Sometimes. Homeowners insurance in Tennessee usually pays to remove a tree when it falls and damages something the policy covers, like your house, garage or fence. It usually doesn’t pay to remove a healthy tree you simply want gone, or a tree that falls without hitting anything. Here’s how it typically works.
Every policy is different. This is general information, not insurance or legal advice. Read your policy or call your agent.
When insurance usually pays
A tree falls on a covered structure. If a storm, wind or lightning brings a tree down on your house, garage, shed or fence, most policies cover repairs to the structure and removing the tree from it, minus your deductible. Many policies cap the tree removal part, often at somewhere around $500 to $1,000 per tree. Check your policy for the exact limit.
A tree blocks your driveway or a wheelchair ramp. Some policies pay a limited amount to clear a tree that blocks access, even if nothing is damaged.
When it usually doesn’t
- The tree fell in the yard without hitting anything. Cleanup is usually your cost.
- Removing a healthy tree because you don’t want it or it’s in the way.
- Removing a dead or dying tree before it falls. This is maintenance, so you pay for it.
- Damage caused by neglect. If a tree was obviously dead or rotten and you did nothing, an insurer may deny the claim.
What about your neighbor’s tree?
If your neighbor’s healthy tree falls on your house in a storm, your own policy usually pays, and you claim on your own insurance. If their tree was clearly dead or dying and they knew or should have known, they may be responsible. Tennessee courts have said neighbors can be held liable for damage from encroaching trees in some situations. Document the tree’s condition with photos if you’re worried about it, and talk to your neighbor in writing.
Making a claim go smoothly
- Photograph everything before it’s moved: the tree on the structure, close-ups, the stump or root plate.
- Call your insurer and open a claim. Ask whether they need to see the tree in place.
- Prevent further damage, like tarping the roof, and keep the receipts.
- Get a written, itemized invoice from the tree crew showing removal from the structure separately from any other work.
- Don’t sign your claim over to a contractor you don’t know.
The cheapest claim is the one you avoid
A dying tree near the house is cheaper to remove before it falls than after. If you have a tree you’re worried about, call (423) 275-4820 for a free written estimate. See also what tree removal costs in Chattanooga.
Need a tree crew around Chattanooga?
Call (423) 275-4820 or send a few details. We’ll match you with an independent local crew for a free written estimate, usually the same day.