Sinkholes and other so-called earth movements are rare, but they can devastate entire homes, leading to catastrophic, and expensive, loss. It’s important to know that sinkholes are not covered by standard homeowners insurance. Earthquakes, landslides, and mudflows are also not covered by any of the six basic protections included in a standard home insurance policy.
Sinkholes form when groundwater weakens the structure below the earth’s surface, causing the ground to collapse in on itself. They can also take shape when granular bits of the ground spill into cracked bedrock, causing the surface to dip or fall open completely.
Across the United States, the risk of encountering a sinkhole on your property is low, especially when compared to other natural hazards. But when they do show up, they’re powerful enough to pull entire homes into the ground in a matter of seconds. Depending on your insurer, you may be able to add a sinkhole coverage endorsement to your policy for an extra fee or buy it separately as a stand-alone policy.
Does homeowners insurance cover sinkhole damage?
No, standard homeowners insurance will not cover damage related to earth movement, including sinkholes, landslides, and earthquakes. Since sinkholes aren't considered a covered peril, you'll need to purchase separate sinkhole insurance coverage to ensure your home is fully protected.
Your dwelling coverage, which protects your home’s foundation and frame, insures your home up to its replacement cost value, starting from its lowest structural layer up to its roof. But it won't cover the surface of the land beneath it since it’s not structurally built into the home.
The same goes for other structures on your property, as well as your personal belongings. Homeowners insurance won’t cover your mailbox, fence, appliances, or any other structures and belongings you own if they’re damaged because of a sinkhole on or near your property.
If you’re worried about sinkhole activity in your area, you may be able to add optional sinkhole coverage to your policy for an additional cost.
How do I protect my home from sinkholes?
Sinkholes are difficult to detect and form slowly over time before they suddenly appear. If you’re concerned about the possibility of a sinkhole on your property, the best way to protect your home from the financial effects of sinkhole damage is to add sinkhole coverage to your policy.
Similar to the endorsement for earthquakes, sinkhole coverage may be added to your policy for an additional cost if your insurer offers the option, or you can purchase it as a separate policy altogether.
Some states, including Florida and Tennessee, require home insurance companies to offer optional sinkhole coverage. Sinkhole coverage includes the cost to repair your home’s foundation and stabilize the land beneath it.
In order to use your sinkhole coverage, you must be able to prove that your home has already sustained structural damage from sinkhole activity or is in danger of collapsing into a sinkhole on your property.
Some sinkholes take time to depress the ground, while the most dangerous of them collapse within seconds. Therefore, the sooner you file a claim for sinkhole activity on your property, the sooner you can prevent further, catastrophic damage to your home.
Where are sinkholes most common?
The chances of a catastrophic sinkhole damaging your home is relatively low compared to other natural hazards. Researchers say there’s a 1% chance of one happening every year, but the following states tend to report the most damage from sinkhole activity, according to the U.S. Geological Survey: [1]
Florida
Texas
Alabama
Missouri
Kentucky
Tennessee
Pennsylvania
Does homeowners insurance cover sinkholes in Florida?
Due to the frequency of sinkhole-related claims in Florida, home insurance companies are required to provide coverage for catastrophic ground cover collapse (CGCC) as a standard protection, according to the Insurance Information Institute. [2] This isn’t the same as sinkhole coverage, since it’s designed to cover only the most damaging or catastrophic sinkhole events.
Catastrophic ground cover collapse
According to the Florida Department of Financial Services, catastrophic ground cover collapse coverage protects homes from earth movements that result in: [3]
The abrupt collapse of the ground cover
A depression in the ground cover clearly visible to the naked eye
Structural damage to the building, including the foundation
The insured structure being condemned and ordered to be vacated by the governmental agency authorized by law to issue such an order for that structure
Basically, coverage for catastrophic ground cover collapse means you’re covered if a sinkhole opens up on your property, but only if it meets those four stipulations. Sinkholes that result in only minor damage wouldn’t be covered. Since its legislation in 2007, Florida is currently the only state that offers CGCC as part of a standard policy.
Home insurers in Florida are also required to offer sinkhole coverage as an endorsement to a standard policy, but they have permission by the state to inspect your home and deny you that coverage if you live within a certain distance of a sinkhole.
Frequently asked questions
Is insurance for sinkholes expensive?
Yes, sinkhole coverage can be expensive — running anywhere from $3,000 to $4,000, according to sinkhole expert Taylor Yarkosky. However, how much you pay depends on your insurance company and how common sinkholes are in your state.
Who is responsible for sinkholes?
If a sinkhole forms on your property and isn't caused by an issue with your city's infastructure, then you're responsible for damage and repair. You should reach out to your insurance company immediately and request an expert to come out to assess the damage and determine next steps. Your insurance company can help you file a claim for the damage. If you don't have coverage, you'll have to pay for the damage out of pocket.
How much does it cost to fix a sinkhole?
It varies depending on how large the sinkhole is and where you live. In general, a small sinkhole with minimal damage to the structure of your home could cost anywhere from $10,000 to $15,000 to repair. But sinkholes that are larger and cause massive damage to your home can cost anywhere from $20,000 to $100,000 to repair or revive the structure.
