Pennsylvania Homeowners Insurance Coverage

Whether you own a row home in Philadelphia, a stone farmhouse in Lancaster County or a new build outside Pittsburgh, a Farmers Flex^® Personal Home policy can help you protect it, with discounts to help you save.

Pennsylvania puts a home through a lot — burst pipes and ice dams in a hard winter, wind and hail during summer thunderstorms. Some things you can plan for. Some things you can prevent. Some things are simply out of your hands. And that’s where Pennsylvania home insurance comes in.

But getting insured is only part of it. You also want to know what is (and isn’t) covered, so you’re not paying for coverage you don’t need or missing coverage where you need it. Farmers^® can help you sort through it all, from reviewing the policy you have to exploring discounts, bundling and other ways to save.

What home insurance coverages are recommended in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania homeowners face a real risk of water damage from ice dams and burst pipes during frigid winters, along with wind and hail damage from summer storms. Both are among the top causes of home insurance claims nationally, according to the Insurance Information Institute (III). Fire and lightning claims are less common but the most costly, averaging more than $88,000 per claim from 2019–2023, the III data shows.

A Farmers homeowners policy in Pennsylvania typically covers:

Fire
Vandalism and theft
Lightning strikes
Wind
Hail
Explosions
Falling objects
The weight of snow or ice

Homeowners insurance can help pay for damage to your home, but it does more, too. Here’s what the standard coverages in a home insurance policy are for:

Structure (Coverage A) is for damage to your home.
Detached structures (Coverage B) is for damage to structures that aren’t connected to your home, like a fence or shed.
Personal property (Coverage C) is for your personal belongings if they are stolen or damaged.
Loss of use, or additional living expense coverage (Coverage D) is for additional expenses, such as a temporary place to stay and increased food costs, if damage makes your home uninhabitable.
Personal liability (Coverage E) is for accidental property damage or injuries you cause.

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When you may need coverage beyond a standard homeowners policy in Pennsylvania

A standard Pennsylvania homeowners policy doesn’t cover every scenario, according to the Pennsylvania Insurance Department. Flooding is Pennsylvania’s most frequent and damaging natural disaster. Twenty-four counties average at least one flood a year, according to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency’s flood risk tool, but flood damage isn’t covered unless you have separate flood insurance. Standard home insurance also doesn’t cover other types of property, like a condo or a home you rent out, because different structures or ownership situations call for their own kind of coverage.

Coverage for risks not included in a standard home insurance policy

Flood insurance — A separate flood insurance policy through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) can help cover flood damage to your home and belongings.
Earthquake insurance — Depending on availability, coverage may be offered through an endorsement or a separate policy.
Personal liability umbrella insurance — If you want more liability coverage than your home or auto policy provides, an umbrella policy can provide additional coverage above the limits of those policies.

Different property, different insurance

Besides homeowners insurance, Farmers offers coverage for many types of properties and ownership.

Landlord insurance — For homes and other properties you own and rent to others; coverage can help with certain property damage and landlord liability.
Vacant home insurance — For homes left unoccupied for an extended period, including some homes undergoing renovation or waiting to be sold.
Condo insurance — Can help cover your belongings, the parts of your unit that are your responsibility and personal liability.
Mobile and manufactured home insurance — Coverage designed around the insurance needs of factory-built homes.

Learn more about all of Farmers property insurance options.

Farmers Flex Personal Home coverage in Pennsylvania

Standard coverage isn’t always the end of the conversation. An older plumbing system, a basement with a sump pump or a tough Pennsylvania winter may give you reasons to add other types of coverage. Farmers Flex Personal Home starts with the basics and lets you add more based on your home, your budget and what you want covered. Options include:

Extended Replacement Cost can pay up to 25% above your dwelling limit if rebuilding costs run higher than expected.
Guaranteed Replacement Cost covers the full cost to repair your home, even if it exceeds your policy limit.
FORTIFIED Roof™ Upgrade can help rebuild your roof to enhanced storm-resistant standards.
Water Backup and Sump Overflow can cover damage from water backing up through drains and sump pumps.
eBikes and Golf Carts cover vehicles otherwise excluded because they’re motorized.
Home Sharing covers part or all of your home if you’re renting it out through home sharing.
Valuable Items can cover specific possessions like jewelry, firearms or silverware.
Cyber and Identity Shield can cover many forms of identity theft and cyberattacks, plus monitoring services.
Emergency Mortgage Assistance can help cover up to three months of mortgage payments if you can’t live in your home.

Here’s the part worth checking before you choose: These options aren’t available with every policy, and availability and eligibility may depend on where you live and other requirements. Talk to a Farmers agent in Pennsylvania to find out which options are available to you, exactly how they would cover you and what they would add to your coverage and cost.

Learn more about Farmers Flex Personal Home options

Is homeowners insurance required in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania doesn’t require homeowners to have insurance. But if you have a mortgage, your lender is probably going to require it, according to the Pennsylvania Insurance Department.

Even if you’re not required to have coverage, consider what you’d have to pay out of pocket without it. Home insurance can help pay for damage to your home and belongings from things like storms and fire. It can also help with certain costs if you’re responsible for someone else’s injury or property damage.

How much is home insurance in Pennsylvania?

The average cost of home insurance in Pennsylvania is $1,217 per year, according to 2023 data (the most recent available) from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). That’s less than what homeowners nationwide paid — an average of $1,737 per year for coverage, the NAIC report shows. Keep in mind that insurance premiums in most states have changed since then. The amount you pay also depends on things like where you live, the age and value of your home, how much personal property you want to cover and what deductible you choose. Updated plumbing, electrical and roofing, along with other protective measures, are just a few things that may help lower your cost.

