Homeowners insurance and swimming pools

Does homeowners insurance cover a pool?

Yes, homeowners insurance covers your pool. In-ground pools are covered under the “other structures” portion of your home insurance policy, while above-ground pools may be classified as personal property. Homeowners insurance typically covers other structures up to 10% of your dwelling coverage.

If your home is insured for $300,000, your other structures coverage would be $30,000. You can increase other structures coverage for an added cost if 10% is not enough. The cost to increase other structures coverage is usually minimal (about $5 per $1,000 of coverage).

A pool creates an increased risk of injury on your property. The homeowner is responsible for anyone who uses it – even a stranger who decides to jump the fence and cool off in your pool.

The liability portion of your insurance policy will cover you if something goes wrong in your pool, but you have to inform the insurance company that the home has a pool, or a claim could be denied.

How much does a pool increase the cost of homeowners insurance?

A swimming pool increases homeowners insurance costs by about 8% on average, or roughly $155 a year, according to Insurance.com data. The exact increase varies by insurer and property. The standard liability coverage on a homeowners policy is $100,000.

Triple-I recommends that pool owners consider increasing the liability portion of their homeowners policy to at least $300,000 or $500,000, or higher if needed to protect their assets.

If you want even more coverage, you could purchase an umbrella liability policy. Umbrella insurance covers you above and beyond the limits of the home insurance policy, with limits starting at $1 million.

What are the swimming pool insurance requirements?

Swimming pool insurance requirements vary by local law and insurer. A pool may need safety features such as a fence or a self-closing, self-latching gate to meet local regulations or the insurer's requirements for coverage.

You’ll also want to check with your insurance company about whether pools with slides and diving boards are excluded from your home insurance policy. Some insurers do not provide liability coverage for injuries involving a diving board or slide.

What type of swimming pool damage is covered by insurance?

Homeowners insurance covers pool damage caused by a covered peril, such as a storm or a falling tree. Damage caused by wear and tear, poor maintenance, or other excluded causes is not covered.

Home insurance policies usually cover pool damage caused by:

Trees falling
Vandalism
Storms

Home insurance doesn’t typically cover pool damage caused by:

Neglect, such as leaving water in the pool over the winter, which can cause cracks
Wear and tear, such as foundation cracks and lining rips

It's important to note that some detached structures are covered at replacement cost. This means the policy will pay to repair or replace the building. However, other structures that are not buildings, such as pools, will be covered at actual cash value, which takes into account depreciation and age. In that case, you’re not going to get what the item was originally worth. In other words, you will likely not get the full value for your $20,000 in-ground pool if it’s damaged.

While in-ground pools are covered under the other structures portion, your insurer may consider above-ground pools personal property. The company may not view an above-ground pool as a permanent structure because it can be removed and installed somewhere else.

In that case, your above-ground pool would be covered under personal property, which is the same as furniture and jewelry. Check with your insurance company to see if there is a claim limit for swimming pools. If there is a limit, you may want to purchase additional coverage.

Avoid a swimming pool liability claim

Pool owners can reduce the risk of injuries by using barriers, supervising children and maintaining pool equipment. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends four-sided fencing with self-closing and self-latching gates, active supervision around the water, and learning CPR.

Other safety steps include:

Stay within arm’s reach at all times in and around the pool.
Assign an adult water watcher.
Fence your pool with a four-foot or taller fence with self-closing or self-latching gates.
Install pool and gate alarms.
Learn how to swim.
Keep children away from pool drains and other openings.
Learn CPR and basic water safety skills.

FAQ: Swimming pool insurance

Does homeowners insurance cover pool leaks?

No. Homeowners insurance does not cover leaks caused by wear and tear, poor maintenance, or deterioration. A leak caused by a covered event, such as a falling tree or storm, may be covered, depending on the policy.

Does homeowners insurance cover pool equipment?

Yes, pool equipment is covered when damaged by a covered peril. Coverage depends on how the equipment is classified under the policy and the applicable coverage limit.

Does homeowners insurance cover someone injured in a swimming pool?

Yes, liability coverage helps pay for injuries to others when the homeowner is legally responsible. The policy's liability limit and exclusions apply.