Dogs, trampolines, and pools: how they affect your NC home insurance

Most NC home insurance carriers ask about dogs during the application process. The reason is straightforward: dog bites and dog-related injuries generate significant homeowner's liability claims each year. Carriers manage that exposure by restricting or excluding certain breeds.

Breed restriction lists vary by carrier. Commonly restricted breeds include pit bulls, Rottweilers, German Shepherds, Doberman Pinschers, Akitas, Chow Chows, and several others. Some carriers take a bite-history approach instead of breed restrictions, a dog with no bite history may be acceptable regardless of breed.

The practical effect for NC homeowners: if you have a restricted breed, some carriers will decline to write your policy, others will write it with a dog liability exclusion, and others will accept the breed without restriction. An independent agent can find you the right carrier for your situation.

Non-disclosure is the wrong approach. A dog bite claim that is denied because you failed to disclose the breed is a costly lesson. Disclose the breed, let the agent find the right carrier, and have coverage that actually works.

Trampolines are one of the more variable items in home insurance underwriting. Carrier treatment falls into three general categories: some carriers exclude trampoline-related liability from coverage entirely, some accept the trampoline with a safety net enclosure requirement, and some accept trampolines without restriction but may charge additional premium.

The liability concern is real, trampoline injuries (broken bones, spinal injuries, head injuries) generate significant claims. The risk increases when multiple jumpers are on the trampoline simultaneously, a common scenario when children have friends over.

If you have a trampoline or are planning to buy one, tell your agent before the policy renews or before you install it. Finding out your carrier excludes trampoline coverage after a claim is filed is much worse than shopping for a carrier that accepts it upfront.

Swimming pools are one of the most significant liability exposures a homeowner can add to a property. Drowning claims, particularly involving children, are catastrophic in scope. Most carriers will write a home with a pool, but they typically require a fence or gate that meets specific height and latch requirements.

In-ground pools and above-ground pools are both underwriting considerations, though in-ground pools receive more scrutiny. Diving boards and water slides are additional factors, some carriers exclude coverage for injuries involving diving boards specifically.

The coverage adjustment most commonly recommended when adding a pool is to review and increase your Coverage E (personal liability) limit. Many agents recommend $300,000 or more, combined with an umbrella policy that extends liability coverage to $1 million or higher. Umbrella coverage is relatively inexpensive for the protection it provides.

Home insurance applications ask material questions about your property and its features. Answering inaccurately, whether by omission or misstatement, gives the carrier grounds to deny claims or rescind coverage if the omission is discovered after a loss.

The better path is always disclosure. An independent agent with access to 25+ carriers can find a carrier that accepts your specific situation, the breed of dog, the trampoline configuration, the pool with a diving board. There is almost always a market for the risk when you shop broadly. The problem is not having the coverage to use when you need it.