Questions & answers · Flood insurance
The flood washed out my yard, trees, driveway, and septic tank. Does flood insurance pay for them?
Flood insuranceDeniedChecked Nov 5, 2026
From K.Actuary, founded by Sangmin Kwon, ASA · sources checked 2026-11-05 · Source: FEMA · Standard Flood Insurance Policy, Dwelling Form (44 CFR Part 61, Appendix A(1)) · Art. IV (Property Not Insured) items 6, 8, 9 View original ↗
In short
- The standard flood policy lists land, lawns, trees, and shrubs as property it does not insure.
- It also lists septic tanks and systems, and walks, decks, driveways, and patios outside the building walls.
- The sources do not say whether another policy of yours covers these.
What this means
This answer is about the federal National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) standard policy. The "Property Not Insured" article says the policy does not insure land, land values, lawns, trees, shrubs, plants, growing crops, or animals. It also does not insure underground structures and equipment, including wells, septic tanks, and septic systems. And it does not insure the portions of walks, walkways, decks, driveways, patios, and other surfaces located outside the exterior walls of the insured building. Debris removal is a separate matter; see our answer about debris removal. The sources do not say what a homeowners policy covers outdoors.
Your next step
Read your homeowners policy for outdoor property and ask that insurer. The sources here give no deadline for those claims.
Check it yourself
Open the policy text at the eCFR link and read Article IV.
Where this comes from (1)
[1] FEMA · Standard Flood Insurance Policy, Dwelling Form (44 CFR Part 61, Appendix A(1)) · Art. IV (Property Not Insured) items 6, 8, 9 · checked 2026-11-05
IV. Property Not Insured We do not insure any of the following: … 6 . Land, land values, lawns, trees, shrubs, plants, growing crops, or animals. … 8 . Underground structures and equipment, including wells, septic tanks, and septic systems. … 9 . Those portions of walks, walkways, decks, driveways, patios and other surfaces, all whether protected by a roof or not, located outside the perimeter, exterior walls of the …
How we found this
We matched your question to 1 official source, quoted the exact lines, and re-checked each quote against its source on 2026-11-05.
What we don’t know yet
Your own plan or notice may say something different. If your letter cites another rule, send it and we will look again.
Every answer is checked against the official rule it quotes.
Information only — not legal advice. Your plan, insurer or agency decides.
This answer quotes the official sources listed above, with the date we checked them. Your own policy, notice and state rules control. We are not your lawyer or your insurer. We don’t file, argue or negotiate claims for you — you send any letter or form yourself.
Related answers
- Mold grew in my house after the flood. Will my NFIP flood insurance pay for the mold?
- Sewage backed up into my basement. Does flood insurance pay for the sewer backup or sump pump overflow?
- A landslide or mud damaged my house after heavy rain. Does flood insurance cover it?
- I paid my flood insurance renewal late. How long does the federal policy give me, and what if I never got the renewal notice?
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