Trim your trees now or lose homeowners insurance coverage

Last updated on September 15th, 2024 at 10:30 pm

Be aware your insurance company will be inspecting your house prior to or just after renewal.  One day your insurance agent may call and tell you your policy will be suspended because of trees overhanging your house.  Tree branches and limbs that overhang insured structures create an undesirable risk for insurance companies.  What is worse is if those trees overhang power lines on your property.  A combination of overhangs on your roof and power lines is a disaster waiting to happen.  Get those trees trimmed.

Many of my clients and even at my own properties, insurance companies have demanded that trees be trimmed.  Often this is no small job.  Some trees grow to 80′ and many have large spreads.  Insurance companies looking to eliminate risk have been hiring more inspectors than ever before.  

Remove tree limbs from your home and building

With all of the hurricanes, tornadoes, and weather events, it’s a good idea to make sure that your covered structure is in fact, not covered by trees.  Just when you thought that your trees were clear off your roof, you noticed your neighbor’s tree hanging over your garage.  

Any trees overhanging a covered structure cause issues with insurance providers.  If the tree is on your neighbor’s property that overhangs your covered property, have the portion on your property trimmed.  Be sure to check with local rules on this and consult your neighbor.  There are local and state laws about how to handle specific situations.   This is not rocket science, if you can see branches overhanging with the naked eye, they need to be trimmed.

You will also want to take a look at the health of your trees.  If you have diseased trees, remove them before they fall.  A falling tree can create tremendous damage to your house.  A family member recently suffered a loss when during a tornado, a very large tree fell on the house.  Large trees can do great damage as in the case of my family member.  

Your insurance may not cover damage from trees

Insurance claims can be filed and will probably be paid but as with any claim against insurance, they will want to know if the tree was already damaged.  Did it overhang the house etc?  This information could affect your recovery.  They want to know the true cause of the tree falling and not just the wind.

If you believe you have time, trim your trees in the fall and early spring when leaves are off the trees (for trees that shed leaves).  Avoid cutting healthy trees on very hot days.  Tree care is your responsibility according to insurance companies.  Most homeowner’s insurance will not cover tree removal unless it was damaged in a storm.  

Trees add value to your home if they are properly cared for.  The best way to ensure that your trees complement your home is to routinely trim them and feed trees to prevent the trees’ roots from being damaged.  While you are looking for branches over your house and other structures, do not forget roots.  I have seen large roots from oak trees actually lift sidewalks and concrete foundations.  Don’t let it get that bad.  At first sight of a root pushing up concrete, contact a certified arborist or cut the offending root back.

Your insurance company may be using drones to inspect your roof

Cut those trees, drones are out there without any notice

It’s not just falling limbs, those roots can be a problem

You can also place root barriers in places where you want to prevent roots from causing damage.  Roots will seek water and nutrients so deny them both.  Root barriers made of plastic or metal are usually sufficient.  Insurance companies will rarely ever compensate for root damage.  Structural damage caused by roots is considered the homeowner’s responsibility.  Another issue is roots causing damage to sewer and water systems.  Root systems can grow very large underground and have serious side effects such as breaking your sewer line.

One of my clients recently went through this process.  The slab had to be broken in order to find the place where the roots were damaging the sewer.  It was an expensive problem.  One way to prevent root damage is to plant trees well away from the house.  The various types of trees have different root systems and some are better to plant near buildings than others.  If you have a root problem, call a professional contractor to deal with it.

Most homeowners insurance covers tree removal unless it is tied to tree damage during a storm or other covered event such as wind damage.  Property owners should regularly inspect trees particularly if lightning strikes your tree.  If your tree is dead even if it can not reach the roof, remove it before it causes another tree to fall or fall on a neighbor’s fence.  

Trim trees and take photos for insurance

Take photos of your house after trees are trimmed as proof in the event of a weather-related incident.  Show the photos to an insurance adjuster if necessary.  They should be dated.  Be sure that trees are a covered peril.  One of the biggest costs of repairing homes after a major weather event such as a hurricane is fallen trees.  

The property damage from the insured structure may be covered but it gets complicated when trees are involved.  Removing fallen trees is a big cost and you must pay the deductible on any claims you are making.  Healthy trees are not usually downed by strong winds.  Dead trees can fall at any time.  

The good news is that you can often trim trees with the use of a pole saw.  A pole saw with an 8″-10″ chain can cut some larger limbs.  If you decide to trim your own tree, always have the assistance of another person.  Be careful of power lines.  If you stand on your roof be sure you are secure.  

Consider if it is best to hire a tree trimmer

The potential danger of falling may outweigh you doing the trimming yourself.  Recently I was inspecting some of my properties and noticed lots of branches at head height blocking the entrance.  I cut most with clippers and a pole saw without using a ladder. Your handyman may be able to trim your trees.

