Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Tree Removal?

Trees can add beauty and character to your home’s landscaping and curb appeal to your front yard. But trees can also pose certain risks to the physical structure of your home and detached structures, like a garage. As such, you might want to remove a tree from your property if it could potentially fall onto the roof or block your driveway.

If you’re wondering whether homeowners insurance covers tree removal, the answer is yes — but it depends on the situation.

When homeowners insurance covers tree removal

Homeowners insurance covers tree removal in certain circumstances. The debris removal section of your policy often covers it. Most home insurance policies will pay between $500 and $1,000 toward tree removal.^[1]

Here are a few cases in which your home insurance policy would likely cover tree removal.

A tree falls on your roof in a windstorm

If strong winds cause a tree to uproot or if a branch falls, your homeowners insurance policy covers any damage. For example, if a tree branch falls onto the roof and damages a section of shingles, the dwelling coverage portion of your home insurance policy would pay for the repairs, and your debris removal coverage would remove the tree.

A tree gets struck by lightning

Home insurance will cover tree removal if lightning strikes a tree and it falls into your yard. You’ll typically have coverage for this even if the tree doesn’t cause any damage to your property. The debris removal portion of your policy would cover removing a tree after a lightning strike.

A tree falls after a snowstorm

The weight of snow and ice can cause trees to fall after a snowstorm. For example, if a tree falls and damages your fence in the middle of a blizzard, the other structures portion of your policy would cover the repairs, and your debris removal coverage would pay to remove the tree.

A tree falls and blocks your driveway

Trees that fall and block your driveway or other access points to your home usually qualify for tree removal coverage, even if there’s no property damage. The debris removal coverage of your home insurance policy would pay to haul the tree away.

Removing a fallen tree after a storm

A standard homeowners insurance policy will only cover tree removal if a tree falls and damages your property. If a tree falls in your yard and there’s no damage to an insured structure, it’s unlikely that your home insurance policy would pay for removal. But fallen trees due to lightning strikes and fires are often covered even if they don’t cause damage.

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When homeowners insurance doesn’t cover tree removal

Homeowner’s insurance won’t cover tree removal in a number of situations. Here are some instances where home insurance likely won’t pay to remove a tree:

• Preventative tree removal: Home insurance won’t cover tree removal when it’s preventative. For example, if a tree is overhanging your roof and you’re nervous it might fall, you’d have to pay to have it removed yourself.

• Removal of dead or damaged trees: Trees that are dead or rotting can pose risks to your property. But your homeowners policy won’t cover removal simply because a tree is no longer healthy.

• Fallen trees caused by an earthquake or flood: Home insurance policies don’t cover damage caused by earthquakes or flooding. If an earthquake causes a tree to uproot and fall, your home insurance policy won’t pay for removal.

• Fallen trees that don’t cause damage: In general, home insurance only covers tree removal when the fallen tree causes property damage. In most situations, removing a tree that falls onto the lawn or another empty space with no damage isn’t covered.

Tree removal cost

On average, it costs $750 to remove a tree from your property.^[2] But the actual cost can range from $200 to $2,000, depending on some of these factors:

• Location: Easily accessible trees usually cost less to remove. If a tree is close to any power lines or hanging over the roof of your house, it’s more challenging to remove and will probably cost more.

• Tree health: Removing a healthy tree costs less than removing a dead, diseased, or rotting tree. Unhealthy trees are harder to remove and can sometimes require specialized equipment to safely remove them.

• Tree species: Certain tree species can be more expensive to remove than others, like palm trees. Additionally, some tree species require special removal techniques that can also increase the price.

• Size of the tree: Large trees are typically the most expensive to remove. According to Angi, removing a 30-foot tree costs from $150 to $450, whereas removing a 60-foot tree costs between $800 and $1,500.

Does home insurance cover you if a neighbor’s tree falls in your yard?

Standard home insurance policies cover damage from falling objects, so your home insurance policy will pay if a neighbor’s tree falls onto your property. For example, if a windstorm causes a neighbor’s healthy tree to fall and hit your garage, your insurer would pay to repair the structure and remove the tree.

But you might not have coverage if the tree wasn’t healthy. For instance, if your neighbor knew the tree that fell was dead or rotting, your home insurance likely wouldn’t cover it. In this case, you could make a claim that the neighbor was negligent and file a claim with their insurer for reimbursement of the damages.

Does home insurance cover you if your tree damages your neighbor’s property?

If a tree falls from your yard and damages your neighbor’s property, your neighbor’s home insurance policy will pay for it. For instance, if your tree fell and damaged their shed, the neighbor’s other structures insurance would cover the repairs because falling objects are a covered peril.

But if a dead tree fell, your neighbor’s home insurance policy wouldn’t cover the damage. Your neighbor might try to prove you were at fault in order to have their expenses covered. If this happens, the liability portion of your home insurance policy would pay out a settlement with your neighbor and your legal fees if they sued you.

Does home insurance cover you if a tree falls on your car?

Home insurance doesn’t cover vehicle damage if a tree falls onto your car, but car insurance does. The comprehensive portion of your car insurance policy covers falling objects, which means it would pay to repair your vehicle or replace it if the vehicle was totaled because a tree fell on it.

Comprehensive car insurance typically covers your vehicle based on its actual cash value (ACV), which is how much your vehicle is worth after depreciation. When you file a comprehensive claim, you must pay a deductible, which is the portion of the claim you must cover out of pocket.

How to file a home insurance claim for tree damage

If a tree falls onto your home, here are the steps you should take to file a claim for tree damage:

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  1. Document the damage

  When it’s safe, take photos and videos of the damage to your home, as well as the fallen tree. If possible, find photos of the tree before it fell, which can help the insurance company determine the location and health of the tree before the incident.

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  2. Contact your insurance company

  Contact your insurance company or insurance agent and notify them about the incident. They’ll give you claim forms to fill out and submit. When you file the claim paperwork, provide the photo evidence of the damage.

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  3. Make necessary repairs

  You might be able to make some repairs yourself while you wait for the claim payout. For example, if a fallen tree broke several windows in your house, consider repairing the windows temporarily to prevent further damage. Make sure to keep your receipts and submit them for reimbursement as part of the claim.

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  4. Meet with an adjuster

  Depending on the situation, an insurance adjuster might want to see the damage in person. This will help them investigate the claim and determine how much it’ll cost to fix.

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  5. Receive your claim payout

  Once the claim has been investigated, you’ll receive a settlement to repair your home. Depending on your insurance company, your insurer will send the settlement either to you or your mortgage company.

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Ways to protect your home from tree damage 

If you have trees on your property, it’s important to protect your home from potential tree damage. Even if the trees look healthy or aren’t overhanging your house, trees can fall unexpectedly and cause serious damage. 

These tips can help you avoid tree-related home insurance claims:

• Trim trees regularly. Prioritize trimming the trees in your yard on a regular basis to prevent fallen branches.

• Prepare trees ahead of storms. If you know a major storm is coming, prepare trees by trimming weak or overhanging branches.

• Look for signs of unhealthy trees. Educate yourself on the signs of dead, diseased, and rotting trees and take action to remove them if necessary.

• Hire a tree expert. If you aren’t sure whether you should remove a tree, contact a tree expert to survey your property and make recommendations.

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