I need to bring my house ‘up to code’. Will my homeowners insurance policy cover the expenses?

Homeowners insurance policies typically provide coverage for damage caused by specific perils such as fire, windstorm, hail, and theft. However, they generally do not provide coverage for the cost of bringing your house “up to code” or complying with building regulations or ordinances.

When you make changes to your house or perform repairs, you may need to bring the property up to current building codes, which can be costly. For example, if you are remodeling your kitchen and need to update the electrical wiring to comply with building codes, your insurance policy will not typically cover the cost of the update.

However, if your house sustains damage due to a covered peril, your insurance policy may cover the cost of repairs that include bringing the house up to code. For example, if your house is damaged in a fire and the building code has changed since the original construction, your policy may cover the additional cost of bringing the house up to code as part of the overall cost of repairing the damage from the fire.

It’s important to carefully review the terms and conditions of your homeowners insurance policy, as well as any applicable building codes or regulations, to understand what types of coverage are provided and when. You can also speak with your insurance agent or company to get more information about your specific policy and what types of coverage are available for bringing your house up to code.

Asked December 31, 2012 by Andy Villena