Quick answer: Yes, for sudden covered damage. A standard HO-3 covers fences, sheds, detached garages, gazebos and similar structures under Coverage B, Other Structures, usually with a limit equal to 10 percent of your dwelling coverage. Wind, fire, fallen trees, vehicles and vandalism are typical covered causes. Wear and tear, rot, insects, settling and flood are excluded, and structures used for business or rented to someone other than a tenant of the home generally are not covered.
Fences blow over in storms, trees fall on sheds and cars back into detached garages. These structures often feel like an afterthought, but replacing a long fence or a well-built workshop can be expensive.
The good news is that homeowners policies include coverage for structures that are not attached to the house. This article explains how that coverage works under the Insurance Services Office (ISO) Homeowners 3 Special Form, which most U.S. insurers use as their model. For the full policy structure, see our homeowners insurance guide.
Sources: Insurance Services Office (ISO) Homeowners 3 Special Form (HO 00 03) Coverage B Other Structures, Section I exclusions and the additional coverages for trees and debris removal; Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) consumer guidance on other structures; National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) homeowners insurance guidance. Policies differ by insurer and state. This is general information, not insurance advice. Read your own policy.
What Counts as an Other Structure
The ISO form defines other structures as structures on the residence premises that are set apart from the dwelling by clear space. Structures connected to the house only by a fence, utility line or similar connection count as other structures too.
Common examples:
- Fences and gates.
- Storage sheds and workshops.
- Detached garages and carports.
- Gazebos, pergolas and pavilions.
- Guest houses and pool houses.
- Retaining walls.
- In-ground pools in many policies, though some insurers treat them separately.
- Driveways and walkways in some policies.
Attached structures, such as an attached garage or a deck connected to the house, are generally part of the dwelling under Coverage A. Our explainer on Coverages A through F shows how the sections relate.
How Much Coverage You Have
The standard Coverage B limit is 10 percent of Coverage A. If your dwelling limit is $300,000, you would typically have $30,000 for all other structures combined.
That limit is shared across everything on the property. A long privacy fence, a large detached garage and a backyard workshop can quickly exceed it.
| Dwelling limit (Coverage A) | Typical Coverage B at 10 percent |
|---|---|
| $200,000 | $20,000 |
| $300,000 | $30,000 |
| $400,000 | $40,000 |
| $500,000 | $50,000 |
Most insurers let you raise Coverage B for an added premium. If you have significant structures, add up their replacement cost and compare it with your limit. Our guide on how much dwelling coverage you need explains how replacement cost estimates work, and the same approach applies to detached structures.
What Causes of Damage Are Covered
Coverage B in an HO-3 is open perils, like the dwelling. Damage is covered unless an exclusion applies. Common covered causes include:
- Windstorm and hail. A storm that knocks down fence panels or tears the roof off a shed.
- Fire and lightning.
- Fallen trees brought down by wind or another covered peril.
- Vehicles. A car that crashes through the fence or into a detached garage, including your own vehicle in many policies, though check the wording.
- Vandalism and malicious mischief, subject to vacancy limits.
- Weight of ice and snow collapsing a shed roof.
- Theft of a structure or its parts.
Hurricane or windstorm deductibles may apply in coastal states, and those deductibles can be much higher than the standard deductible.
What Is Excluded
The same exclusions that apply to the house apply to other structures. The most common ones for fences and sheds:
- Wear and tear, deterioration and rot. An old fence that finally leans over is maintenance.
- Insects and rodents. Termites in fence posts are excluded.
- Settling and earth movement. Retaining walls that slowly tilt are generally excluded.
- Flood and surface water. Floodwater damage needs a flood policy, and NFIP building coverage has its own limits on detached structures.
- Freezing and thawing effects on fences, pavements, patios, foundations, retaining walls and similar items, which the ISO form excludes for several named perils.
- Neglect, meaning failure to protect property after a loss.
Business Use and Rental Exclusions
Under the ISO HO-3, there is no coverage for other structures rented or held for rental to anyone who is not a tenant of the dwelling, unless the structure is used solely as a private garage. It also excludes other structures from which any business is conducted, and structures used to store business property, with limited exceptions.
That matters if you:
- Rent out a garage apartment or guest house to a separate tenant.
- Run a business from a backyard studio or workshop.
- Store inventory or equipment for a business in a shed.
If any of these apply, talk with your insurer about an endorsement or a separate policy.
Fallen Trees and Neighbors
Trees and fences produce many neighbor questions. The general rule is simple: your policy covers your property. If a neighbor’s tree falls on your fence during a windstorm, you would typically file with your own insurer. If your tree falls on the neighbor’s shed, their policy usually responds first.
Negligence can change that. If a tree was obviously dead or dying and the owner ignored it, the damaged party’s insurer may seek recovery from the tree owner.
The ISO form also includes an additional coverage for debris removal of fallen trees, typically up to $1,000 per loss with no more than $500 per tree, when a tree felled by windstorm, hail, or weight of ice, snow or sleet damages a covered structure. Our article on fallen tree coverage goes into detail.
Shared fences on a property line add another layer. Many homeowners agree to split costs, and some state or local laws address shared boundary fences. Insurance pays for covered damage, but who owns the fence may affect which policy applies.