I received a notice from the insurance company that trees hanging over a rental property must be trimmed or the policy will exclude the roof. It’s interesting how before you know it, trees have grown much larger. I should have trimmed them before they got as high. A couple of the trees had reached 60′ so a professional was called out. They use a large lift that extends 50′ to get high enough.

Tree trimming can be expensive if you let the trees get out of control

On this particular house, there was a branch about 7″ wide overhanging the house and the power line. It took great skill to cut the branch and lift it so that it would not hit the roof or take down the power line. I was lucky, the people cutting my trees gave me a very good price, but still, it was several thousand dollars.

The best practices are to trim the lighter branches you can safely reach and hire a great service to cut trees out of reach.  While you are trimming branches, consider trimming lower branches that grow from the ground or below head height from the trunk.  Keep the trunk clean of these branches which will eventually become much larger obstacles.  

Be aware that some trees may be protected.  In Mississippi, live oaks and magnolia trees greater than a specified width are protected by law.  You always have the option to remove parts of these trees that overhang your house but taking down major limbs in other areas may require a permit.  

Protected trees require permits for some trimming

Protected trees often require licensed tree services to follow a permit that is issued to trim specific parts.  The intent is to not harm a healthy tree.  Even if your protected tree appears to be dead call a professional for their opinion.  You may still require a permit even to remove a dead tree.

If the tree is cut at ground level, you can hire a company with a stump grinding machine to remove it.  This often occurs when the dead tree must be removed but the root system could damage the property if the root were pulled up.  Trees in some wetlands areas may not be completely removed but instead cut near the ground to leave the root system in place.  Root systems from trees that were removed help to bind the soil.  

Information about trees

While all trees have roots, some species are known for their aggressive, invasive root systems that can cause significant damage to property. Here are a few examples:

• Poplars: These trees have shallow, fast-growing roots that can spread widely and damage foundations, sewer lines, and sidewalks.
• Oaks: Many oak species, especially those with large, spreading canopies, have strong, deep roots that can also cause foundation damage.
• Maples: Some maple trees, like the Norway maple, have invasive roots that can disrupt sidewalks, driveways, and sewer systems.
• Elms: American elms, in particular, have moisture-loving roots that can search for water sources, often leading them to invade sewer lines and foundation cracks.
• Willow: Willows have shallow, fibrous roots that can spread rapidly and cause damage to underground pipes and structures.

Trees with shallow or weak root systems are particularly susceptible to falling in high winds or extreme weather events. 

Here are some common species that often fall:

• Poplars: Known for their shallow, spreading roots, poplars are prone to toppling in storms.
• Willows: These trees also have shallow, fibrous root systems that provide poor anchorage.
• Red Maples: Red maples can develop weak or shallow roots, especially in poor soil conditions.
• Cottonwoods: Similar to poplars, cottonwoods have shallow roots that make them vulnerable to wind damage.
• Ashes: While many ash species have strong root systems, some, like green ash, can develop weak or shallow roots in certain conditions.

Other factors that can increase a tree’s risk of falling include:

• Age: Older trees may have weakened root systems or structural defects.
• Disease or pests: Trees weakened by disease or pests are more likely to fall.
• Soil conditions: Poor soil drainage or compaction can compromise a tree’s root system.
• Location: Trees planted in exposed areas or near structures are at higher risk.

Trees that are particularly sensitive to root damage include:

• Maples: Many maple species, especially sugar maples, are susceptible to decline or death if their roots are significantly damaged.
• Oaks: Oaks, especially live oaks and white oaks, can be sensitive to root disturbance, especially if the damage is extensive.
• Elms: American elms can be vulnerable to root rot and other diseases if their roots are damaged.
• Pines: Some pine species, such as loblolly pines and longleaf pines, can experience stress or decline if their roots are cut.
• Fruit trees: Apple, peach, and other fruit trees can be sensitive to root damage, which can affect their productivity and longevity.

Factors that can influence a tree’s susceptibility to root damage include:

• Tree species: Some species are naturally more tolerant of root damage than others.
• Age and size: Younger, smaller trees may be more resilient to root damage than older, larger trees.
• Soil conditions: Trees growing in poor soil or compacted soil may be more vulnerable to root damage.
• Extent of root damage: The amount and location of root damage can affect a tree’s ability to recover.

Trees damage fences

The last topic is about damage caused by trees to fences. First, is it your fence or your neighbors? If it’s your neighbor’s fence and your tree, who covers it? If your neighbor’s tree falls on your fence, which insurance company deals with it? Check out this good article about this topic.

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