Does Your Insurance Cover Damage to Your Fence?

Interested in seeing whether or not your homeowners insurance will cover damage to your fence? The answer can vary based on your coverage plan, and how the damage happened. We'll help you get a better understanding of how a homeowners insurance plan could help you when unexpected damages occur.

Fence Damage covered by insurance

Certain types of damage, such as a healthy tree falling on your fence, or damage from a heavy storm are typically covered by homeowners insurance. This would specifically fall under the "other structures" portion of your insurance policy, which can include fences, sheds, or other structures not directly a part of your home.

In a scenario where your neighbor's tree falls on your fence, your insurance company may even contact your neighbor's insurance company for reimbursement. However, it'd be necessary to prove that the tree fell due to the neighbor's own negligence. If it was a healthy tree and it fell due to strong storm winds, they wouldn't be at fault.

If your fence was vandalized, or if someone crashed into it, are other examples of damage that's typically covered by your homeowners insurance.

When filing a claim for the damages, it's best to take clear pictures of the damage and also get a quote from a professional on how much it would cost to repair or replace your fence. Afterwards, you can call your insurance provider and proceed with the claim.

Damage not covered by insurance

What kind of damage isn't covered by insurance? There's a few scenarios where this would be the case.

When it comes to damage that can occur to wooden fences, such as natural wear and tear overtime, mold, or even a termite infestation, your insurance won't be able to help you.


Looking to prevent damage to your fence? For a durable solution, consider a wind-resistant fence design.

Damage due to negligence isn't covered by insurance either. This would include; ignoring an unhealthy tree at risk of falling on your property, or if you happened to hit your own fence with your car.

Some policies may not cover damage from floods and earthquakes, unless you specifically have a policy covering those perils.

Of course, it's important to check with your homeowner's insurance policy to see what is and isn't covered by your specific plan. Certain measures can be taken to avoid damage, such as pruning trees or having trees at risk of falling completely removed from your property. By knowing the details of your insurance policy, you'll be better prepared for any unexpected damage to your fence and property. To ensure additional protection for your fence, you can also learn how to brace a fence against wind, which can help minimize potential damage caused by strong winds and storms.

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