After the recent hurricanes, wind storms and wildfires, property owners have been cleaning up debris from downed trees and asking “What's covered and what's not?

Question: On the HO 3 form, the policy provides $500 for tree debris removal per tree with $1,000 total coverage per occurrence.

Does the HO 3 policy cover the cost to remove the tree or tree limbs from the “covered structure” separate from the cost to remove the tree “debris” from the “residence premises” assuming the tree landed on the building? For example, a tree service might charge $250 to remove tree limbs from the roof, $3,000 to cut the tree limbs and trunk into small pieces, $500 to rent the wood chipper to chop the tree, and $450 to remove the wood chips, including any disposal fees, for a total of $4,200.

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Christine G. Barlow, CPCU

Christine G. Barlow, CPCU, is Executive Editor of FC&S Expert Coverage Interpretation, a division of National Underwriter Company and ALM. Christine has over thirty years’ experience in the insurance industry, beginning as a claims adjuster then working as an underwriter and underwriting supervisor handling personal lines. Christine regularly presents and moderates webinars on a variety of topics and is an experienced presenter.