Pennsylvania home insurance discounts at Farmers

There’s more than one way to save on home insurance in Pennsylvania. Some discounts are based on your policy and payment choices. Others recognize your home, your history with Farmers or where you work. Talk to a Farmers agent to find out if you’re eligible for any of these discounts:

How you manage your policy

Preferred Payment — Pay your premium in full, in two installments or through automatic monthly payments.
ePolicy — Go paperless.
Good Payer — Pay your bill on time.

Your history with Farmers

Welcome — For new Farmers customers.
Claim Free — Stay claim-free for three consecutive years.
Loyalty — Stay with Farmers for a qualifying period.

Your home

Homebuyer or Rent-to-Own — For recent homebuyers or renters who are buying a home
Protective Devices — For features such as a fire alarm, security system, internal sprinklers, or leak-detection or water-shutoff devices

Your work or affiliations

Affinity — For people who work in certain professions, hold a qualifying degree or serve in the armed forces.
Farmers GroupSelect^® — Available to eligible employees and members of participating organizations.

Combining your home policy with another line of coverage, like a car policy, also called bundling, is one of the biggest ways to save.

Learn more about additional discounts for Pennsylvania homeowners.

Why you should bundle insurance in Pennsylvania

The most obvious reason to bundle your home and auto insurance? The price. With Farmers, you can save up to 10% or more on both policies when you bundle.

But home and auto aren’t the only policies worth checking. Start with the insurance you already have and see which combinations could qualify for a discount.

Bundle	Pennsylvania savings
Home + car	Up to 10% on both policies
Home + umbrella	Up to 4% on home policy
Home + life	2% on home policy
Condo + car	20% on condo policy
Renters + car	20% on renters policy

Have other policies? If you also have life, boat, RV, motorhome or vacation home insurance, ask a Farmers agent whether switching your coverage to Farmers and combining it with your home policy could qualify you for additional savings.

There’s another reason to look at all your insurance policies together: It can be easier to see the bigger picture. A Farmers agent can help you look across your coverage, spot potential gaps and flag risks you may have missed — not just find another discount.

And bundling doesn’t mean you can’t still be flexible. Your policies remain separate policies, so you can cancel one and keep the others. Just know that changing your bundle could also change the discounts on the policies you keep. Learn more about bundling insurance with Farmers.

How to get a home insurance quote in Pennsylvania

Getting a home insurance quote in Pennsylvania is quick, especially if you gather key information about your home ahead of time.

What you need to have ready

Your home’s address and basic details, like the year built, square footage, roof age and construction type
Your current insurance information, if you have a policy
Your mortgage lender’s name, if you have a mortgage
A general sense of how much dwelling and personal property coverage you want. Taking a home inventory can help.
Your claims history, since recent claims can affect your quote

What to do

Get a free Pennsylvania home insurance quote online in minutes. Click through a few screens to enter the information about your home that you gathered ahead of time.
Talk to a Pennsylvania Farmers agent if you have questions about coverage options.

Ruffed Grouse

Other insurance to consider in Pennsylvania

Homeowners insurance covers a lot, but it doesn’t cover everything. Depending on what you own and the risks you face, other types of insurance may be worth considering.

Pennsylvania home insurance FAQs

What doesn’t homeowners insurance cover in Pennsylvania?

Standard homeowners insurance in Pennsylvania typically doesn’t cover damage from flooding, earthquakes, sewer backups and sump pump overflow, or high value items like jewelry or art, but you can add separate coverage to your policy for these specific risks or belongings. Home insurance also doesn’t cover wear and tear or neglect, like damage that happens because an old roof hasn’t been maintained. Talk to a Farmers agent about which exclusions apply to your policy and where you might want extra coverage.

Does homeowners insurance cover flood damage in Pennsylvania?

No. A standard homeowners policy doesn’t cover flood damage, and flooding is Pennsylvania’s most frequent and damaging natural disaster, according to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency’s flood risk tool. Separate flood insurance may be available through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or, in some cases, a private insurer.

How much homeowners insurance do I need in Pennsylvania?

The amount of coverage you choose depends on your home’s rebuild cost, how much your belongings are worth and how much you could lose if you hurt someone else accidentally or damaged their property, and they sued you. A Farmers agent can help you estimate rebuild costs in your area and recommend coverage limits based on your home and what you want to protect.

Can the age of my roof affect my homeowners insurance coverage in Pennsylvania?

Yes. Insurers often factor a roof’s age and condition into both eligibility and cost, since older roofs are more prone to leaks and storm damage. Some insurers may limit coverage to actual cash value rather than full replacement cost for homes with older roofs or require an inspection before writing a policy. Keeping your roof well maintained, or upgrading it with UL-approved shingles, may help you qualify for coverage or discounts.

What are common Pennsylvania home insurance problems?

Winter weather drives some of the most common home insurance issues, according to the III. In Pennsylvania, that means ice dams that can damage roofs and gutters and frozen pipes that can burst and cause water damage. Wind and hail from summer thunderstorms, frequent causes of claims, are common in Pennsylvania too. And because flooding isn’t covered by a standard policy, homeowners in flood-prone areas along Pennsylvania’s rivers may be caught off guard by out-of-pocket flood repair costs if they don’t have a separate flood policy.

Get a free Pennsylvania home insurance quote right now

You’ve seen the coverage options, discounts and ways to bring your price down. Now see what home insurance from Farmers could cost for your Pennsylvania home. Get a free Farmers FastQuote^® online in minutes.

Get a free Pennsylvania Home Insurance quote right now

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¹ Based on average premium for HO-3 type open perils homeowners policies.