Does home insurance cover flooding in Ontario?

A standard Ontario home policy does not cover flooding. Two optional endorsements cover water damage of that kind: overland water, for water entering from an overflowing lake, river or heavy rainfall, and sewer backup. Sutherland Insurance arranges home insurance from Guelph across Ontario.

Part of the Sutherland Insurance guide to home insurance in Ontario.

The short answer

Flooding is excluded from a standard policy. Overland water coverage and sewer backup coverage are added separately, each with its own limit and deductible, and each must be in force before the loss happens.

What is the difference between overland water and sewer backup?

Overland water covers water that reaches the home across the ground: a river or lake rising, or rainfall running toward the building faster than it drains away. Sewer backup covers water entering through drains, toilets or a sump pump that fails or is overwhelmed. One loss can involve both, and a policy carrying only one of them pays only for that part.

Neither is included in a standard policy, and neither can be added after water has entered the home.

Where a home has a finished basement, the amount at risk is usually larger than the endorsement limit chosen years earlier, because finishing a basement changes what a foot of water costs.

Coverage availability and limits differ by address. Insurers assess flood risk by location, so two homes on the same street can be offered different terms.

What does this mean for an Ontario homeowner?

Whether a flood claim is payable is decided by what was added to the policy before the storm, not by the severity of the storm. Reviewing which endorsements are in force is the only way to know what would respond.

A broker can confirm what a current policy carries and what the market offers for a particular address. Nothing on this page is a recommendation about a particular endorsement or limit.

Sutherland Insurance reviews coverage at renewal and reports claims on 519-822-0160 during business hours.

These are the options. The right mix depends on the situation

The coverages above are the options generally available on an Ontario home insurance policy. Which of them belongs on any particular policy depends on the property, the people insured, the limits selected and the individual insurer's wording. The policy document itself always governs. A licensed Sutherland Insurance broker can walk through the options and build a plan around your circumstances. Call 519-822-0160 or request a quote.

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