What Is Other Structures Coverage? A Guide for Homeowners
Other structures coverage is the part of a homeowners insurance policy that helps pay to repair or replace structures on your property that aren’t attached to your house. That includes detached garages, sheds, fences, gazebos, and similar buildings.
On most standard policies, it’s called Coverage B, and it’s automatically included at a limit tied to your dwelling coverage. If you’re not sure your current limit matches what’s actually in your yard, The Huneycutt Group can review your policy and compare options from multiple carriers.
What Does Other Structures Coverage Include?
Other structures coverage applies to buildings and structures set apart from your home by a clear space. Structures connected to the house only by a fence, utility line, or similar connection usually qualify as well.
Here’s what’s typically covered under Coverage B:
- Detached garages and carports
- Storage sheds and workshops
- Fences and gates
- Gazebos, pergolas, and pavilions
- Guest houses and pool houses
- Driveways, walkways, and retaining walls
- Freestanding decks and in-ground swimming pools, depending on the insurer
What Isn’t Covered Under Coverage B?
Standard home insurance policies carve out a few important exceptions. Knowing them ahead of time can help you avoid a denied claim.
- Business use: Structures used for business purposes, such as a detached garage converted into a salon or repair shop, are usually excluded.
- Rentals: A structure rented to someone who isn’t a tenant of your home is often excluded, though a garage rented for private use may still qualify.
- Land: The ground beneath your structures isn’t insured.
- Excluded perils: Flood coverage, earthquakes, wear and tear, and pest damage aren’t covered.
- Waterfront structures: Many insurers limit or exclude docks, piers, and seawalls.
If you run a business out of a detached building, you’ll likely need a separate business owners policy or endorsement. That’s a conversation worth having before a loss, not after.
What’s the Difference Between Attached and Detached Structures?
Attached structures fall under dwelling coverage, also known as Coverage A. If a garage, porch, or deck is physically attached to your house, it’s insured as part of the home itself.
Detached structures fall under Coverage B. For instance, a garage connected to your house by a breezeway may be treated differently than one standing on its own, so it’s worth confirming how your insurer classifies it.
Swimming pools are a common gray area. Some insurers treat an in-ground pool as part of the dwelling, while others place it under other structures.
What Perils Does Other Structures Coverage Protect Against?
In most cases, other structures are protected against the same covered perils as your house. Your policy language will determine the exact list, but covered perils commonly include:
- Fire and lightning
- Windstorm and hail
- Falling objects, such as a tree limb landing on your shed
- Vandalism and theft-related damage
- Weight of ice or snow
- Damage caused by vehicles
For coastal North Carolina homeowners, storm risks deserve extra attention. Wind damage to a fence or shed is usually a covered loss, but your hurricane or named storm deductible may apply.
Flood damage isn’t covered under a standard homeowners insurance policy. If storm surge or rising water damages a detached garage, you’d need a separate flood policy to be protected.
How Much Other Structures Coverage Do You Need?
Most policies set other structures coverage limits at 10% of your dwelling coverage. If your home is insured for $400,000, you’d have $40,000 in Coverage B.
That coverage limit is shared across every detached structure on your property. A detached garage, a privacy fence, and an in-ground pool together can exceed $40,000 in replacement cost faster than you might think.
To figure out how much coverage makes sense, start with a quick inventory:
- List every detached structure on your property.
- Estimate what it would cost to rebuild each one at today’s prices.
- Compare the total to your current policy limit.
If the numbers don’t line up, many insurers let you purchase additional coverage by raising your Coverage B percentage. You’ll pay a higher premium, but the added coverage can be worth it.
Does Other Structures Coverage Include the Belongings Inside?
No, other structures coverage protects the building, not what’s stored in it. Your belongings inside a shed or detached garage fall under personal property coverage, also called Coverage C.
That means tools, lawn equipment, bikes, and electronics stored in a detached building are insured under a different part of your policy. Some items, like golf carts or high-value equipment, may need an endorsement to be fully covered.
Can You Lower or Remove Other Structures Coverage?
Not many insurers let you reduce Coverage B if you don’t have additional structures. However, before lowering your limit, remember that fences, driveways, and mailbox posts usually count as other structures. A home with no garage or shed may still have more exposure than it seems.
When Should You Review Your Coverage B Limit?
It’s smart to review your other structures coverage whenever you make improvements to your property. Adding a pool, building a workshop, or replacing a fence can push your total past your current limit.
A review also makes sense after major renovations or when construction costs rise. Your agent can help you determine whether the standard 10% still fits your property.
How Can The Huneycutt Group Help?
Other structures coverage is easy to overlook until a storm drops a tree on your shed or flattens your fence. Making sure your limit reflects what’s actually on your property is one of the simplest ways to avoid a gap.
As an independent agency with more than 35 years of experience insuring coastal North Carolina homes, The Huneycutt Group can compare policies from multiple carriers and help you find the right fit. Contact our team in Wilmington or Carolina Beach today to review your homeowners coverage.
Homeowners Also Ask These Questions About Other Structures
Yes, fences are one of the most common examples of other structures. If wind or a falling tree damages your fence, Coverage B usually helps pay for repairs, minus your deductible.
It depends on your insurer. Some classify an in-ground pool as part of the dwelling, while others cover it under Coverage B, so check your policy or ask your agent.
Yes, detached garages are typically covered under other structures coverage. The contents inside are covered separately under personal property coverage.
Coverage A protects your house and any structures attached to it. Coverage B protects detached structures, such as sheds, fences, and freestanding garages.
Usually not, since your policy’s standard home insurance deductible applies to Coverage B claims. If a single event damages both your home and a detached structure, you’ll typically pay one deductible, though hurricane deductibles may work differently.