Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Debris Removal?

Your Greensboro homeowners insurance policy is designed to protect your financial interests in the event your home is damaged or destroyed by a peril covered in your policy.  This includes such events as fires, wind storms, lightning strikes, hurricanes and much more.  The purpose of the policy is to help fix the damage done to your home or to rebuild the home if it's been destroyed.  The house should be brought back to the condition it was in before the damaging event occurred, within your specific policy dollar limits.  

Debris Left Behind

Certain events that may happen to your home that cause you to file a claim against your homeowners insurance policy may also leave behind debris.  This debris must be cleared away in an effort to get your home back to the condition it was in before the damage event occurred.

An example is a wind storm that topples a tree in your yard that ends up going through your home's roof.  Coverage A (dwelling) benefits in your policy will be the part responsible for paying toward the repair of your home, but the tree debris left behind in your yard may be considered for payment benefits in one of several ways.  Most homeowners insurance policies make some provision for debris removal, but dollar limits may vary depending on your particular insurance company and your policy.  Here are some examples:

• Some homeowners insurance policies contain what's called a "Debris Removal Clause."  This is a special provision in a homeowners insurance policy that allows for debris removal from your property that's the by-product of a loss covered by the policy.  Often this coverage will be limited to an amount equaling a percentage of your full policy value, such as 5% or 10%.  Check your policy wording for specifics.  
• Some policies provide for debris removal based on a fixed dollar amount.  The debris must have been created by a loss covered by the policy.
• Debris removal is often covered in a section of your policy called "additional coverages."  See page 14 of this N.C. Consumer's Guide to Homeowner's Insurance.  You'll also see that this section provides up to $500 for the removal of a tree that's felled in a covered peril if the felled tree damages an insured structure, blocks your home's driveway or exit/entryway of the home designed for handicapped persons.  Pose any questions to your agent.