Basis of Presentation (Details) Real Estate and Water Assets, Impairment Losses (USD $)	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Real estate	$ 174,424,000	$ 166,220,000
Real estate improvements	3,962,000	4,464,000
Water and water rights	85,399,000	86,764,000
Pipeline rights and water credits	83,897,000	84,890,000
Real estate and water assets, net	347,682,000	342,338,000
Loss on Intangible assets	993,000
Real estate carrying value	4,100,000
Impairment loss on real estate and water assets	417,000
Real Estate and Water Assets:
Real estate held-for-sale	$ 11,300,000	$ 2,900,000

Pipeline Rights and Water Credits, Net

No definition available.

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

- Definition

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.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Real Estate, Excluding Improvements, Net

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Real Estate Improvements, Net

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Water and Water Rights, Net

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleCurrentAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of impairment loss recognized in the period resulting from the write-down of the carrying amount of an indefinite-lived intangible asset, other than goodwill, to fair value.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7658586&loc=d3e16373-109275

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 142

-Paragraph 46

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsIndefinitelivedExcludingGoodwill
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The charge against earnings in the period to reduce the carrying amount of real property to fair value.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 360

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391110&loc=d3e2921-110230

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 144

-Paragraph 26

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ImpairmentOfRealEstate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Gross amount of real estate as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph c

-Subparagraph Schedule III

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 28

-Article 12

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 6

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-04.(c) Schedule III)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6882300&loc=d3e5864-122674

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 970

-SubTopic 360

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-28.4)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6590653&loc=d3e638233-123024

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RealEstateGrossAtCarryingValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of investments in land and buildings held for sale, excluding real estate considered to be inventory of the entity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.1(f))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RealEstateHeldforsale
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RealEstatePropertiesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration