Skip to content
LoclisBeta
Sign up
HiringStorm CleanupLicensed pro

Who should I call when a tree falls on my house?

Call 911 if anyone is hurt or in danger, and your utility if a wire is down or the tree touches a line. Then call your insurer, photograph the damage, and have a tree service remove the tree and a licensed contractor tarp and repair the roof. Do not climb on it or cut it yourself.

Free to ask. Local shops send quotes, and you pay only when you book one.

By Kasra Taheri, Founder, LoclisPublished

Researched and drafted with AI, then checked claim by claim against the sources listed below before it was published. Prices and rules change; the dates beside each source say when it was last checked.

This is a job for a licensed pro in Virginia

This page explains what the work involves, the permits, what a licensed pro does and what drives the cost. It does not give step-by-step instructions, because this work needs a licence, a permit or both, and doing it wrong can injure someone. Before you hire, check the licence on Virginia's DPOR record.

Call 911 if anyone is hurt, and call your utility if a wire is down or the tree is on a line. After that, call your insurer, photograph everything, and hire a tree service to remove the tree and a licensed contractor to protect and repair the house. Nothing about a tree on a house is a do-it-yourself job.

The order of calls

1. Emergency services, if anyone is hurt or in danger. Dominion Energy says to call 911 if anyone is in immediate danger and to report a downed power line to the utility.[1] Get everyone out of any room under the damaged part of the roof. If you smell gas or see smoke, leave the house and call from outside.

2. Your electric utility, if wires are involved. Dominion Energy says don't touch or go near a fallen wire, even if it's not sparking or humming.[1] It also says: "Don't touch anything that's touching the wire, such as a car or tree limb, because electricity can pass through objects, people and animals to reach the ground."[1] If the tree is near a downed utility line, the Tree Owner's Manual says not to go near it and to call the utility company.[2] Wait for the utility to make the line safe before anyone works near the tree.

3. Your insurer. Call as soon as it is safe, before permanent repairs. Virginia's Bureau of Insurance says insurers expect homeowners to protect their property from further damage and will pay the reasonable costs associated with protecting the property.[3] Take photographs to show the way things look before you begin cleaning and repairing, and keep your receipts.[3] Be sure you save all damaged property for the adjuster to inspect.[3]

4. A tree service, to take the tree off. The Tree Owner's Manual's guidance is blunt: if the tree is in the street, contact the city, and if it is in your yard, call an arborist to have it removed.[2] A tree resting on a roof is under load, and the wrong cut can drop it through. That is a job for a crew with the equipment and the insurance. A reputable arborist carries personal and property damage insurance,[2] so ask for the certificate. For the licence question, see whether tree removal companies need a licence in Virginia.

5. A roofer or contractor, to tarp and repair. Placing tarps on the roof is a way of protecting your property from further damage.[3] Some fire departments may be able to assist you,[3] and it is worth asking before you start calling roofers. For permanent repair, you need a licensed contractor.

What your policy usually pays for

Most policies pay for the reasonable cost for clean up and removal of trees that fall and cause damage to your fence or deck furniture.[3] A tree that has damaged the house is the stronger case, but the policy and the deductible decide. Unless the insurance company has advised you in writing to go ahead and make final repairs, you should wait.[3] That is why the order above matters: the insurer wants to see the damage, so photograph it before the crews arrive. See what storm cleanup costs in Virginia and the first steps after a storm damages your home.

When to call a licensed pro

Repairing the roof or structure after a tree strike is contractor work, and the Board for Contractors says that if the work you are considering is valued at $1,000 or more, a valid Virginia Contractor's License is required.[5] Before you sign, verify a contractor's licence using DPOR's License Lookup tool or by calling (804) 367-8511.[4]

After a storm, expect more offers than you need. DPOR warns that scammers frequently attempt to profit from disasters by taking advantage of individuals who are rebuilding.[4] Its advice is to insist on a written contract, not pay in cash, never pay for the entire job upfront, and limit your deposit: pay 10 percent down or $1,000, whichever amount is less.[4] Scam signals include high-pressure or scare tactics, escalating prices and deals that sound too good to be true.[4]

Repairs that change the structure usually need a permit from your local building department. For emergencies, the Virginia building code says applications for emergency construction, alterations, or equipment replacement shall be submitted by the end of the first working day that follows the day such work commences.[6] A licensed contractor normally handles that paperwork. For help choosing, read how to avoid roofing scams after a storm in Virginia.

Getting help in Virginia

Fallen tree branches lying across the front yard of a white single-story house
Photo: Nicole Johnson, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Smaller branches in the yard are different: read how to clean up fallen branches after a storm. More guides are on the snow and seasonal answers page, and you can browse snow and seasonal services.

When the power is safe and the insurer has been called, describe the job once and local tree services quote it.

Common questions

Should I call my insurance company or a tree service first?
Safety first, then the insurer. Once everyone is safe, call your insurer and tell it about the tree before you hire anyone for permanent work. Virginia's Bureau of Insurance says insurers expect you to protect the property from further damage and will pay the reasonable costs, but you should wait for the insurer's written go-ahead before final repairs.
Will my insurance pay to remove the tree?
Usually, when the tree has hit your house or another covered structure. The Bureau of Insurance says most policies pay the reasonable cost of cleaning up and removing a tree that falls and damages your fence or deck furniture, and the same logic applies to your house. Most do not pay to remove a tree that has not fallen. Ask your insurer what applies and what your deductible is.
Can I tarp the roof myself?
It is not worth the risk. A damaged roof may not hold weight and a tree resting on it can shift. Insurers expect you to protect the property and will pay the reasonable cost, so have a roofer or tarping crew do it. Some fire departments may also be able to assist.
Who is responsible if my neighbor's tree falls on my house?
Generally your own insurer. The Bureau of Insurance says the neighbor's policy covers the neighbor's house and yours covers yours unless negligence can be proven, and a tree damaged by a storm is generally not considered the owner's negligence. Ask your insurer before you assume otherwise.
How do I know whether a contractor who knocks on my door is legitimate?
Check the licence before you agree to anything. DPOR says to verify a Virginia contractor's licence with its License Lookup tool or by calling (804) 367-8511, and to be wary of door-to-door offers of discounted repairs, high-pressure sales and cash-only deals.

Sources

  1. [1] Electric Safety, Dominion Energy. Checked October 27, 2026.
  2. [2] Tree Owner's Manual (NA-FR-01-10, revised 2021), USDA Forest Service, distributed by the Virginia Department of Forestry. Checked October 27, 2026.
  3. [3] When Disaster Strikes: Insured Homeowner's Loss, Bureau of Insurance, Virginia State Corporation Commission. Checked October 27, 2026.
  4. [4] Disaster Recovery: Avoiding Fraud, Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation. Checked October 27, 2026.
  5. [5] What You Should Know Before You Hire a Contractor, Virginia Board for Contractors, DPOR. Checked October 27, 2026.
  6. [6] 13VAC5-63-80, Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, Section 108 Application for permit, Virginia Administrative Code, Legislative Information System. Checked October 27, 2026.

Want a pro to handle it?

Describe the job once. Licensed local businesses send quotes, and you pay only when you book one.