INVESTMENTS Fair Value Measurements (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis
Available-for-sale investments	$ 78,276,000		$ 151,420,000
Deferred compensation	36,315,000		37,879,000
Derivative instrument	2,511,000
Carrying value of Fish Springs asset	333,840,000		355,570,000
Impairment loss on real estate and water assets	21,404,000		10,316,000		12,378,000
Real estate and options to purchase real estate	5,700,000
Impairment of real estate and options to purchase real estate	5,180,000	[1]
Notional Amount of Initial Production	16,500
Percent of Anticipated Capacity	55.00%
Percent of Estimated Future Production	80.00%
Quoted Prices In Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis
Available-for-sale investments	58,739,000	[2]	132,677,000	[2]
Deferred compensation	36,315,000	[3]	37,879,000	[3]
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis
Available-for-sale investments			18,743,000	[2]
Derivative instrument	2,511,000	[4]
OTC BULLETIN BOARD
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis
Available-for-sale investments	29,252,851
OTC BULLETIN BOARD | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis
Available-for-sale investments	19,537,000	[2]
Fish Springs Assets
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis
Carrying value of Fish Springs asset	101,100,000		36,946,000
Fair value of Fish Springs asset	84,890,000
Impairment loss on real estate and water assets	16,224,000	[5]	10,316,000	[6]	12,400,000
Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurement | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis
Real estate and options to purchase real estate	579,000	[1]
Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurement | Fish Springs Assets | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis
Fair value of Fish Springs asset	$ 84,890,000	[5]	$ 26,630,000	[6]

[1] As of December 31, 2011, the Company had a non-recurring fair value measurement for real estate and real estate option contracts with a carrying amount of $5.7 million that was written down to its implied fair value of $579,000 resulting in an impairment charge of $5.2 million, which was included in earnings for the year ended December 31, 2011. The implied fair value was calculated using a discounted cash flow model that incorporated a wide range of assumptions including current asset pricing, and timing of sales, and costs. Given the current facts and circumstances in certain of the real estate markets where the Company owns and develops real estate, including recent declines in market prices for similar assets, the Company adjusted its assumptions and judgments in its cash flow models by reducing prices, increasing costs and lengthening the timing of sales from the original projections

[2] AssetsQuoted Prices In Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) Significant Unobservable Inputs(Level 3) Balance atDecember 31,2010Available-for-sale investments (A)$132,677 18,743 $151,420Liabilities Deferred compensation (B)$37,879 $37,879(A) Where there are quoted market prices that are readily available in an active market, securities are classified as Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy. Level 1 available-for-sale investments are valued using quoted market prices multiplied by the number of shares owned and debt securities are valued using a market quote in an active market. All Level 2 available-for-sale securities are one class because they all contain similar risks and are valued using market prices and include securities where the markets are not active, that is where there are few transactions, or the prices are not current or the prices vary considerably over time. Inputs include directly or indirectly observable inputs such as quoted prices. Level 3 available-for-sale securities would include securities where valuation is based on unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets. This includes certain pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies and similar techniques that use significant unobservable inputs

[3] .(B) Deferred compensation plans are compensation plans directed by the Company and structured as a Rabbi Trust for certain executives and non-employee directors. The investment assets of the Rabbi Trust are valued using quoted market prices multiplied by the number of shares held in each trust account including the shares of PICO common stock held in the trusts. The related deferred compensation liability represents the fair value of the investment assets

[4] The derivative financial instrument is classified as level 2 because the inputs are directly observable, such as quoted market prices for relevant commodity futures contracts. Derivative financial instruments are valued based on the difference of the arithmetic average of the quoted market price of the relevant underlying, multiplied by the notional quantities and the arithmetic average of the prices specified in the instrument multiplied by the notional quantities

[5] As of December 31, 2011, the Company had a non-recurring fair value measurement for an intangible asset with a carrying amount of $101.1 million that was written down to its implied fair value of $84.9 million, resulting in an impairment charge of $16.2 million, which was included in earnings for December 31, 2011. The implied fair value was calculated using a discounted cash flow model that incorporated a wide range of assumptions including current asset pricing, price escalation, discount rates, absorption rates, and timing of sales, and costs. Given the continued dramatic and prolonged slow-down in housing starts and sales in the North Valleys of Reno, Nevada, and the recent decline in market prices for similar assets, the Company adjusted its assumptions and judgments in the model by reducing the price and lengthening the timing of absorption of water sales from the original projections.

[6] As of December 31, 2010, the Company had a non-recurring fair value measurement for an intangible asset with a carrying amount of $36.9 million that was written down to its implied fair value of $26.6 million, resulting in an impairment charge of $10.3 million, which was included in earnings for 2010. The implied fair value was estimated based on a discounted cash flow model that incorporates estimates and assumptions about recognition of revenues and costs for the intangible asset. See Note 4, Real Estate and Water Assets