Is earthquake excluded from Georgia habitational insurance?

Yes. Earthquake is excluded from nearly every Georgia habitational insurance policy, which covers apartment buildings and other multi-family rentals. Earthquake damage is treated as a separate peril, so your standard property policy will not pay for it unless you add specific coverage.

An exclusion is something your policy specifically does not cover. Earthquake is one of the standard exclusions you will find on commercial property and habitational forms across the country, not just in Georgia. The good news is that this gap can usually be filled.

Earthquake risk gets covered by endorsement or a standalone policy:

• Earthquake endorsement added to the existing policy, which extends coverage to earthquake damage for an additional premium.
• Standalone earthquake policy, a separate policy purchased just for this peril when an endorsement is not available.
• Separate deductible, since earthquake coverage almost always carries its own deductible, often calculated as a percentage of the building value rather than a flat dollar amount.

Georgia is not the highest-risk earthquake state, but it is not risk-free. Parts of northwest Georgia sit near seismic zones, and the state has felt measurable quakes. For example, an owner of a 30-unit building valued at $4 million who carries a 5 percent earthquake deductible would pay the first $200,000 of an earthquake loss before coverage begins, which is why understanding the terms matters.

Whether earthquake coverage makes sense for you depends on your location, building value, and budget. We can quote it and explain the deductible clearly. Request a free coverage review and we will tell you whether earthquake coverage is worth adding to your habitational policy.