of the beginning of the fiscal year of that interim period and all amendments of the guidance must be adopted in the interim period. The Company is currently evaluating the effect this guidance will have on the consolidated financial statements. In March 2016, the FASB issued guidance on revenue from contracts with customers. The amendments in this update do not change the core principle of the existing guidance issued in May 2014 but clarify the implementation guidance of determining whether the company is a principal or agent in a contractual agreement. The underlying principle is that an entity will recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers at an amount that the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. The guidance provides a five-step analysis of transactions to determine when and how revenue is recognized. Other major provisions include capitalization of certain contract costs, consideration of time value of money in the transaction price, and allowing estimates of variable consideration to be recognized before contingencies are resolved in certain circumstances. The guidance also requires enhanced disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from an entity’s contracts with customers. The guidance is effective for the interim and annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2017. The guidance permits the use of either a retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. The Company is currently evaluating the effect this guidance will have on the consolidated financial statements. In April 2016, the FASB issued guidance on revenue from contracts with customers. The amendments in this update do not change the core principle of the existing guidance issued in May 2014 but clarify contract performance obligations and licensing implementation guidance. The underlying principle is that an entity will recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers at an amount that the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. The guidance provides a five-step analysis of transactions to determine when and how revenue is recognized. Other major provisions include capitalization of certain contract costs, consideration of time value of money in the transaction price, and allowing estimates of variable consideration to be recognized before contingencies are resolved in certain circumstances. The guidance also requires enhanced disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from an entity’s contracts with customers. The guidance is effective for the interim and annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2017. The guidance permits the use of either a retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. The Company is currently evaluating the effect this guidance will have on the consolidated financial statements.

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of PICO Holdings, Inc. and subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company” or “PICO”) have been prepared in accordance with the interim reporting requirements of Form 10-Q, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for complete consolidated financial statements.

In the opinion of management, all adjustments and reclassifications considered necessary for a fair and comparable presentation of the financial statements presented have been included and are of a normal recurring nature. Operating results presented are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2016.

These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 filed with the SEC.

Use of Estimates in Preparation of Financial Statements:

The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses for each reporting period. The significant estimates made in the preparation of the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements relate to the assessment of other-than-temporary impairments, the application of the equity method of accounting, goodwill and intangibles, real estate and water assets, deferred income taxes, stock-based compensation, and contingent liabilities. While management believes that the carrying value of such assets and liabilities are appropriate, it is reasonably possible that actual results could differ from the estimates upon which the carrying values were based.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements:

In April 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued guidance on simplifying the presentation of debt issuance costs, which requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability. For public business entities, the guidance was effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Entities are to apply the new guidance on a retrospective basis, wherein the balance sheet of each individual period presented should be adjusted to reflect the period-specific effects of applying the new guidance. The Company adopted the guidance effective January 1, 2016. Prior to adoption, the Company included debt issuance costs in other assets on its condensed consolidated balance sheets. Beginning with the Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company changed its presentation of debt issuance costs for all periods presented and the Company reclassified $1.5 million of debt issuance costs at December 31, 2015 as a direct deduction from the carrying amounts of its debt liabilities both on the condensed consolidated balance sheets and in the notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued guidance on leases to increase transparency and comparability among organizations. The guidance will require the lessee to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclose key information about lease arrangements for all leases with a term greater than 12 months. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years for public business entities. Early adoption of the guidance is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect this guidance will have on the consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued guidance to simplify the accounting for equity method investments. The guidance eliminates the requirement that an entity retroactively adopt the equity method of accounting if an investment qualifies for use of the equity method as a result of an increase in the level of ownership or degree of influence. The guidance requires that the equity method investor add the cost of acquiring the additional interest in the investee to the current basis of the investor’s previously held interest and adopt the equity method of accounting as of the date the investment becomes qualified for equity method accounting. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption of the guidance is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect this guidance will have on the consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued guidance on accounting for share-based payments to employees. The guidance clarifies income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. It is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods for public business entities. Early adoption is permitted in any interim or annual period. If early adoption is selected in an interim period, any adjustments should be reflected as of the beginning of the fiscal year of that interim period and all amendments of the guidance must be adopted in the interim period. The Company is currently evaluating the effect this guidance will have on the consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued guidance on revenue from contracts with customers. The amendments in this update do not change the core principle of the existing guidance issued in May 2014 but clarify the implementation guidance of determining whether the company is a principal or agent in a contractual agreement. The underlying principle is that an entity will recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers at an amount that the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. The guidance provides a five-step analysis of transactions to determine when and how revenue is recognized. Other major provisions include capitalization of certain contract costs, consideration of time value of money in the transaction price, and allowing estimates of variable consideration to be recognized before contingencies are resolved in certain circumstances. The guidance also requires enhanced disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from an entity’s contracts with customers. The guidance is effective for the interim and annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2017. The guidance permits the use of either a retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. The Company is currently evaluating the effect this guidance will have on the consolidated financial statements.

In April 2016, the FASB issued guidance on revenue from contracts with customers. The amendments in this update do not change the core principle of the existing guidance issued in May 2014 but clarify contract performance obligations and licensing implementation guidance. The underlying principle is that an entity will recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers at an amount that the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. The guidance provides a five-step analysis of transactions to determine when and how revenue is recognized. Other major provisions include capitalization of certain contract costs, consideration of time value of money in the transaction price, and allowing estimates of variable consideration to be recognized before contingencies are resolved in certain circumstances. The guidance also requires enhanced disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from an entity’s contracts with customers. The guidance is effective for the interim and annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2017. The guidance permits the use of either a retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. The Company is currently evaluating the effect this guidance will have on the consolidated financial statements.