# Does Insurance Cover Sewer Backup? | Who Pays the Repair?

> Some homeowners policies cover sewer and drain backup, but many do not. A backup rider adds it, about $50 a year according to the Insurance Information Institute.

**Who pays:** depends

Many homeowners policies do not cover sewer or drain backup; a sewer backup rider, about $50 a year per the Insurance Information Institute, adds it.

**Boundary:** 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.

**Exceptions:** Coverage is available from most insurers as an optional rider for a nominal cost.

## Sources
- [Protect your house from sewer backups](https://www.iii.org/article/protect-your-house-from-sewer-backups) — "For homeowners who want to insure themselves against sewer backups, coverage is available from most providers for a nominal cost." (accessed 2026-09-29)
- [How to protect your home from water damage](https://web.archive.org/web/20140804060846id_/http://www.iii.org:80/article/how-protect-your-home-water-damage) — "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." (accessed 2026-09-29)

_Last verified 2026-09-29. Source: Who Pays the Repair? — https://whopaystherepair.com/rules/does-homeowners-insurance-cover-sewer-backup/ — every claim checked against a primary source before publication (see /methodology/)._