"Falling Trees and Windstorms: What's Covered"

Pacific Northwest windstorms and saturated winter ground bring down a lot of trees, and "who pays?" is one of the most common — and misunderstood — home insurance questions. Here's how it actually works.

The general rules

• A tree hits an insured structure (your home, garage, fence) → covered. Your policy pays for the damage to the structure, and usually for removing the tree off the structure.
• A tree falls but hits nothing → usually not covered. Removal of a tree lying in your yard is typically excluded (some policies offer a small removal allowance if it blocks a driveway or accessibility ramp).
• Your tree falls on a neighbor's home → generally their insurance handles their damage, unless you were negligent (e.g., the tree was clearly dead and you ignored it) — which is where liability and your umbrella can come in.

Windstorm damage

Wind is a covered peril on standard policies — roof damage, siding, and structures damaged by windstorms are generally covered, subject to your deductible.

Practical steps

1. Maintain your trees — removing clearly dead/hazardous trees protects you from negligence claims.
2. Know your deductible before storm season.
3. Document damage promptly with photos.

Frequently asked questions

Does homeowners insurance cover a tree falling on my house? Yes — damage to an insured structure from a fallen tree is covered, typically including removal of the tree off the structure, subject to your deductible.

Is tree removal covered if it didn't hit anything? Usually not — a tree lying in your yard without striking a structure is generally excluded, though some policies offer a small allowance in specific cases.

Who pays if my tree falls on my neighbor's house? Typically their insurance, unless you were negligent (e.g., ignored a known dead tree) — in which case your liability coverage may apply.

More in this series: Is Earthquake Insurance Worth It in Seattle? · How Much Earthquake Insurance Costs in Washington

Related: Coverage Gap Calculator → · The Equity-Wealthy Household’s Insurance Guide →

Catastrophe coverage depends heavily on where and what you own, so High Net Worth Home Insurance in Bellevue and Extended vs Guaranteed Replacement Cost go hand in hand with this.

Trella Insurance is an independent brokerage in Bellevue, WA. Request a free review or try the coverage gap calculator.