Does homeowners insurance cover tree removal?

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A standard homeowners insurance policy covers the removal and debris cleanup of fallen trees if events like wind or ice storms caused damage to a covered structure, like your home, garage, shed, or fence.

However, if a tree falls on your property without damaging anything, your policy may not cover its removal or cleanup, nor will it pay to remove trees you cut down or take down a tree, even if the tree needs to come down for safety.

Your home insurance contract requires you to maintain your property and take steps to avoid claims, including taking down dangerous trees.

Key Takeaways

Home insurance covers removal of fallen trees when they are downed by a covered peril and do damage to your property.
If a tree falls and does no damage, insurance doesn’t usually pay for removal.
You are responsible for taking down dead or dying trees to prevent a claim.

Home insurance may deny coverage if you were aware that the tree was dead or damaged and didn’t take steps to prevent it from falling. It’s important to carefully monitor the condition of trees on your property.

When does home insurance cover tree removal?

Home insurance covers tree removal in certain circumstances, mainly when a tree has fallen as the result of a covered peril and caused damage to your property.

Uprooted or fallen trees due to storms

If a tree is uprooted by wind, hail, a rainstorm, thunderstorm, ice, or snow, and landed on your house or any other fixed structure, like a garage or fence, your insurance will pay for its removal and damage to your structure.

Trees knocked over by vehicles

If a car crashes into a tree and knocks in onto your property, home insurance will cover the cost of removing it, although the driver’s car insurance is primary and will pay out first.

A neighbor’s tree falls on your home

If your neighbor’s tree falls on your home, garage, fence or other insured structure on your property, your policy might also pay to have the tree removed. However, if your insurer determines the tree was rotted or dead, you may not be covered, you may need to file a liability claim against your neighbor’s insurance.

When does homeowners insurance not cover tree removal?

You’re responsible to take care of the trees, plants and bushes in your home and yard. There are times when your homeowners insurance will not cover the cost to remove trees and debris.

Uprooted or fallen trees without damage

If a tree on your property is uprooted by wind, hail, a rainstorm, thunderstorm, ice or snow and lands on your property but doesn’t do any damage to a covered structure, your insurance will not pay for its removal.

Rotted, diseased or dead trees

Homeowners insurance doesn’t cover diseased tree removal. As a homeowner you are responsible for maintaining the trees on your property. Likewise, if a tree is dead or rotted, your insurance will very likely not pay for its removal.

Earthquakes or floods

If a tree falls due to a flood or earthquake (or mudslides) standard homeowners insurance will not cover it. You need to add earthquake and flood insurance to be covered for these risks.

If you want a tree removed

If you simply want a tree or trees removed from your property, your insurance will not pay the cost of having them taken down.

If a tree falls on your car

Home insurance doesn’t cover either the damage to your car or the removal of the tree if the car is the only thing damaged. You need comprehensive insurance on your auto policy to pay for the repairs to your car.

How much does insurance pay for tree removal?

According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), if a tree damages a structure on your property, your home insurance may cover the cost to remove the tree in addition to the damage caused by the fallen tree. The typical amount paid out for the removal is about $500 to $1,000, depending on your policy.

You may be able to increase the limits on your policy for tree removal; talk to your insurance representative.

Are there endorsements for tree removal coverage?

Some policy endorsements cover tree removal if a fallen tree causes damage to a fixed structure, which should be spelled out in your homeowners insurance policy. Without an endorsement you could end up with too little coverage, especially if you live in an area with a lot of trees.

Windstorm endorsement. Depending on your insurer, you may be able to supplement your home insurance with a windstorm endorsement that will cover tree and debris removal. If your insurer does not offer an endorsement for windstorm damage, you might consider purchasing a separate windstorm insurance policy.
Earthquake endorsement. You can add an earthquake endorsement to your policy, which will cover tree removal if the fallen tree caused damage to a covered structure.
Extended coverage. Insurance companies offer a variety of endorsements that extend or expand coverage; many are package endorsements and may include extended coverage for tree removal.
Blocked access endorsement. Sometimes home insurance will pay for removing a tree if it falls and blocks your driveway. Or, if you’re disabled, and a tree blocks a wheelchair ramp. In this case, your standard homeowners insurance won’t cover tree and debris removal, unless you have an endorsement specifying that coverage.
Tree and debris removal endorsement. You can purchase an endorsement that specifically extends coverage to the removal of the downed tree and debris on your property, and also tree replacement costs for downed trees.

Tree removal can be a complex issue when it comes to home insurance. It’s important to keep tabs on the trees in your yard and ensure that any dead or diseased trees are removed as quickly as possible to prevent a claim.

Kathryn Pomroy

Contributing Researcher

Kathryn Pomroy is a journalist and freelance writer specializing in personal finance, insurance, consumer debt and banking, and all types of loans. She has written for dozens of major publications, small businesses and personal finance companies.