Does insurance cover storm damage to trees?
The trees, shrubs and plants clause
On the standard homeowners form many insurers build on, landscaping is an additional coverage with tight limits:
- Covered causes: fire or lightning, explosion, riot, aircraft, vehicles not owned by a resident, vandalism and theft.
- Not covered: windstorm, hail, the weight of ice and snow, disease and age.
- Limit: about 5 percent of the dwelling limit in total, and no more than $500 for any one tree, shrub or plant.
So a lightning strike that kills a big oak may bring a small payment, while a thunderstorm that splits the same oak usually brings nothing for the tree.
When the tree hits something
If storm wind drops the tree onto the house, a fence or a shed, the damage to those structures is the claim, and removing a tree that damaged a covered structure is paid within the policy's debris removal terms. A car under the tree is a claim on your auto policy's comprehensive coverage.
Trees that fall in the open
A tree that blows down across the lawn without hitting anything is usually your expense. Many current forms make one exception: limited removal money, often up to $1,000 per storm and $500 per tree, when the fallen tree blocks your driveway or a wheelchair ramp. Read the debris removal section of your own policy.
Cracked and leaning trees
A damaged tree that is still standing is not a claim until it falls, but it is now a known hazard. If it later lands on a neighbor's house, the fact that you knew can make you responsible. Have an arborist look at it. The Georgia Roof Guide explains trees and your roof, and our page on wind damage claims covers what happens when a tree reaches the house.