Contents of Sheds and Garages
Things stored in a shed or detached garage, such as lawn equipment, bicycles and tools, are personal property under Coverage C, not Coverage B. Coverage C applies to named perils in an HO-3, and theft is one of them. Our guide to theft coverage explains how theft claims work, including the special limits on certain types of property.
Vehicles, including golf carts used off premises and motorized vehicles that must be registered, are typically excluded from personal property coverage.
Replacement Cost and Old Fences
Many policies pay replacement cost on structures, but some pay actual cash value on other structures, or on certain items such as fences, which subtracts depreciation. An older fence may be worth less than the cost of new panels. Check your declarations page and policy wording.
Matching is also an issue. If a storm destroys several fence panels and the remaining fence is weathered, insurers generally pay to repair the damaged portion, not the whole fence. Some state rules address matching for visible items, so ask your adjuster.
Pools, Retaining Walls and Other Big-Ticket Structures
Some other structures cost far more than a fence or small shed, and they can use up the Coverage B limit quickly.
In-ground pools. Many policies treat an in-ground pool and its deck as other structures. Covered damage might include a tree falling into the pool or a vehicle crashing into the equipment. Cracking from ground movement, freezing damage to pool plumbing in some situations and wear are typically excluded. Some insurers place pools under the dwelling or limit coverage, so read your declarations.
Retaining walls. Retaining walls can be costly to rebuild. Sudden damage from a vehicle or a covered collapse may be covered, but walls that fail from soil pressure, poor drainage or settling usually fall under exclusions.
Guest houses and detached living spaces. A finished guest house can be worth a large share of the main home. If yours is substantial, it may need its own higher Coverage B limit, or a separate dwelling policy if it is rented to someone outside the household.
Solar arrays and outdoor kitchens. Ground-mounted solar panels, outdoor kitchens and large pergolas often fall under Coverage B as well, adding to the total value you need to insure.
Questions to Ask Before Raising Coverage B
If your structures add up to more than your current limit, ask your agent:
- How much does it cost to raise Coverage B in increments?
- Are fences paid at replacement cost or actual cash value?
- Are pools and pool equipment covered under Coverage A or Coverage B?
- Does the windstorm or hurricane deductible apply to other structures?
- Are there limits on specific items such as retaining walls or driveways?
- Does a home-based business change coverage for a detached office or workshop?
Fences and Liability Coverage
Fences can also come up under Coverage E, Personal Liability. If your fence falls onto a neighbor’s car because you ignored obvious rot, the neighbor may make a claim against you, and your liability coverage may respond if you are legally responsible.
Fences can reduce liability risk too. Many local codes require pool barriers that meet specific height and gate rules, and insurers often require a compliant fence before they will cover a property with a pool. A locked gate around a pool or trampoline helps keep neighborhood children out, which insurers view favorably.
Keeping Fences and Sheds Claim-Ready
Maintenance supports both the structure and any future claim:
- Replace rotted posts and loose boards promptly.
- Keep trees trimmed back from fences and sheds.
- Anchor sheds in windy areas according to local building codes.
- Take dated photos of fences, sheds and their contents each year.
- Keep receipts for new structures and major repairs.
Before installing a new fence, check local permit rules and homeowners association requirements. A fence built without required permits can create problems at claim time.
How to File a Fence or Shed Claim
- Photograph the damage from several angles, including the cause, such as a fallen tree.
- Make temporary repairs to keep pets and children safe and prevent further damage. Keep receipts.
- Get repair estimates from licensed contractors.
- Check your deductible. A small fence repair may cost less than your deductible.
- Notify your insurer and describe the date and cause of loss.
Our step-by-step guide on how to file a homeowners insurance claim covers what happens next.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a fence covered by homeowners insurance?
Yes, under Coverage B for sudden covered damage such as wind, fire, fallen trees and vehicles. Wear and tear and rot are excluded.
How much is a shed covered for?
All other structures share the Coverage B limit, typically 10 percent of your dwelling coverage, unless you buy more.
Does homeowners insurance cover a fence damaged by a neighbor's tree?
Usually your own policy pays for damage to your fence. If the neighbor was negligent, your insurer may seek reimbursement from them.
Are items in my shed covered?
Belongings in a shed are covered as personal property under Coverage C for named perils, including theft.
Does homeowners insurance cover a fence blown down by wind?
Generally yes. Windstorm is a covered cause under Coverage B, subject to your deductible, which may be a separate windstorm or hurricane deductible in some coastal states. A fence that was already rotted or leaning may be disputed as wear and tear.
Is my mailbox covered by homeowners insurance?
A mailbox on your property is usually treated as an other structure, so sudden damage from a vehicle or vandalism is generally covered, though the cost is often below the deductible.
Is a shed used for a business covered?
Generally not under a standard HO-3. Structures used for business or to store business property are excluded, so you may need an endorsement or business policy.
The Bottom Line
Fences, sheds and detached garages are covered for sudden damage under Coverage B, typically up to 10 percent of your dwelling limit. Add up what your structures would cost to replace, raise the limit if needed, keep them maintained and watch the business and rental exclusions.
