Can I claim for storm damage to my fence?
How fence coverage works
Other structures coverage applies to things on your property not attached to the house: fences, detached garages, sheds and gazebos. On standard forms its limit is commonly 10 percent of the dwelling limit, which is plenty for most fences. The same perils that cover the house apply, so wind, hail and falling trees are covered, while rot, termites and leaning posts from soft soil are not.
Common storm fence claims
- Panels or whole sections blown flat by straight line winds.
- Posts snapped at the ground line.
- A tree or large limb crushing a run of fence.
- Hail splitting vinyl or denting metal.
An adjuster will look at the posts. Clean breaks and fresh wood suggest the storm; posts rotted through at the base suggest age, and the claim may be denied.
Why to combine it with the roof
The deductible applies per occurrence. If the same storm damaged your roof, gutters and fence, all of it can be included in one claim and the deductible is subtracted once. Filing the fence separately later may mean a second argument about dates and another deductible.
Neighbor situations
- A neighbor's tree falls on your fence: your policy covers your fence. The neighbor is usually responsible only if the tree was dead or obviously dangerous and they ignored it.
- A shared fence: each owner's policy may cover their share; talk to your neighbor and both insurers.
Photograph the fence before cleanup, keep any broken posts, and get a written repair estimate.
More: wind damage roof claims and how to file a claim.