Are storage sheds covered under a homeowners policy?

Are Storage Sheds Covered Under a Homeowners Insurance Policy?

Yes, in most cases your storage shed is covered under a standard Florida homeowners insurance policy. As a Florida insurance agent, one of the most common questions we receive is whether detached structures like storage sheds, workshops, gazebos, and detached garages are protected if they are damaged by a covered loss.

Most homeowners insurance policies include Coverage B - Other Structures, which provides insurance for structures on your property that are not attached to your home. This coverage typically protects your storage shed against covered perils such as fire, lightning, wind, hail, vandalism, and other covered events listed in your policy.

How Much Coverage Does a Storage Shed Have?

Most Florida homeowners insurance policies automatically include coverage for detached structures equal to approximately 10% of your home's dwelling coverage. For example, if your home is insured for $400,000, your policy may provide around $40,000 of coverage for detached structures, including your storage shed.

If you have an expensive custom-built shed, workshop, or multiple detached structures, you may want to increase this limit to ensure you have adequate protection.

What Items Inside the Shed Are Covered?

The structure itself is covered under Other Structures coverage, while the personal belongings stored inside the shed are generally covered under your Personal Property (Coverage C) portion of your homeowners policy, subject to your policy limits and deductible.

Common items stored in sheds include:

• Lawn mowers and yard equipment
• Power tools
• Gardening supplies
• Bicycles
• Outdoor furniture
• Holiday decorations
• Sports equipment

Are There Any Coverage Limitations?

While most storage sheds are covered, every homeowners insurance policy has exclusions and limitations. Damage caused by flooding is generally not covered under a standard homeowners policy and requires a separate flood insurance policy. Wear and tear, poor maintenance, termites, and certain other causes of loss are also typically excluded.

If you operate a business from your storage shed or store expensive business equipment, additional insurance coverage may be necessary.

Should You Review Your Coverage?

If you've recently added a new storage shed or made improvements to an existing one, it's a good idea to review your homeowners insurance policy. Many Florida homeowners don't realize that upgrading a shed, adding electricity, or converting it into a workshop can increase its replacement cost.

A licensed Florida homeowners insurance agent can review your policy, explain your detached structure coverage, and help you determine whether your current limits provide enough protection for your property.

Q&A Category: Other Structures

Looks like you are interested in questions related to Other Structures. Below are several questions related in Other Structures that you also might find helpful.

• Are storage sheds covered?
• Are detached garages covered?