Is tree removal covered by homeowners insurance?

Does homeowners insurance cover downed trees from storms?

When a storm puts a tree on the house, the garage, the fence, or the car, most homeowner policies cover the damage to the structure, and usually some of the cost of getting the tree off it. That is the case that gets paid most often.

When a storm drops a tree in the yard and it hits nothing, many policies pay little or nothing toward hauling it away. Some pay a small set amount. Read your policy or ask your agent.

Storm vs neglect

Insurers pay for sudden events. A tree that was dead for years and finally came down is the kind of claim that gets questioned, because the risk was there to see. If you have a dead or leaning tree over the house, the time to deal with it is before the storm, and that removal is yours to pay for.

A healthy tree that fails in a storm is the other case, and that is what the policy is for.

If a tree falls in a storm, who is responsible?

As a rule, the damage is claimed on the policy of the property that got hit, not the policy of whoever owned the tree. The neighbor's oak on your roof is usually your claim. Your agent can tell you how your policy handles it. This page is general information, not legal or insurance advice.

What to do, in order

If wires are involved, call the utility first. Take photos before anything is touched: the tree, where it landed, what it hit. Call your agent. Then call or text us at (203) 901-7645 with a photo so we know what gear to bring.

We give you a written invoice that describes the work, which is what most homeowner policies ask for. We are licensed and insured, with full liability and workers comp. A tree on a structure is rigged so each section comes off under control, by crane when the house needs it, and the crew hauls everything away.