Are fallen trees covered by home insurance?
Short answer. It depends on what the tree hit and why it fell. If a tree falls on your house, garage or fence, the damage and removal of the tree from the structure are usually covered. If it falls in the yard and hits nothing, removal usually is not covered, except in limited cases like a tree blocking your driveway.
Question one: what did it hit?
- Your house or attached garage: covered under dwelling coverage, including roof, framing, interior damage and removing the tree from the structure.
- A fence, shed or detached garage: covered under other structures coverage.
- Your car: covered by your auto policy's comprehensive coverage, not homeowners.
- Nothing: generally not covered. Many policies pay limited removal costs only if the tree blocks a driveway or a ramp for a person with a disability.
Question two: why did it fall?
- Wind, lightning, ice, hail and similar events are covered causes.
- If the tree was obviously dead or rotten and ignored, an insurer may push back, and a neighbor's insurer may deny liability.
Whose tree was it?
It does not matter for your own house. If your neighbor's tree falls on your roof, you file with your own insurer. The neighbor is usually only responsible if they were negligent, such as ignoring a tree they knew was dead.
What to do
- Get everyone out of damaged areas and stay away from downed lines.
- Photograph the tree, the damage and the stump.
- Call a tree service and get the roof tarped.
- Report the claim with the date. See emergency tarping and how to file.
Georgia Roof Guide covers prevention in trees and your roof.