Does Insurance Cover Tree Removal?

A tree fell on your property, and now you're wondering if insurance will cover removing it. The answer is: it depends. Insurance coverage for tree removal follows specific rules that aren't always intuitive.

The Basic Rule

Homeowner's insurance typically covers tree removal only when the tree has hit something covered by your policy. This usually means:

• Your house
• A detached garage or other insured structure (shed, fence, depending on policy)
• Sometimes, vehicles (check your auto policy)

Trees that fall and don't hit anything—even if they're lying across your entire backyard—are generally not covered.

What's Usually Covered

Tree Hits Your House

If a tree falls on your home and causes damage, insurance typically covers:

• Damage to the structure (roof, walls, windows)
• Damage to personal property inside
• Cost to remove the tree from the structure
• Debris cleanup related to the impact

This is the clearest case for coverage. The tree caused covered damage; removing it is part of the claim.

Tree Blocks Access or Egress

Many policies cover tree removal when a fallen tree blocks your driveway or essential access to your home, even if it didn't hit a structure. There's usually a sub-limit for this (often $500-1,000).

Tree Damages Other Covered Structures

If a tree hits your detached garage, fence, shed, or other structure listed on your policy, removal is typically covered up to policy limits. Coverage for these "other structures" is usually a percentage of your dwelling coverage (often 10%).

What's Usually NOT Covered

Trees That Fall But Miss Everything

This surprises many homeowners. A tree falls in your yard, misses the house, and lies across your lawn. In most cases, insurance won't pay to remove it. It's your problem to deal with.

The logic: homeowner's insurance covers damage to covered property, not general yard maintenance or inconvenience.

Preventive Removal of Standing Trees

Insurance won't pay to remove a dead, dying, or threatening tree before it falls. Even if an arborist says it will definitely fall and hit your house, that's preventive maintenance, not covered damage.

Exception: After a storm, some policies cover removal of damaged trees that pose an imminent threat to a covered structure, but this varies significantly by policy.

Trees Damaged But Still Standing

A tree that's damaged by a storm but still standing is generally not covered for removal. Even if it's now hazardous, it hasn't caused damage to covered property yet.

Value of the Trees Themselves

Homeowner's insurance doesn't compensate you for the trees you've lost. Most policies include some landscaping coverage, but it's limited (often $500 per tree, capped at 5% of dwelling coverage total) and typically only applies if trees are damaged by specific perils like fire or vandalism—not wind or storms.

Coverage Limits to Know

Per-Tree Limits

Even when tree removal is covered, most policies cap what they'll pay per tree—commonly $500 to $1,000. If removing a large tree from your roof costs $2,000, you may only get $500-1,000 for the tree removal itself. The structural damage is covered separately.

Total Tree Removal Limits

Some policies also cap total tree removal expenses per claim (e.g., $2,500 maximum for all trees combined).

Your Deductible

Remember that your deductible applies. If you have a $1,000 deductible and total damage (including tree removal) is $1,500, you'll only receive $500. For smaller claims, it may not be worth filing.

What About Your Neighbor's Tree?

Contrary to what many people think:

Your neighbor is generally NOT responsible for damage caused by their tree falling on your property—unless they were negligent (knew the tree was dead or hazardous and did nothing about it, and you can prove it).

Your insurance covers your property regardless of where the tree came from. File the claim with your own insurer. If your insurer believes negligence was involved, they may pursue your neighbor's insurance through subrogation.

The tree itself becomes your problem once it's on your property. You generally can't require your neighbor to pay for or remove a tree that fell from their yard onto yours.

This feels unfair, but it's how most policies work. The logic is that trees fall unpredictably during storms through no one's fault.

Filing a Tree-Related Claim

Document Everything First

Before any cleanup begins:

• Photograph and video the tree, the damage, and the overall scene
• Show where the tree contacted the structure
• Document the root ball if the tree uprooted
• Capture interior damage if applicable

Call Your Insurer Promptly

Most policies require timely notification. When you call:

• Report the incident and describe damage
• Ask specifically what tree removal costs are covered
• Ask about spending limits for emergency work
• Get a claim number
• Find out if they want to see the damage before tree removal

Get Estimates

Get written estimates for tree removal and repair work. For significant claims, your insurer will send an adjuster, but having your own estimates helps ensure fair settlement.

Keep Receipts

Save all receipts for:

• Emergency tree removal
• Temporary repairs (tarps, boards)
• Temporary housing if needed
• Any related expenses

Don't Sign Anything Too Quickly

Don't sign off on a settlement until you're confident all damage has been assessed. Hidden damage can emerge during repairs—water damage from roof holes, for example.

When Insurance Might Deny a Tree Claim

• No covered damage: Tree fell but didn't hit anything covered
• Maintenance issues: Tree was dead/dying and you ignored it (negligence)
• Excluded peril: Some policies exclude certain causes (flooding, earthquake)
• Policy lapsed: Coverage wasn't in effect
• Under deductible: Total damage is less than your deductible

If a claim is denied, you can appeal. Ask for the denial in writing, review your policy carefully, and consider getting a public adjuster's opinion if significant money is involved.

Is Filing Worth It?

Consider before filing:

• Total damage vs. deductible: If damage barely exceeds your deductible, the payout is small
• Claim history: Multiple claims can increase premiums or affect insurability
• Future savings: Small claims may cost you more in premium increases over time

For major damage—tree through the roof, significant structural damage—filing is clearly worthwhile. For borderline situations, do the math.

The Bottom Line

Insurance covers tree removal when trees damage covered structures, not just because a tree fell. Know your policy limits, document thoroughly, and communicate with your insurer before assuming anything is covered or starting expensive work.

For trees that fall and miss everything? That's on you—which is a good argument for proactively removing dead or hazardous trees before they become an uninsured problem.