Updated: October 16, 2024
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
Standard homeowners insurance policies provide coverage for other structures in your home. These include fences, sheds, garages and other detached structures.
Fences receive Coverage B protection under your dwelling coverage. The cost of coverage for other structures is capped at 10% of your total policy coverage. Therefore, if your homeowners policy has a coverage limit of $250,000, your maximum coverage for other structures like fences would be $25,000.
Standard homeowners insurance policies automatically pay for damage to your fence, provided a covered peril causes it. In case of floods, earthquakes or natural wear and tear, insurance will not cover your fence as these perils are excluded from coverage.
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The dwelling coverage from your homeowners policy covers fence damage, but this is subject to coverage limits. It is crucial to understand the perils covered to know what type of fence damage will be paid for by your policy.
Homeowners insurance covers fences if the damage is a result of any of the following:
Any damage to your fence caused by covered perils should be paid for by homeowners insurance. For instance, if your fence is vandalized or someone crashes their car into it, your insurer will reimburse you for the damage.
You will also be covered if strong wind knocks down your fence during a storm. Additionally, your homeowners policy should cover fence damage caused by trees, provided the tree was in good health and not considered a preventable hazard.
Homeowners insurance doesn’t cover fences if non-covered perils, like earthquakes or floods, cause the damage. For any peril excluded from your homeowners policy, the insurer will not compensate you if it causes damage to your fence.
If your fence is damaged due to natural wear and tear or causes such as mold or termites, your homeowners policy will not cover this type of damage. In case of tree damage, if a tree in your yard is unhealthy or old and ends up falling on your fence, you will not be compensated since that is considered a preventable occurrence.
Your homeowners insurance covers fences, but the coverage is subject to your policy limits and only applies to specified perils. Safeguarding your fence can help you avoid unnecessary damage and limit your losses due to uncovered perils.
Keep your fence well maintained
Apply waterproof sealant to keep the fence well maintained. Repair weak points regularly to help minimize natural wear and tear on your fence.
Remove potential hazards
Cut old or unhealthy trees in your yard to reduce the risk of damage caused to your fence by a falling tree.
You can purchase homeowners insurance from major insurers such as State Farm. Smaller insurance companies such as Hippo also sell homeowners insurance policies.
It is important to shop around and compare homeowners insurance quotes and coverage benefits to get the best coverage for your needs. On average, homeowners insurance will cost you $175 per month, but this varies depending on factors like the value of your personal property.
Use MoneyGeek’s personal property calculator to compare homeowners insurance rates for different coverage levels.
When figuring out how much renters insurance you need, experts recommend the standard $100,000 in liability insurance and enough personal property protection to cover your possessions. Use MoneyGeek's calculator to estimate the value of your possessions so you know how much personal property coverage to buy.
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About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick is a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer and MoneyGeek's Head of Insurance. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research and creating personalized content for every kind of buyer. He has been quoted in several insurance-related publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick earned a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his knowledge of economics and insurance to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.
