Evelyn PimplaskarEditor-in-Chief, Director of Content
10+ years in insurance and personal finance content
30+ years in media, PR, and content creation
Evelyn leads Insurify’s content team. She’s passionate about creating empowering content to help people transform their financial lives and make sound insurance-buying decisions.
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Other structures coverage is usually part of a standard home insurance policy, and it’s a coverage that can’t be overlooked. This coverage protects the additional structures on your property not attached to the home itself.
While other structures coverage typically protects against the same perils as dwelling coverage, it may not apply to every structure on your property. It all depends on what caused the damage and how you use the structure.
Here’s what you need to know about other structures coverage.
Quick Facts
Other structures coverage won’t pay to repair or replace a structure damaged in a flood or earthquake.
Other structures coverage applies to any permanent structure on your property that’s not attached to your home.
You can’t save money by dropping other structures coverage. Your homeowners policy will automatically include it.
What is other structures coverage?
Also known as Coverage B, other structures coverage is part of a standard homeowners insurance policy. It protects structures on your property not physically part of your home. These could include a detached garage, a shed, or a fence. If a covered peril damages or destroys a structure, other structures coverage will cover the repair or replacement costs.[1]
For example, if a windstorm, fire, or hurricane damages your shed, other structures coverage may kick in and pay to repair it.
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What does other structures insurance cover?
Other structures coverage protects all the items on your property separated from your home and not covered by dwelling coverage.[2]
Here are several examples of other structures you might have:
Fences
Detached garages
In-ground swimming pools
Gazebos
Guesthouses
Detached patios or dining spaces
Mailboxes
Sheds
Walkways and driveways
Be sure to double-check your policy to make sure you know which structures are covered and what they’re covered against.
What does other structures coverage exclude?
Even though other structures insurance protects against a variety of items, it doesn’t apply to everything. It won’t cover:
An attached garage
Since an attached garage is part of your home, it’s protected under dwelling coverage.
Contents of any structure
If your storage shed burns down, other structures coverage can pay to replace it. But it won’t pay for anything you stored in the shed, like tools or a lawnmower. Those items will fall under your personal property coverage, so it’s a good idea to make sure you have enough of this coverage to pay to replace the contents of your home and other structures.[3]
Damage caused by certain perils
If an item sustains damage from a flood or another peril not covered by your home insurance policy, other structures insurance won’t cover it.
Routine wear and tear
Structures are bound to naturally deteriorate over time, and other structures insurance won’t pay to repair or replace them when they do.
Business structures
If you use a structure like a detached garage for business purposes, other structures coverage won’t apply.
Farming or ranching
Other structures coverage generally doesn’t apply to any farming or ranching activities or animals. You’ll need to buy farm or ranch insurance to get coverage.
How much other structures coverage costs
Since other structures coverage is part of a standard homeowners insurance policy, your total premium will include the cost of this coverage. You can’t save money by dropping other structures coverage, even if you don’t have any structures other than your house on your property.
The national average cost of homeowners insurance is $3,259 per year, according to Insurify data. But your premium will vary depending on multiple factors, including ones specific to you and your home, like location, home age, claims history, your credit, and more.
Annual Home Insurance Quotes by State
state_id
Average Annual Cost
Alaska
$1,144
Alabama
$3,287
Arizona
$1,609
Arkansas
$2,818
$1,341
Colorado
$3,308
Connecticut
$1,583
Delaware
$1,134
Florida
$9,213
Georgia
$2,173
Hawaii
$1,287
Idaho
$1,180
Illinois
$1,753
Indiana
$1,770
Iowa
$1,956
Kansas
$3,245
Kentucky
$2,111
Louisiana
$4,327
Maine
$1,169
Maryland
$1,538
Massachusetts
$1,649
Michigan
$1,671
Minnesota
$2,142
Mississippi
$4,017
Montana
$1,595
Missouri
$2,342
North Dakota
$2,379
Nebraska
$3,519
New Hampshire
$1,190
Nevada
$1,103
New Jersey
$1,184
New Mexico
$2,651
New York
$1,942
North Carolina
$1,967
Ohio
$1,192
Oklahoma
$4,782
Oregon
$1,049
Pennsylvania
$1,356
Rhode Island
$1,799
South Carolina
$2,795
South Dakota
$2,629
Tennessee
$2,140
Texas
$3,969
Utah
$1,018
Virginia
$1,396
Washington
$1,201
District of Columbia
$1,171
Vermont
$914
West Virginia
$1,403
Wisconsin
$1,299
Wyoming
$1,888
Source: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile. Insufficient data is available to show results for Alaska and Hawaii.
