An NFIP flood policy pays for direct physical damage to an insured building and, if you bought contents coverage, the belongings inside it. The federal Standard Flood Insurance Policy (SFIP) Dwelling Form, published at 44 CFR Part 61, Appendix A(1), also has a section titled "Property Not Insured" and a list of losses it does not pay. Knowing that list before a flood helps Tennessee homeowners plan.
| Not insured or not paid (SFIP sections IV and V) | Examples |
|---|---|
| Outside the building | Personal property not inside a building; walks, decks, driveways, and patios outside the perimeter walls |
| Structures in the yard | Fences, retaining walls, seawalls, bulkheads, piers, bridges, docks |
| Land and landscaping | Land, lawns, trees, shrubs, plants, crops, animals |
| Vehicles and boats | Self-propelled vehicles (narrow exceptions), aircraft, watercraft |
| Money and papers | Currency, coins, deeds, securities, stored value cards, valuable papers |
| Underground and recreation | Wells, septic tanks, septic systems; pools, hot tubs, and spas that are not bathroom fixtures |
| Indirect losses | Loss of use, additional living expenses, lost revenue or profits |
| Earth movement | Loss caused directly by earth movement, even if flood caused it |
Source: 44 CFR Part 61, Appendix A(1), SFIP Dwelling Form (eCFR). The full section IV list has 16 items.
Property outside the walls
The policy does not insure personal property not inside a building. It also excludes those portions of walks, walkways, decks, driveways, patios, and other surfaces, whether protected by a roof or not, located outside the perimeter, exterior walls of the insured building. A covered porch inside the walls is treated differently from a deck that sits outside them.
Fences, retaining walls, seawalls, bulkheads, wharves, piers, bridges, and docks are also on the list, along with aircraft or watercraft.
Yards, cars, and valuables
Land, land values, lawns, trees, shrubs, plants, growing crops, and animals are not insured. Neither are money, coins, deeds, securities, stored value cards, or other valuable papers. Self-propelled vehicles and their parts are excluded, with a narrow exception for unlicensed machines used mainly to service the location or designed to assist handicapped persons, while they are inside a building at the described location. Flood damage to a car is usually an auto comprehensive question, not a flood policy question.
Wells, septic, pools, and hot tubs
Underground structures and equipment, including wells, septic tanks, and septic systems, are not insured. Hot tubs and spas that are not bathroom fixtures, swimming pools, and their equipment, such as heaters, filters, pumps, and pipes, are excluded wherever located.
No hotel bill or loss of use
Section V.A says the policy pays only for direct physical loss by or from flood. It does not pay for loss of revenue or profits, loss of access, loss of use, or any additional living expenses incurred while the insured building is being repaired or is unable to be occupied. That is a key difference from many homeowners policies; see TDCI glossary: loss of use covers extra living costs after a home disaster.
The same section excludes the cost of complying with building ordinances, but says that exclusion does not apply to eligible activities under Coverage D, Increased Cost of Compliance: Tennessee NFIP flood policies include up to $30,000 in Increased Cost of Compliance coverage for qualifying rebuilds.
Earth movement
Loss caused directly by earth movement, such as landslide, sinkholes, or gradual erosion, is not insured even if the earth movement is caused by flood. The policy does list limited exceptions for mudflow and certain erosion-related subsidence.
Planning around the gaps
- Check your declarations page for building and contents limits: NFIP flood policies cap Tennessee home building coverage at $250,000 and contents at $100,000.
- If you have a basement, read the separate basement limits: Tennessee homeowners with basements should know an NFIP flood policy pays for only a short list of items below ground level.
- Keep cash, deeds, and important papers in a waterproof container or off-site.
- Ask your auto agent whether your vehicles carry comprehensive coverage.
- Budget for temporary housing, since the flood policy will not pay it.
- Photograph contents before storm season: TDCI says flood damage is not in a homeowners policy — and urges a home inventory.
- Buy early; new policies usually have a waiting period: New Tennessee flood insurance usually waits 30 days to start, and federal rules list only three exceptions.
This article is informational only. It summarizes the federal SFIP Dwelling Form and does not promise coverage, eligibility, or payment for any loss. Your policy and the adjuster's determination control.
Related reading from All Seasons
- NFIP flood policies cap Tennessee home building coverage at $250,000 and contents at $100,000.
- Tennessee homeowners with basements should know an NFIP flood policy pays for only a short list of items below ground level.
- Tennessee NFIP flood policies include up to $30,000 in Increased Cost of Compliance coverage for qualifying rebuilds.
- New Tennessee flood insurance usually waits 30 days to start, and federal rules list only three exceptions.
- TDCI glossary: loss of use covers extra living costs after a home disaster.
- TDCI says flood damage is not in a homeowners policy — and urges a home inventory.
Free policy review
All Seasons Insurance Group offers a free personal policy review. Call 865-263-1400 or visit asigtn.com/get-a-quote/. This article is informational only and does not promise coverage or eligibility; your policy forms control. Seasons change. So should your coverage.
Does NFIP flood insurance cover my deck?
The SFIP Dwelling Form does not insure walks, decks, driveways, patios, and other surfaces located outside the perimeter, exterior walls of the insured building, whether or not they have a roof.
Are fences and retaining walls covered by flood insurance?
No. Fences, retaining walls, seawalls, bulkheads, wharves, piers, bridges, and docks are listed as property not insured.
Will a flood policy pay for my car?
Self-propelled vehicles are not insured, except narrow cases such as unlicensed machines used to service the location while inside a building. Car flood damage is generally an auto policy question.
Does flood insurance pay for a hotel while my house is repaired?
No. The policy pays only for direct physical loss and excludes loss of use and additional living expenses.
Is landscaping covered by NFIP flood insurance?
No. Land, lawns, trees, shrubs, plants, and growing crops are listed as property not insured.
Does flood insurance cover cash or important papers?
Money, coins, currency, deeds, securities, and other valuable papers are listed as property not insured.
Does flood insurance ever pay for code upgrades?
The ordinance-or-law exclusion does not apply to eligible activities under Coverage D, Increased Cost of Compliance.
How can All Seasons help after reading this?
Call 865-263-1400 or visit asigtn.com/get-a-quote/ for a free personal policy review. Informational only; no coverage promises. Seasons change. So should your coverage.
