Photograph everything before you move a single board. Then make two calls: your insurance company, and a fence contractor. Pictures of the fallen fence and of the tree or limb that hit it are what an adjuster will ask for.
Part of my fence blew down in the wind. How fast can it be fixed and what does it cost?
Speed depends on how many other fences the same storm took out. Crews fill up within a day or two of a nor'easter, so get on the list early. On cost, a downed section with snapped posts counts as a big repair, and national 2026 figures put that at $900 to $2,500. Measure the gap and send a picture so the estimate visit goes quickly.
The fence is down, the dogs are in the yard and the street is busy. What now?
Keep the dogs inside or on a lead until the gap is shut. Then ask the contractor for a stopgap: braces on the posts that survived and a temporary panel across the opening. Mention pets, or a swimming pool, at the start of the call. Open yards with animals or water get looked at first.
Do fence companies charge more for emergency or weekend work?
Some do, and some will not come out after hours at all. Ask the question up front. The lower-cost plan is often a quick temporary closure now, then the real repair during the regular work week.
Will my homeowners insurance cover a fence after a storm?
It may. Many policies list fences under other structures. Three things decide your case: the wording of the policy, the size of the deductible and the cause of the loss. If the repair is cheaper than the deductible, a claim gains you nothing. Only the insurance company or your agent can say for sure. Ask for a written, itemized estimate to pass along.
My neighbor's tree fell across my fence. Which policy pays?
Normally yours. Damage to your fence is claimed under your own coverage, wherever the tree was rooted. An exception may apply when the owner had been warned that the tree was dead or unsafe. Put that question to your insurance company. If the same material can still be bought, only the crushed sections need to be rebuilt.
The insurance company offered much less than the estimate, citing the age of the fence. What can I do?
- Request the adjuster's depreciation math on paper.
- Reply with an estimate that breaks out posts, panels, labor and disposal.
- Ask whether your policy pays replacement cost or actual cash value.
- If the offer does not move, consider repairing only what the storm broke.
After the storm my neighbor says it is mine to fix. Is that right?
It depends on whose fence it is. General Laws chapter 49, section 3 says the occupants of adjoining enclosed land keep up a partition fence in equal shares while both of them use it, unless they have agreed something different. A fence standing wholly on one lot is that owner's job. Where the boundary itself is in doubt, hire a land surveyor. Our neighbor fence rules page goes further. That page is general information only and is not legal advice.
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