Does homeowners insurance cover a tree falling on my roof?

In most cases yes. Wind is a covered cause of loss, so dwelling coverage pays to repair the roof, decking, gutters, and interior damage a falling tree causes, subject to your deductible.

Does insurance pay to remove a fallen tree?

Many policies pay a limited amount to remove a tree that damaged a covered structure. If the tree falls in the yard and hits nothing, removal is usually the homeowner's cost. Check the limit in your policy.

Does the wind and hail deductible apply to tree damage?

Often yes. Many North Dakota policies use a percentage wind and hail deductible, and a tree falling in a windstorm usually falls under it. Check your declarations page before filing.

Does Insurance Cover a Tree Falling on Your Roof in Fargo?

Caleb Cook

Oct 7

3 min read

Yes, in most cases. A standard homeowners policy covers damage when a tree or large limb falls on your house, because wind is a covered cause of loss. Dodd Roofing and Exteriors helps Fargo-Moorhead homeowners document the damage, protect the opening, and rebuild the roof once the claim is approved. What you actually receive depends on three things: your deductible, whether the tree hit the structure, and how your policy handles tree removal.

What does a homeowners policy cover when a tree hits the house?

Your dwelling coverage pays to repair the parts of the house the tree damaged: shingles, decking, rafters, gutters, soffit, and often the ceiling and insulation below. If the roof is open to the weather, most policies also expect you to make reasonable temporary repairs, and the cost of a tarp is usually part of the claim. Keep every receipt and take photos before anything is moved. Our guide to emergency roof tarping after storm damage explains how that works.

Is tree removal covered too?

This is where homeowners get surprised. When a tree falls and damages a covered structure, many policies pay a limited amount to remove the tree from that structure. When a tree falls in the yard and hits nothing, removal is usually your own cost. The limit is printed in your policy and varies by carrier, so ask your agent for the exact number. Do not cut limbs that are resting on the roof yourself. Cutting shifts the weight, and a trapped limb can punch farther through the decking.

Does it matter if the tree was already dead?

The damage to your house is often still covered, because the wind caused the loss. Some carriers push back, though, when a tree was visibly dead or diseased for a long time and the owner did nothing. That matters here because emerald ash borer has been killing ash trees across the metro, and a bare, brittle ash leaning toward your house is exactly what an adjuster will ask about. Removing a dying tree before winter is far easier than filing a claim after it falls. If a neighbor's tree lands on your roof, your own policy generally pays for your damage no matter whose tree it was.

Will the wind and hail deductible apply?

Many North Dakota policies use a separate wind and hail deductible set as a percentage of the home's insured value, often one, two, or even five percent. A tree coming down in a windstorm usually falls under it. A small limb that scuffs a few shingles may cost less to fix than that deductible, which means filing would not pay off. Check the declarations page first, and read our breakdown of the wind and hail deductible in North Dakota before deciding.

What should you do in Fargo-Moorhead when a tree comes down?

The Red River Valley is open prairie with older neighborhoods full of tall cottonwoods, elms, and ash, especially around Hawthorne, Roosevelt, and the older streets of Moorhead. Late October and November bring strong straight-line winds, and roots sit in heavy clay left behind by glacial Lake Agassiz, so saturated or frozen-then-thawing ground lets big trees lean and go over. Boulevard trees between the sidewalk and the street are generally city property, so call city forestry if one of those falls on your house.

Stay out of the area first and call the utility if any line is down. Next, photograph the tree, the roof, and any interior water from several angles. Then call your insurance company to open the claim, and call us for a tarp and a free inspection. We check decking and framing, because an impact can crack rafters you cannot see from the attic.

How does the repair work once the claim is approved?

After the tree is removed, we replace damaged decking by the sheet, repair or replace the framing if needed, and rebuild the roof section to current code, including ice barrier along the eaves. Late fall is a tight window, since shingles need mild weather to seal. When it is too cold, we protect the roof now and complete the permanent repair in spring. If your policy pays only part of the cost, our financing options can cover the gap. You can see how we handle these jobs on our storm damage page.

If a tree has already come down, call Dodd Roofing and Exteriors at (701) 831-0710 and we will get a crew out. More plain-language answers are collected in our homeowner guide library.