- Coverage B helps protect detached structures like sheds, fences and detached garages.
- It usually covers the detached structure, while attached buildings and stored belongings are covered separately.
- Common covered risks include fire, wind and vandalism, while flood, earthquakes and maintenance issues are usually excluded.
- Most policies include limited Coverage B by default, so it’s smart to review your limits if you have valuable outbuildings.
What Is Other Structures Coverage?
Other structures coverage, also known as Coverage B under your homeowners policy, protects buildings and structures on your property that aren’t physically attached to your home. If you’ve ever wondered whether your detached garage, shed or fence is covered, this is usually the part of a standard home insurance policy that applies. If one of these structures is damaged by a covered loss, other structures coverage may help pay for repairs or replacement. It’s typically included in most standard homeowners policies and helps protect more than just the main house.
Key Takeaways
You may also hear this protection described as other structures insurance or outbuildings insurance. While wording can vary, the idea is generally the same: coverage for detached parts of your property when damage is caused by a covered peril.
Quick takeaway: Other structures coverage is usually for detached property features – like a shed, detached garage or fence – while the belongings inside those structures are often covered separately under personal property coverage.
What does other structures coverage protect?
Other structures coverage is generally meant for structures that are separated from your home by clear space. That distinction matters because attached structures are usually covered under dwelling coverage instead.
Common structures covered by insurance Coverage B
| Part of your property | How it’s usually covered | What’s the distinction? |
|---|---|---|
| Main home and attached garage | Under dwelling coverage | Attached structures are generally treated as part of the house |
| Detached garage, shed, storage building, guest house, fence, gates, mailboxes, gazebos, pergolas, and possibly driveways, walkways and swimming pools | Under other structures coverage | Separated from your home by clear space |
| Furniture, tools or electronics stored in a shed | Under personal property coverage | The structure and the contents inside it are often covered separately |
| Detached structure used for business purposes | May have limited or no standard coverage | Business use can change how or whether coverage applies |
How do these protections fit together? An overview of home insurance and dwelling coverage might help you see a bigger picture.
Covered perils
Like your home’s main structure, detached buildings and structures are usually protected against common covered events (also called perils) in your policy. If you’ve seen the term peril insurance, this is the general idea – coverage tied to specific causes of loss listed in your policy. Common covered perils may include:
Fire, smoke or lightning: Damage from accidental fires, smoke and lightning strikes is typically covered.
Wind and hail: Storm-related damage, like wind knocking down your fence or hail damaging your shed roof, is often covered.
Vandalism and theft: If someone breaks into your shed or intentionally damages your fence, this coverage may help pay for repairs.
Weight of ice, snow or sleet: In colder climates, the accumulation of heavy snow and ice may cause structural damage, and the repairs are usually covered.
Falling objects and more: If a covered structure is damaged by a falling tree or other debris from a storm, Coverage B can help with repairs.
Coverage depends on your specific policy and location. Some situations may require an endorsement or additional coverage, especially if you have detached structures of high value, custom finishes or special uses.
Coverage reminder: When reviewing peril insurance in a homeowners policy, focus on the exact causes of loss listed in your policy — because not every type of damage is covered automatically.
What is excluded under other structures insurance?
While other structures coverage offers you important protection, it doesn’t cover every kind of damage. Knowing the most common exclusions can help you avoid surprises.
Maintenance-related damage: Damage from rot, rust or pest infestations is generally excluded. These issues are considered preventable through regular upkeep and are not covered under standard policies.
Contents inside structures: Personal belongings stored in detached buildings aren’t covered under other structures coverage. Instead, they usually fall under your personal property coverage, or Coverage C.
Business use: If a detached structure is used for business purposes, like a home office or workshop, it may not be covered under your policy. You may need business insurance or a specific endorsement to protect these spaces.
Natural disasters: Damage from floods or earthquakes is usually excluded. For coverage for these risks, you would need to purchase flood insurance or add an earthquake endorsement to your policy.
| Situation | Usually covered under other structures coverage? | What to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Tools inside the shed are stolen | Usually not under Coverage BNo | That loss may fall under personal property coverage instead |
| Rot or pest damage weakens a fence over time | Usually no | Maintenance-related issues are commonly excluded |
| Floodwater damages a detached garage | Usually no | Flood damage generally requires separate coverage |
Need more info? Explore more about personal property, water backup and flood insurance.
Other structures coverage limits and adjustments
Most homeowners insurance policies automatically include other structures coverage at 10% of your dwelling coverage limit. That means if your home is insured for $300,000, you may have $30,000 in Coverage B for detached structures.
If you have high-value detached structures, the standard limit may not be enough. A large, detached garage, custom workshop, pool house, guest cottage or other high-value outbuildings can exceed that built-in amount. Depending on your insurer and policy, you may be able to increase your Coverage B limit or add endorsements for more tailored protection.
| If your property includes ... | Your standard limit may ... | A review may help you decide ... |
|---|---|---|
| A basic shed and standard fencing | Be enough | Whether the value of all detached structures falls within Coverage B |
| A detached garage with custom finishes | Fall short | Whether you should increase other structures coverage |
| A guest house, pool house or workshop | Need closer review | Whether endorsements or higher limits are appropriate |
Other structures coverage vs. dwelling coverage
Homeowners sometimes assume that every structure on the property falls under the same part of the policy. In practice, the key distinction is whether the structure is attached to the house or detached from it.
| Coverage type | What it generally protects | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Dwelling coverage | The main home and attached structures | House, attached garage, attached deck |
| Other structures coverage | Detached structures on your property | Detached garage, fence, shed, gazebo |
| Personal property coverage | Your belongings | Tools, bikes, lawn equipment, furniture |
This distinction can matter at claim time. For example, the detached garage itself may fall under other structures coverage, while a lawn mower stored inside it may fall under personal property coverage.
Get the right home insurance coverage for your needs
Other structures coverage is just one part of a standard homeowners policy. To better protect your home and everything that comes with it, it helps to understand the other coverages included:
Dwelling coverage: Protects the physical structure of your home against damage from covered perils in your policy.
Personal property coverage: Protects the belongings inside your home, like furniture, electronics, clothing and more, if they’re damaged in a covered loss.
Loss of use coverage: Helps pay for temporary additional expenses, like hotel stays or meals, when a covered loss makes your home unfit to live in.
Personal liability coverage: Provides coverage if you accidentally cause damage or injury to another person or their property.
Your home and property can change over time. If you’ve made updates, added features or purchased valuable items, your policy might need an adjustment. Regularly reviewing your policy can help ensure your coverage keeps up with your needs.Your home and property can change over time. If you’ve added a detached structure, upgraded an existing one or changed how you use it, your policy may benefit from a closer look. Regular policy reviews can help ensure your coverage keeps up with your needs.
Get a home insurance quote today
FAQs about other structures insurance
Other structures coverage is the part of a homeowners policy that helps protect detached structures on your property, such as a shed, fence or detached garage, after damage from a covered loss.
Insurance Coverage B is another name for other structures coverage. It generally applies to detached structures rather than the main house.
No. Dwelling coverage usually applies to your main home and attached structures, while other structures insurance usually applies to detached structures on the property.
Usually not under Coverage B. The structure itself may be covered by other structures coverage, while the belongings inside it are often covered separately under personal property coverage.
Common covered perils may include fire, smoke, lightning, wind, hail, vandalism and certain falling objects, but coverage depends on the terms of your policy.
You may want to review your Coverage B limit after building a new detached structure, upgrading an existing one or adding features that increase the replacement cost of structures on your property.
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