Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Fallen Trees?

by COUNTRY Financial

Homeowners insurance may cover damage from fallen trees, but it depends on why the tree fell and exactly what it damaged. Things can get even trickier when the tree in question belongs to your neighbor—or if your tree damages a neighbor’s property.

If that sounds confusing, don’t worry; we’ll help explain how home insurance can help with damage from fallen trees.

If a tree damages my house, does homeowners insurance cover it?

Home insurance coverage will only apply to fallen tree damage if the tree fell due to a covered peril. (A “peril” is a specific event or risk, some of which are not included in insurance coverage.)

Generally, whether home insurance will cover tree damage comes down to why the tree fell. If the tree fell due to sudden and/or accidental cause, home insurance will likely cover the damage. This includes things like:

• Storm damage, including lightning strikes
• Fire damage
• The weight of snow and/or ice

What's not covered by home insurance?

Home insurance will not cover damage caused by "at risk" trees, meaning they were either completely dead or in poor health when they fell.

Insurers consider it your job, as the homeowner, to remove trees that are at risk of future falls. Failure to do so is considered negligence on your part.

Always check standing trees to ensure they're:

• Still alive (sometimes it's hard to tell)
• Healthy and not suffering from rot
• Well maintained (e.g., remove large broken limbs, look for insect infestations, etc.)

Will homeowners insurance cover preventative tree removal?

Home insurance will not pay to remove a decaying tree or a rotten tree that’s still standing. You should absolutely remove trees that are possible threats, but you’ll have to cover the costs yourself.

Tips for preventing tree falls

The out-of-pocket cost of removing an at-risk tree can be staggering, but it pales in comparison to the damage it could cause if it falls. Since home insurance won't pay to remove trees that could fall in the future, it's up to you as a homeowner to check the health of your trees.

Here are a few tips to preventing tree falls:

• Schedule regular inspections: Have an arborist check your trees every 1-3 years for signs of sickness or rot. This is especially important if you don't have a natural green thumb.
• Water and fertilize often: A tree's health begins in its roots; the healthier the roots, the stronger the tree.
• Prune trees properly and regularly: Remove dead or diseased branches before they fall.
• Check trees after storms: Look for breaks in the trunk, hanging branches, etc.
• Pay special attention to old, tall trees: Trees can become prone to sickness and insect infestations as they age, which could cause them to fall.
• Check our spring maintenance checklist for even more tips.

What if a tree falls without damaging any property?

Home insurance coverage for fallen trees depends not only on why the tree fell, but also what it damaged. In most cases, there must be some structural damage involved for insurance to pay for removing a fallen tree. Some insurers provide coverage to remove trees that simply fell in your yard (as long as they fell due to a covered peril listed above), but it's usually not much.

An exception is when a fallen tree blocks access points to the house, especially if there are accessibility issues at play (a ramp for a wheelchair, for example). In those cases, some policies can provide limited coverage for removal.

Does homeowners insurance cover a neighbor’s tree falling on my house?

Where the tree comes from is usually irrelevant. If the tree falls due to a covered peril and causes damage, file a claim and pay your deductible. Your dwelling coverage should cover your neighbor’s tree falling on your house.

The same is true for your neighbors—their dwelling coverage protects them from your tree falling on their house.

However, dwelling coverage may not protect you or your neighbor if negligence is involved. If a tree damages someone else’s home because the owner failed to care for it, they’ll be responsible for paying the other person’s damages.

Final thoughts

Fallen trees can be very damaging to your home. Do everything you can to take care of them when they’re healthy and remove them when they’re dying.

If you’d like to know more about homeowners insurance and fallen trees, talk to your insurance agent today—they can help you determine how much coverage you need and answer any of your questions.

Published 9-15-25
Updated 4-15-26