Fence Blown Down in a Storm? Insurance, Neighbors and Repair in Anniston and Oxford

First: check for power lines

A fence that came down with a tree or limb can be touching a line. Assume any wire on or near it is energized: Alabama Extension's post-storm guidance is to keep 33 feet away from a tree that might be carrying current.^[1] Nobody should touch the fence until the utility has looked at it; if someone is hurt or in danger, dial 911. Tree still lying on the fence? Our sister site's storm tree removal page covers what to do first.

Does homeowners insurance cover a blown-down fence?

Usually, if wind is a covered cause on your policy and the fence was kept up. Here is how the insurers themselves describe it:

• It's "other structures" coverage. Fences generally fall under other structures (Coverage B), often limited to 10 percent of the dwelling limit. Progressive's example: a $200,000 dwelling limit with a 10 percent other-structures limit allows up to $20,000 for fence damage.^[2][3]
• Wind is normally included, as long as your policy doesn't exclude it.^[2] Allstate says wind damage to a fence is typically covered whether it came from a tornado or just a fierce storm.^[4]
• Age and upkeep matter. Wood rot, termite damage, rust and long-term wear and tear aren't covered.^[3] Damage that comes from rotted posts, rather than from the storm, falls in that excluded group.
• Expect depreciation and your deductible. Most insurers apply depreciation to a fence payout, and the deductible applies.^[3] American Family says fence claims may be paid at actual cash value, which reflects age and condition, and that wood fences are typically eligible for actual cash value only.^[5]

Is it worth filing? Allstate suggests getting a repair estimate and weighing it against your deductible before you file.^[4] HomeGuide's national ranges put repairing a damaged section at $300 to $900, against $30 to $80 per linear foot to replace a fence.^[6] Compare those numbers with your deductible.

Making the claim in Alabama

The Alabama Department of Insurance (ALDOI) answers the questions people ask after storms. The points that apply to a fence:^[7]

1. Photograph it before cleanup. Allstate, citing the Insurance Information Institute, recommends photos of the damaged fence for the adjuster.^[4] Get the whole run, the posts, and anything that fell on it.
2. Get your own estimates. Per ALDOI, it's up to the homeowner, not the adjuster, to collect repair estimates from the fence contractors who would actually do the job, and two or more is wise. Your estimates are what you negotiate with.^[7]
3. "Like kind and quality." ALDOI notes the insurer only has to repair or replace with like kind and quality. So if you want to upgrade, say from wood to vinyl, price the difference separately.^[7]
4. If the offer is far too low, ALDOI says it can intervene where the company's figure is far below a normal industry rate for the repair, although it generally stays out of haggling over exact amounts.^[7]
5. Don't sign a release early. Cashing an initial check typically doesn't stop you negotiating, ALDOI says, but signing a Settlement Release closes the claim.^[7]
6. Tree on the fence? ALDOI's FAQ says tree removal is typically paid only when the tree damaged covered property or blocks a driveway, and even then with a cap, for example $500 a tree and $1,000 for all trees.^[7] A fence is the kind of structure other-structures coverage protects, so ask your adjuster whether the removal applies to your claim.^[4]

Shared fence on the line: who pays in Alabama?

If the fence that blew down sits on the property line, Alabama law treats it as a partition fence, and the Code of Alabama has rules for repairing one:

• Partition fences between improved lands are built and repaired at the joint expense of the occupants.^[8]
• If you and the neighbor agreed that each would keep up a section and one doesn't, the other may make the repair at the first owner's cost.^[9]
• If you can't agree on the amount, either of you can apply to the county's district court, which sends three disinterested freeholders to examine the fence and report what each should pay.^[10]

A fence built entirely on your side of the line is yours alone, and so is the claim. If a neighbor's tree knocked it down, Allstate says you still file with your own insurer, and your insurer may try to recover from the neighbor's if the tree was neglected or diseased.^[4] More on the line-fence rules is on our Alabama fence laws page.

Repair or replace? Questions for the estimate

• Are the posts sound at the ground line? Rot isn't covered by insurance,^[3] so ask the estimator to check the posts that are still standing, not just the panels that fell. The fence FAQ explains ground-contact treatment for new posts.
• Section repair or full replacement? HomeGuide's national ranges are $300 to $900 to repair a damaged section and $30 to $80 per linear foot to replace.^[6] Ask for both prices in writing; they're also what your adjuster will want to see.
• Is a permit needed? Oxford's new-business page says changes costing more than $500 in materials and labor need a building permit.^[11] For Anniston, and for Oxford details, see Anniston and Oxford permit steps.
• New post holes? Call Alabama 811 first. Alabama requires three business days' notice to utility owners before any digging.^[12]

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