If the repair is yours to pay
Get more than one quote before you agree to a price, and ask the contractor to confirm where the property line and the public side begin.
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Default rule and exceptions
Some homeowners policies cover sewer and drain backups, but many do not; a sewer backup rider can be added to a homeowners or renters policy, for roughly an additional $50 a year per the Insurance Information Institute.
| Party | What they are responsible for |
|---|---|
| Insurer | Pays for sewer/drain backup damage only if the policyholder purchased the optional backup endorsement/rider. |
| Homeowner | Bears the loss for sewer/drain backup damage unless they proactively purchased the optional rider, typically available at a nominal added cost. |
| Exceptions | Coverage is available from most insurers as an optional rider for a nominal cost. |
What the source says
Last verified against the primary source on Sep 29, 2026.
For homeowners who want to insure themselves against sewer backups, coverage is available from most providers for a nominal cost.
Some policies cover sewer and drain backups, but many do not; however, you can purchase a sewer backup rider to a homeowners or renters policy for approximately an additional $50 each year, with the policy limits varying depending upon the insurer.
Common questions
Who pays for insurance coverage: sewer/drain backup in General, US?
It depends on the specific facts. Pays for sewer/drain backup damage only if the policyholder purchased the optional backup endorsement/rider.
Are there exceptions in General, US?
Coverage is available from most insurers as an optional rider for a nominal cost.
What is this based on for General, US?
This verdict is sourced to Protect your house from sewer backups and 2 sources in total, each independently re-checked before publication.
Sources
- Protect your house from sewer backupsofficial-guide · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-29
- How to protect your home from water damageofficial-guide · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-29
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