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A tree fell on my house or fence — what now? (California)

This guide walks through the first hours and days after a tree comes down: safety, documentation, your insurance claim, and removal. It summarizes California Department of Insurance and insurance-industry guidance checked October 2026. It is general information, not legal or insurance advice — your policy wording controls what is covered.

1. Make everyone safe first

• Power lines: if the tree or any branch is touching a wire, assume the line is energized. Stay far back and call 911 and your utility — SMUD (most of Sacramento County) or PG&E. Don't let anyone cut near lines.
• Structural damage: if the tree has broken through the roof, cracked walls, or you smell gas, get everyone out and call 911. Don't go back in until it has been checked.
• Don't climb on the roof or cut a trunk resting on the house; trees under load can shift or spring when cut.

If a City of Sacramento street tree fell, call 311; the City removes public tree debris, but private-tree emergencies are the owner's responsibility (City of Sacramento Tree Questions).

2. Document everything before it's moved

The California Department of Insurance (CDI) – Top Ten Tips for People Affected by Winter Storms advise taking pictures and keeping records of all clean-up and repair costs. In practice:

• Take wide photos and video of the whole tree and house, then close-ups of every impact point: roof, siding, windows, fence, vehicles, interior water damage.
• Photograph the tree's base and root plate or the broken stem. Whether a tree was visibly dead or decayed can matter later (see "Whose tree was it?" below).
• Keep every receipt (tarps, plywood, hotel, emergency tree service) in one folder.

3. Call your insurer and prevent further damage

The CDI says fallen-tree damage is generally covered under standard homeowner policies, with possible exceptions, so contact your insurer promptly. Ask for a complete copy of your policy and declarations page; the CDI notes the law requires it be provided free within 30 days of your request.

Per the CDI Residential Property Claims Guide, make reasonable temporary repairs (plastic sheeting or plywood over openings), because policies may not cover further damage if you didn't protect the property. Save receipts, but don't make extensive permanent repairs until the adjuster has seen the damage. The CDI also recommends a "claim diary" of every conversation, and asking the adjuster to cite the specific policy provision for any exclusion or limit.

4. What homeowners insurance typically covers

Policies vary, but the general structure described in the CDI guide to Residential Insurance: Homeowners and Renters is:

• Dwelling (Coverage A): the house and attached structures. Windstorm and "falling objects" are among the perils the CDI lists as typically covered.
• Other structures (Coverage B): detached structures such as a garage or shed — on many policies, fences too. The CDI says this is normally limited to 10% of the dwelling limit.
• Loss of use (Coverage D): additional living expenses if the home isn't safe to live in after a covered loss, normally limited to 20% of the dwelling limit.
• Tree removal: usually a small, separate limit. Other state regulators describe common policy terms: the North Carolina Department of Insurance says policies there pay up to $500 per loss to remove trees that damaged a structure or blocked the driveway, and the Texas Department of Insurance says trees that fall only in the yard usually aren't covered. Check your own policy's tree and debris-removal wording.
• Cars: the CDI says vehicles damaged by fallen trees are generally covered under the optional "Comprehensive" / "Other than Collision" part of an auto policy, not homeowners.

Your deductible applies; if damage is below it, the CDI notes the insurer isn't obligated to pay.

Whose tree was it?

If a neighbor's tree falls on your house, you generally file with your own insurer; the Texas Department of Insurance notes a neighbor's policy probably won't pay unless the neighbor was at fault. The Maryland Insurance Administration adds that if the neighbor knew the tree was dead, your insurer may seek reimbursement from them ("subrogation"). For more on boundary trees and responsibility between neighbors, see Neighbor's tree and property line rules in California. For a crushed shared fence, Civil Code § 841 presumes neighbors equally share reasonable replacement costs unless they agree otherwise in writing.

5. Getting the tree removed

• Permits can still apply. A damaged native oak or other protected tree may need a permit or emergency authorization before the standing portion is removed. See Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Sacramento? and Oak tree removal in Sacramento.
• Hire licensed help. Tree work is a CSLB-licensed specialty in California (C-49 Tree and Palm Contractor). Per the CSLB bulletin on the $1,000 minor-work limit, an unlicensed person can't legally take a job of $1,000 or more, any job that requires a permit, or any job where they use workers. Verify the license and workers' compensation status at cslb.ca.gov.
• Watch for storm chasers demanding large cash deposits; the CDI's "Don't Get Scammed After a Disaster" brochure is linked from its storm tips page. Share written quotes with your adjuster.

Questions about your claim? The CDI consumer hotline is 800-927-4357.

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We don't do tree work ourselves. Tell us about your tree and we'll connect you with independent, licensed local tree professionals so you can compare written quotes. Always verify the contractor's license and insurance at cslb.ca.gov.

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