Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 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. It is reasonably possible that actual results could differ from the estimates upon which the carrying values were based. Noncontrolling Interest Re-allocation The Company allocates UCP, Inc (“UCP”) Class A common stock issued in connection with the vesting of UCP restricted stock units (RSUs) and stock-based compensation expense between additional paid-in-capital and noncontrolling interest within its condensed consolidated statements of equity. The equity allocations for the UCP, LLC operating partnership are based on the economic and voting interest percentages of the Company and its noncontrolling interest UCP. Issuances of UCP Class A common stock for UCP RSUs affect the economic and voting interest percentages, which accordingly are adjusted at the end of each issuance period. The economic and voting interest percentages prevailing during the period are used to determine the current period equity allocations for the operating partnership. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements: In May 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“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 amendments address narrow-scope improvements to the guidance on collectability, noncash consideration, and completed contracts at transition. Additionally, the amendments in this update provide a practical expedient for contract modifications at transition and an accounting policy election related to the presentation of sales taxes and other similar taxes collected from 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 June 2016, the FASB issued guidance on accounting for credit losses of financial assets that have a contractual right to receive cash and commitments to extend credit. The amendments in this update replace the current incurred loss impairment methodology, which requires impairment losses to be taken when a loss is probable, with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. Additionally the amendments require impairment losses and recoveries on financial assets to be recorded through an allowance for credit losses. For public business entities, the guidance will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for years beginning after December 15, 2018. The guidance requires a cumulative effect transition method. The Company is currently evaluating the effect this guidance will have on the consolidated financial statements. In April 2015, the 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.

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. It is reasonably possible that actual results could differ from the estimates upon which the carrying values were based.

Noncontrolling Interest Re-allocation

The Company allocates UCP, Inc (“UCP”) Class A common stock issued in connection with the vesting of UCP restricted stock units (RSUs) and stock-based compensation expense between additional paid-in-capital and noncontrolling interest within its condensed consolidated statements of equity. The equity allocations for the UCP, LLC operating partnership are based on the economic and voting interest percentages of the Company and its noncontrolling interest UCP. Issuances of UCP Class A common stock for UCP RSUs affect the economic and voting interest percentages, which accordingly are adjusted at the end of each issuance period. The economic and voting interest percentages prevailing during the period are used to determine the current period equity allocations for the operating partnership.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements:

In May 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“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 amendments address narrow-scope improvements to the guidance on collectability, noncash consideration, and completed contracts at transition. Additionally, the amendments in this update provide a practical expedient for contract modifications at transition and an accounting policy election related to the presentation of sales taxes and other similar taxes collected from 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 June 2016, the FASB issued guidance on accounting for credit losses of financial assets that have a contractual right to receive cash and commitments to extend credit. The amendments in this update replace the current incurred loss impairment methodology, which requires impairment losses to be taken when a loss is probable, with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. Additionally the amendments require impairment losses and recoveries on financial assets to be recorded through an allowance for credit losses. For public business entities, the guidance will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for years beginning after December 15, 2018. The guidance requires a cumulative effect transition method. The Company is currently evaluating the effect this guidance will have on the consolidated financial statements.

In April 2015, the 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.