Tree Fell on Your House? Insurance & Removal in Tallahassee
What to do after a tree hits your home, how homeowners insurance usually treats tree removal, and the paperwork that makes a claim easier.
Free, no-obligation estimate from a local tree service.
This is general information, not insurance or legal advice. Every policy is different. Your insurer and your policy documents decide what’s covered.
First: safety, photos, and the call to your insurer
- Get everyone out of the damaged part of the house. If there’s a smell of gas or a downed power line, leave and call for help.
- Report downed lines to your electric provider. City of Tallahassee Utilities lists 850-891-4968 (24/7).
- Photograph everything before anything is moved: the tree, where it hit, inside damage, and any water coming in.
- Call your insurance company to report the claim and ask what they need from the tree service.
- Prevent further damage where you safely can, such as a tarp once the tree is off the roof. Insurers generally expect reasonable steps to limit damage; keep the receipts.
- Request removal and ask for an itemized invoice. More on the emergency removal page.
How coverage usually works
When insurance typically pays for tree removal
According to NerdWallet’s guide (updated June 2026), coverage generally depends on two things: why the tree fell and what it hit.
Tree hits a covered structure
When a covered event like wind or lightning brings a tree down onto your house, garage or fence, insurance will often cover the structural damage and removal, though removal costs may be capped by a sublimit.
Tree falls in the yard only
If it doesn’t damage insured property, you’ll often pay for removal yourself. NerdWallet notes exceptions, such as a tree blocking a driveway or a wheelchair ramp.
Removal limits
NerdWallet says debris removal is typically capped at around $500 to $1,000, after your deductible. Check the debris removal section of your own policy.
Source: NerdWallet, does homeowners insurance cover tree removal.
Neighbor’s tree
What if it was your neighbor’s tree?
In Florida, you generally file with your own insurer even when the tree came from next door. A 2024 News 6 (WKMG) report quoted a former deputy Florida insurance commissioner saying your own insurance pays for your damage, and that insurers may then try to recover costs from the neighbor’s side.
If the neighbor’s tree was dead or obviously unhealthy, the neighbor may be responsible, but Florida has no statute settling this, so disputes are decided case by case. If that applies to you, talk to your insurer and get qualified advice.
Sources: News 6 / ClickOrlando, Oct 2024; NerdWallet (above).
Paperwork
What to ask the tree service for
- An itemized estimate before work, and an itemized invoice after
- Removal from the structure listed separately from yard cleanup and stump grinding
- Crane or special equipment listed as its own line
- Photos of the tree on the house before it’s lifted off
- Proof of the company’s liability insurance
Before the next storm: insurers may question claims where a tree was obviously dead or neglected. Having dead or decaying trees near the house dealt with ahead of time can help. See dead tree removal.
Questions
Tree on house FAQ
Should I file a claim for a small tree in the yard?
Does homeowners insurance cover a tree on my car?
Will insurance pay to remove a dead tree before it falls?
Can the tree service bill my insurer directly?
What if FEMA declares a disaster?
Tree on your house?
Send the details and photos through the form and mark it urgent. A local tree service will follow up.