Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income or Loss - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Revenues and other income:
Sale of real estate and water assets	$ 136	$ 476	$ 25,276	$ 607
Other income, net	69	689	9,756	2,193
Total revenues and other income	205	1,165	35,032	2,800
Cost of sales and expenses:
Cost of real estate and water assets sold	55	252	12,604	316
General, administrative, and other	2,943	5,649	9,865	16,054
Impairment loss on intangible and long-lived assets		201		201
Depreciation and amortization	24	162	159	702
Total cost of sales and expenses	3,022	6,264	22,628	17,273
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(2,817)	(5,099)	12,404	(14,473)
Benefit (provision) for federal and state income taxes	(292)	530	(3,419)	712
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(3,109)	(4,569)	8,985	(13,761)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(5,269)	2,710	3,053	4,195
Gain (loss) on sale and impairment loss on classification of assets as held-for-sale, net of tax	2,094	2	(9,309)	(1,858)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(3,175)	2,712	(6,256)	2,337
Net income (loss)	(6,284)	(1,857)	2,729	(11,424)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,645	(1,043)	(1,150)	(1,676)
Net income (loss) attributable to PICO Holdings, Inc.	(4,639)	(2,900)	1,579	(13,100)
Other comprehensive loss:
Net income (loss)	(6,284)	(1,857)	2,729	(11,424)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Unrealized gain (loss) on securities, net of deferred income tax and reclassification adjustments	(387)	954	(6,286)	1,484
Foreign currency translation	6	31	32	57
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(381)	985	(6,254)	1,541
Comprehensive loss	(6,665)	(872)	(3,525)	(9,883)
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,645	(1,043)	(1,150)	(1,676)
Comprehensive loss attributable to PICO Holdings, Inc.	$ (5,020)	$ (1,915)	$ (4,675)	$ (11,559)
Net income (loss) per common share – basic and diluted:
Income (loss) from continuing operations (dollars per share)	$ (0.13)	$ (0.20)	$ 0.39	$ (0.60)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations (dollars per share)	(0.07)	0.07	(0.32)	0.03
Net income (loss) per common share – basic and diluted (dollars per share)	$ (0.20)	$ (0.13)	$ 0.07	$ (0.57)
Weighted average shares outstanding (number of shares)	23,138	23,068	23,112	23,049