Washington homeowners insurance
A standard Washington homeowners policy excludes earthquake and flood. Windstorm is covered, and in this state it is the peril that fills claim departments every December.
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Three reasons to look closely at a Washington home policy
- 1
The Cascadia subduction zone is sitting under an exclusion
Earthquake is not part of a standard homeowners policy anywhere, and Washington sits on one of the few faults capable of a magnitude-9 event. Earthquake coverage is bought separately, usually with a percentage deductible rather than a flat one. Take-up in Washington runs low — a figure worth knowing before you assume you are covered.
- 2
Roof age decides whether you get a quote at all
West of the Cascades, moss and constant damp age a composition roof faster than the manufacturer rating suggests. Many carriers will not write a roof past a certain age, and others will write it only on actual cash value, which pays depreciated worth rather than the cost of a new one. Know the year the roof went on before you make the call.
- 3
Wildfire moved west of the mountains
Central and eastern Washington have carried wildfire exposure for years, and the smoke seasons since 2020 have pushed scoring into places that never used to see it. Carriers now rate individual parcels rather than counties. Clearing the five feet closest to the house and moving firewood off the deck are the two things that most often move a score.
What a December windstorm actually pays for
Wind is a covered peril. A tree through the roof, a fence down, shingles off and the resulting rain damage are all normally within the policy. Food spoilage and the cost of a hotel during a long outage depend on the form and the endorsements — power interruption on its own is usually excluded unless the outage followed covered damage at the house. Ask specifically about that, because in Washington it comes up every winter.
Flood, landslide and the things people assume are included
Flood is excluded and is bought separately through the National Flood Insurance Program or a private market. Landslide and earth movement are excluded, which matters on the bluffs above Puget Sound and in the Chehalis basin. Sewer and drain backup is normally an endorsement rather than part of the base policy, and it is the one most Washington basements need.
Insuring to rebuild, not to the sale price
The dwelling limit should reflect what rebuilding would cost with today’s labor and materials, which in the Puget Sound trades is not what the house is worth on the market. Extended or guaranteed replacement cost adds a cushion above the stated limit for exactly the scenario where a whole neighborhood rebuilds at once and prices move. Ask which basis the quote uses and what the cushion is.
What the underwriter will ask about your house
- Year built, square footage, and the year the roof was last replaced
- Heating source, and whether there is a wood stove or pellet stove
- Age of the electrical panel, and whether any knob-and-tube wiring remains
- Plumbing material, and whether polybutylene is still in the walls
- Distance to the nearest fire hydrant and staffed fire station
- Trees within falling distance of the house, and when they were last limbed
- Any dog, trampoline, pool or hot tub on the property
Frequently asked questions
Does Washington homeowners insurance cover earthquake?
No. Earthquake is excluded from a standard policy and bought separately, generally with a percentage deductible based on the dwelling limit rather than a flat dollar amount.
Is wind damage covered in Washington?
Wind is a covered peril on a standard homeowners policy, including a tree falling onto the house and the rain that gets in afterwards. Flood and earth movement are separate matters and are excluded.
Will my roof age stop me getting a quote?
It can. Many carriers decline composition roofs past a certain age, and others will write them only on an actual cash value basis. Have the replacement year ready and ask which basis is being quoted.
Do I need flood insurance if I am not in a flood zone?
Flood is excluded either way, and a large share of flood claims come from outside mapped high-risk zones. Whether to buy it is a judgment about the specific property, not about the map alone.
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