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What is O&L coverage and why do I have it?

The insurance agent said my O&L coverage won’t pay for code upgrades. So what is this coverage for?

Aug 13, 2024 Franklin, KY

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Kristine Lee
Insurance Data Insights Analyst

Kristine joined The Zebra in 2019 as an in-house content researcher and writer, with a property and casualty insurance license. Before joining The Ze…

Credentials
  • Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty
  • 6+ years of Experience in the Insurance Industry

O and L stands for Ordinance and Law. Though your agent said that it wouldn't cover code upgrades, perhaps he meant that if a code went into law, your insurance isn't going to accept claims to upgrade the home and bring it up to code — unless your home suffers a loss.

What this coverage does is that if your home is damaged, you have additional funds to bring the building up to code with any new laws since the home was originally built. It is a good idea to have this coverage for older buildings to make sure any updates needed to the building are covered.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.

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