What kinds of tree damage does homeowners insurance cover?
Short answer. Homeowners insurance covers sudden tree damage, such as a tree or limb falling on the house, fence or shed in a storm. It does not cover slow damage trees cause over time, like roots cracking foundations or sewer lines, branches scraping shingles, or leaves clogging gutters, and it gives the trees themselves only limited coverage.
Usually covered
- Trees or limbs falling on the house: roof, framing, gutters, siding, windows, interior and contents.
- Trees falling on other structures: fences, sheds and detached garages under other structures coverage.
- Removal from the structure as part of the repair.
- Limited yard removal when a storm felled tree blocks a driveway or accessibility ramp, in many policies.
Usually not covered
- Roots lifting slabs, cracking foundations or invading sewer lines. Some policies offer a service line endorsement for buried lines.
- Abrasion from limbs rubbing the roof over months.
- Debris buildup: pine needles and leaves rotting valleys, fascia and gutters.
- Moss and algae encouraged by shade.
- Preventive work: trimming, cabling or removing a tree that has not fallen.
Limited coverage
- The trees themselves. Many policies pay only a small amount per tree and only for certain causes, often not wind.
- Your car under a tree is an auto comprehensive claim, not homeowners.
Finding hidden roof damage
Even a limb that bounced off can crack shingles, break sealant strips or bend drip edge. These are covered storm damage, but they are easy to miss from the ground. Have the roof checked after any significant limb strike and report it with the date. See wind damage roof claims and how to file a roof claim.