Home insurance in Charleston, SC

Coastal wind, flood, and earthquake are the big risks here — and a standard homeowners policy does not cover flood and earthquake. Here's what to plan for.

Check a specific home

Free. Risk score, rebuild estimate and the coverage it likely needs.

Median home

$469K

Homeowners

55.6%

Residents

152,014

What a home in Charleston needs covered

5 hazards, sorted by what it takes to insure them. Levels are modeled for the area; a specific address can differ.

Buy separately

Needs its own policy

Not in a homeowners policy. Worth pricing before you buy.

Flood

Very high

Not included in a homeowners policy. A lender may require it in a mapped flood zone.

Earthquake

High

Not included in a homeowners policy. Earthquake policies usually carry a percentage deductible.

Usually excluded

Hard to insure

Most policies exclude earth movement.

Landslide

Low

Most policies exclude earth movement, and an earthquake policy rarely adds it back.

Included

In a standard homeowners policy

Check limits, but no extra policy needed.

Coastal wind

Very high

Covered by a standard policy. Check for a separate wind or hail deductible.

Wildfire

Moderate

Covered by a standard policy, though some carriers limit new business near open land.

Modeled hazard levels for the area. Know Charleston well and something looks wrong? Tell us.

Common questions

What are the biggest home insurance risks in Charleston, SC?

Homes in Charleston face elevated coastal wind, flood, and earthquake risk. Carriers weigh these hazards when they price and underwrite a policy, so mitigating them can improve both your insurability and your premium.

Do I need separate flood insurance in Charleston?

Standard homeowners policies exclude flood damage, so flood coverage is purchased separately (through the NFIP or a private flood insurer). With flood risk rated Very High here, it's worth confirming your flood exposure before you buy.

Is earthquake insurance required in Charleston?

Earthquake damage is excluded from standard homeowners policies and isn't legally required, but with earthquake risk rated High in Charleston, many owners add a separate earthquake policy or endorsement.

How do I find a homeowners insurance broker in Charleston, SC?

You can connect with verified insurance professionals who serve Charleston on this page. A local broker compares quotes across carriers, helps with hard-to-place or high-risk homes, and advises on coverage tailored to Charleston.

Guides for South Carolina homeowners

Does Home Insurance Cover Hurricane Damage? What's Covered, What Isn't, and Why It's Complicated

Standard homeowners insurance isn't a "hurricane policy" — it responds to specific perils like wind, not to the storm itself. Whether your home is covered depends on which part of the hurricane caused the damage, where your home sits, and what your carrier's underwriting appetite looks like for your specific address.

Read

Homes in Charleston

151 Queen St

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