How much other structures coverage do you need?
A home insurance company typically sets your other structures coverage at 10% of your dwelling coverage limit. So, if your dwelling limit is $300,000, you’ll qualify for $30,000 of other structures coverage.
Most standard homeowners insurance policies provide coverage for the actual cash value of your personal possessions and the replacement cost of your home’s physical structure. Actual cash value coverage pays you for your property’s depreciated value, or what it’s worth today. Replacement cost covers the amount it costs to replace your property and doesn’t consider depreciation.[4]
The way your other structures claim will be calculated and paid out depends on whether your policy accounts for actual cash value or replacement cost value. If you have many structures or very expensive structures on your property, it’s a good idea to opt for replacement value coverage, as it’ll leave you with a higher payout. Just know this coverage will likely be more expensive.
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Other structures coverage FAQs
If you’re shopping for home insurance and still have questions about other structures coverage, this information can help.
What types of damage does other structures coverage pay for?
Other structures coverage generally pays for the same types of damage that your dwelling coverage will pay for: fire, hurricane, lightning, hail, or other disasters. It won’t pay for flood or earthquake damage, though. So if you live in an area prone to those events, it’s a good idea to also have a flood and earthquake policy.
Can you remove other structures coverage?
Most home insurance policies include other structures coverage automatically, without the option to drop it. Your premium amount will include the cost of other structures coverage, so you don’t really pay any extra for it, and you won’t stand to save by dropping it.
Is a driveway considered an other structure?
Yes. Your driveway would be considered a structure for the purpose of other structures coverage. But any damage to your driveway will have to stem from a covered event — like a hailstorm or fire — in order for your other structures coverage to reimburse you.
Are trees considered other structures on homeowners insurance?
Trees, shrubs, and other vegetation typically aren’t considered other structures for purposes of homeowners insurance. To be covered, other structures must be manmade. So if a storm snaps your favorite oak tree in half, your other structures coverage won’t pay to replace it. But if the tree falls on the roof of your shed, causing it to collapse, your other structures coverage would pay to repair or replace the shed. You may be able to buy additional coverages to protect your trees and shrubs.
Do deductibles apply to other structures?
Yes. You’ll usually have a deductible for other structures coverage, just like dwelling coverage. If you’re not sure how much your deductible is, check your policy’s declarations page.
Methodology
Insurify data scientists analyzed rates from more than 180 home insurance companies sourced directly from Insurify’s partner companies and Quadrant Information Services. Rates span all 50 states and Washington, D.C., and quote averages represent the mean price for a given coverage level and geographic area. To ensure data reliability, only insurers meeting minimum quote thresholds were included in the analysis.
Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for homeowners with no prior claims and good credit with a home construction year of 1980. The default coverage assumptions include:
Default Coverage Assumptions
Dwelling coverage: $300,000
Deductible: $1,000
Personal property limit: $25,000
Liability limit: $300,000
Additional data points beyond these default values are sourced from Insurify’s proprietary database. Rates are updated monthly.
Anna Baluch is a Cleveland-based personal finance and insurance expert. With an MBA from Roosevelt University, she enjoys writing educational content that helps people make smart financial decisions. Her work can be seen across the internet on many publications, including Freedom Debt Relief, Credit Karma, RateGenius, and the Balance. Connect with Anna on LinkedIn.
Anna has been a contributor at Insurify since December 2022.
Evelyn PimplaskarEditor-in-Chief, Director of Content
10+ years in insurance and personal finance content
30+ years in media, PR, and content creation
Evelyn leads Insurify’s content team. She’s passionate about creating empowering content to help people transform their financial lives and make sound insurance-buying decisions.
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