A backyard pool can turn your home into a summer retreat, but it also comes with added responsibility—and extra insurance considerations. From higher liability risk to increased repair and maintenance costs, owning a swimming pool can impact both your safety and your homeowners insurance. Before you dive in, it’s important to understand the risks, coverage options and potential costs that come with pool ownership.
Swimming Pools and Homeowners Insurance
- Damage to an in-ground pool is often covered under dwelling coverage, while above-ground pools may fall under personal property coverage
- Pools are considered high-risk features, so they can increase your homeowners insurance premium.
Reviewed By Beth Swanson
Edited By Renata Balasco
Swimming pools and insurance coverage
Will a swimming pool make rates go up?
Yes, it often does. Pools are considered “attractive nuisances”—features that are fun but carry a higher risk of accidents and liability claims. Because of this added risk, insurance companies may charge higher premiums or require additional safety measures to provide coverage.
Feel confident about saving without sacrificing coverage.
Does homeowners insurance cover a swimming pool if its damaged?
In most cases, your home insurance policy will cover your swimming pool in two ways: other structures coverage and liability. Other structures coverage applies if the actual physical structure of the pool is damaged. Your homeowners liability coverage also applies to the pool, covering you against injury claims that could arise through its use. Read on to see more about each coverage type in detail.
Is your swimming pool covered against physical damage?
Most permanently installed above ground pools and in-ground pools are considered “other structures.” This means that a pool will be covered against the same perils as a structure such as an unattached shed. Pool damage can occur in many ways. For example, if a storm causes a tree to fall that damages your pool, that damage is likely to be covered. Check your policy documents to see what perils you are covered against.
Your insurance provider will not cover damages that arise due to normal wear and tear. For this reason, it’s important to regularly maintain your pool to keep it in good shape. Also, if your pool is temporarily-installed or otherwise portable, it will likely be covered by your personal property coverage instead. Remember: your personal property coverage can protect things like pool furniture that are damaged by covered perils.
Swimming pools and liability insurance
While most home insurance policies will provide coverage for damages to a pool, your liability coverage is also a crucial aspect of your coverage. If a guest is injured in your pool, you could be held liable for both medical and legal expenses. Even if that guest was uninvited, you can still be held liable for their injuries. As such, it’s important for swimming pool owners to take a number of precautions to keep unwanted guests away.
Your home policy’s medical expenses coverage can also apply to guests injured on your property. However, these limits may not be high enough to fully cover the costs of an injury.
How much liability coverage should you have?
The Insurance Information Institute suggests that pool owners should increase their liability protection to levels between $300k and $500k. If you have a high-value home or other significant assets, you should consider raising these levels even higher.
One great way to increase your coverage is to purchase an umbrella policy. Umbrella insurance works in conjunction with your home insurance policy by increasing the liability coverage limits of your underlying homeowners insurance to more adequately protect you against liability claims.
How to keep your swimming pool safe
Swimming pools raise your home insurance premiums because they have the potential to be dangerous. Minimizing your risk can help you prevent unnecessary injury or insurance claims, which can ultimately keep your insurance premiums lower. Below are some safety tips from the Insurance Information Institute that could help keep you and your guests safe while enjoying your pool.
- Install a locked fence around the pool
- Post and enforce safety rules
- Keep emergency numbers visible
- Know how to shut off pool equipment
- Ensure swimmers—especially children—know how to swim
- Always supervise children
- Avoid swimming during extreme heat or storms [1]
Keep in mind that your city or your insurance company could have further eligibility requirements. This could include having a deck around your pool area for instance. Also, some homeowners policies won’t cover a pool that is left empty. Check with your city and your insurance agent to see your insurer has any special requirements.
What is an Attractive Nuisance?
Learn what an attractive nuisance is, like pools, trampolines, or play equipment that draw children and raise liability risks under homeowners insurance.
How much does swimming pool insurance cost?
The average cost for a homeowners insurance policy for a home with a backyard pool is $1,226, which is predictably greater than the national average. Below you'll find average home insurance rates for a swimming pool from many of the top homeowners providers.
| Insurance Company | Annual Rate with a Pool (w/ or w/o slide) |
|---|---|
| Nationwide | $1,262 |
| USAA | $1,286 |
| State Farm | $1,302 |
| Allstate | $1,342 |
| Liberty Mutual | $1,359 |
| Travelers | $1,361 |
| American Family | $1,450 |
| Progressive | $1,468 |
| Amica | $1,680 |
| Farmers | $1,715 |
| Alfa | $2,766 |
Homeowners insurance and swimming pools: considerations
If you are thinking of installing a pool on your property, it’s always a good idea to let your insurer know. They can help you determine the coverage level that is best, and give you an idea of how much it will increase your current rates.
If you are searching for better or cheaper insurance coverage, The Zebra can help. The Zebra allows you to compare rates from multiple insurance companies at the same time, giving you the chance to find the right policy for your needs. This way, you and your family can enjoy your swimming pool knowing that you are properly covered.
Save more, stress less on insurance.
Swimming pools and homeowners insurance FAQs:
Sources
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Pool safety and insurance. III
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