Will Homeowner's Insurance Pay for Tree Removal & Debris Cleanup After a Storm?

A severe storm may leave more than just damaged property and autos in its wake once it passes through an area. Suppose a storm has converted your property into a field of waste, complete with toppled trees, broken limbs, and shattered patio furniture. In that case, the cost of cleanup might be prohibitively expensive to recover from. In many circumstances, your homeowner's insurance coverage will not be able to assist you in paying the bill.

Homeowner's Insurance and Debris Removal

Although the types of coverage differ from policy to policy, the standard homeowner's insurance coverage is typically only concerned with the structures on your property. As a result, if a tree falls on your house or a downed branch rests on an insured structure, your insurance policy will cover the cost of having it removed. Your insurance policy often covers the removal of debris that is blocking your driveway or a handicapped-accessible entry. However, removing any other material that ends up on your property is not covered by your policy. Even in that case, most insurance includes a cap of $500 or $1,000 on their coverage.

Endorsements

If you're worried about the cost of debris and tree removal from your yard, a little forethought now could save you thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket charges in the aftermath of a hurricane. Although many insurers do not include debris removal as a regular feature of their homeowner's policies, many do allow policyholders to purchase additional levels of coverage, known as endorsements, to supplement their coverage. You can add an endorsement to your policy that will cover the removal of debris from your land and the expense of replacing trees that have fallen on your property.

Deductibles

No matter how many endorsements you add to your policy, you'll still be responsible for paying your policy's deductible amount before your insurer will help cover qualifying debris removal. In the case of a regular storm, this may not be a significant expense; however, if a hurricane caused the debris, you'll be required to pay your hurricane deductible, which is typically much higher than the standard deductible because it is based on the total replacement value of your home and is therefore much higher than the standard deductible.

Structures Protected from the Environment

Because your insurance will most likely only cover the costs of removing debris that comes into contact with an insured structure. It is important to understand what you may anticipate being covered. In addition to your home, most insurance policies cover detached garages, sheds, gazebos, covered decks, and other structures. Some policies also include coverage for fences, albeit the fence must be attached to your home to qualify for protection.