Tree on Your House? What to Do, and What Insurance Usually Covers

First hour checklist

1. Get everyone out of the rooms under the tree.
2. Take photos and video of the tree, roof, walls, vehicles and anything else damaged, from several angles, before anything is moved.
3. Call your insurance company or agent to open a claim, and write down the claim number.
4. Contact a tree company about getting the tree off the structure. Ask them to note on the invoice what was on the house versus what was in the yard. That split matters for coverage (see below).
5. Keep every receipt: tarps, emergency tree work, hotel nights.

What policies typically pay for tree removal

According to ALDOI, a policy will typically pay to remove trees only if the tree:

• damaged covered property (like your house or a covered structure),
• blocks driveway access onto the property, or
• blocks a handicapped ramp into the structure.

Even then, ALDOI says coverage is typically limited, for example up to $500 per tree and $1,000 total for all trees.^[1] So a tree that fell in the yard without hitting anything usually isn't covered for removal, and a big removal can cost more than the limit. National cost guides put a typical removal at $400 to $1,200^[3] (see our cost guide). Check your own policy's numbers and deductible.

Getting the estimate right

• Get your own estimates. ALDOI says the insured must obtain their own estimates from the contractors who will do the work, and that it's best to get at least two. Those estimates are your documentation when negotiating with the insurer.^[1]
• If the offer seems far too low: ALDOI says it can intervene when there's a significant gap between an acceptable industry rate and what the insurer offers, though it typically doesn't negotiate detailed settlement amounts.^[1]
• Replacement-cost policies often pay actual cash value first, and the rest once you're repairing or rebuilding, per ALDOI.^[1]
• Before you sign a "Settlement Release": ALDOI notes that cashing an initial check typically doesn't end your claim, but signing a settlement release closes it.^[1]

What this page can't tell you

Who pays when a neighbor's tree falls, and how your specific policy reads, depends on the policy and the facts. Ask your insurer or agent, or ALDOI. We don't give legal advice.

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