Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Fence Damage?

Homeowners insurance protects your property from unforeseen damage. While it primarily covers your main dwelling, its scope often extends to other structures on your land, including fences. Understanding how your policy addresses fence damage can help you prepare for unexpected events and navigate the claims process.

Where Fence Damage Fits in Your Policy

Fences are typically categorized under the “Other Structures” coverage of a standard homeowners insurance policy, often referred to as Coverage B. This part of your policy protects structures on your property not physically attached to your main home, such as detached garages, sheds, gazebos, and fences.

The coverage amount for “Other Structures” is usually a percentage of your dwelling coverage (Coverage A). Many policies set this limit at approximately 10% of your home’s insured value. For instance, if your dwelling is insured for $300,000, your fence and other detached structures would generally have up to $30,000 in coverage. This limit can be increased if the total value of your detached structures warrants additional protection.

Common Causes of Covered Fence Damage

Homeowners insurance policies, particularly the common HO-3 type, cover fence damage from “open perils” for structures. This means damage is covered unless specifically excluded. Common events include windstorms and hail, which can topple fences or cause damage.

Falling objects, such as trees or limbs, also result in covered fence damage. Fires, whether originating on your property or a neighbor’s, and lightning strikes are covered perils. Vandalism, such as graffiti, and vehicle impacts (provided the damage was not caused by a vehicle owned or operated by the insured) are also typically covered.

Circumstances Not Covered

While homeowners insurance provides broad coverage, certain types of fence damage are excluded. Damage from normal wear and tear, such as rotting wood or rust, is not covered. Policies also exclude damage caused by neglect or lack of proper maintenance, including issues like insect infestation (e.g., termites) or mold.

Major natural disasters like floods and earthquakes are standard exclusions. Separate flood or earthquake insurance policies are necessary to cover damage from these events. Intentional damage caused by the insured is also excluded. If a neighbor’s tree falls on your fence due to a storm, your policy would likely cover it; however, if the neighbor’s tree was diseased or poorly maintained, liability might shift, or your insurer may seek reimbursement from the neighbor’s policy.

Filing a Claim for Fence Damage

Initiating a claim for fence damage involves several steps. Immediately after the damage occurs, document everything thoroughly with photos and videos from multiple angles, and if necessary, take steps to prevent further damage. This documentation is important for your claim.

Contact your insurer as soon as possible to report the incident, providing details about the damage, when it occurred, and the likely cause. You can typically do this via phone, online portals, or mobile apps. Be prepared to provide your name, policy number, address, and a description of the damage.

Remember that your policy has a deductible, the amount you pay out-of-pocket before your insurance coverage begins. Typical deductibles range from $500 to $2,000, or they might be a percentage of your dwelling coverage, especially for certain perils like wind or hail. The repair cost must exceed this deductible for a payout.

An insurance adjuster will then assess the damage; it is beneficial to be present during their inspection to highlight all affected areas. You may need to obtain repair estimates from qualified contractors. Policies typically reimburse either on an actual cash value (ACV) or replacement cost value (RCV) basis. ACV accounts for depreciation, meaning you receive the depreciated value of the fence, while RCV pays the cost to replace the fence with new materials of similar kind and quality without deduction for depreciation.