Home insurance • Pennsylvania • 2026
Home Insurance in Pennsylvania: Older Homes, Mine Subsidence, and City Guides
Pennsylvania has some of the oldest housing in the country, from Philadelphia rowhomes to Pittsburgh hillside homes, and much of the state sits over old mines. Older homes, basements, and subsidence shape coverage here.
This guide covers Pennsylvania's home insurance rules, the coverage choices that matter most, and links to our local guides for 10 Pennsylvania cities. Compare quotes from several insurers on the same terms with one call.
Blake Insurance Group is an independent agency based in Tucson that serves Pennsylvania homeowners by phone and online. We do not have an office in Pennsylvania, and we compare options from the insurers we are appointed with for your exact address.
Get Pennsylvania home insurance quotes
Tell us your Pennsylvania address, your home's age, square footage, and roof, and the coverage you want, and a licensed agent will follow up with options available to us. Submitting the form does not bind coverage.
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Owning a home in Pennsylvania: what shapes your rate
Local conditions vary across Pennsylvania, but these risks come up statewide.
Rowhomes and party walls
Rowhomes share walls with neighbors, so a fire or leak next door can damage your home. Make sure your dwelling limit reflects rebuilding cost and that you understand how shared-wall claims work.
Older homes
Older homes can cost more to rebuild to current code. Ordinance or law coverage helps pay for required upgrades, and updated wiring, plumbing, and roofs can lower your price.
Basement flooding and sewer backup
Heavy rain can overwhelm sewers and back water into basements. Sewer and drain backup is excluded unless you add the endorsement, so choose a limit that fits a finished basement.
Schuylkill River flooding
Homes near the Schuylkill River can flood. Flood is excluded from home policies, and flood policies usually have a 30-day waiting period.
Mine subsidence
Old coal mines lie under parts of this area. Mine subsidence is excluded from home policies, but the state Mine Subsidence Insurance Fund sells coverage at about 27 cents per $1,000.
Coverage priorities for Pennsylvania homeowners
| Your situation | Coverage to review | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Older home | Ordinance or law coverage | Helps pay for code upgrades. |
| Any home with a basement | Sewer and drain backup endorsement | Excluded unless added. |
| Any homeowner | Dwelling at full rebuilding cost | Construction costs have risen. |
| Near a river or low area | Flood quote | Home policies exclude flood. |
| Over old mines | State mine subsidence insurance | Excluded from home policies. |
| Also insuring your cars | Home and auto bundle | Often the largest discount. |
Examples only, not recommendations. Coverage availability and terms vary by insurer.
Pennsylvania rules and market facts every homeowner should know
- No state mandate, but your lender requires it. Pennsylvania does not require homeowners insurance by law, but nearly every mortgage lender does.
- Mine subsidence insurance. Homeowners policies usually exclude mine subsidence. The state Mine Subsidence Insurance Fund, run by the Department of Environmental Protection, sells coverage from $5,000 to $1,000,000 for homes over abandoned coal and clay mines, and residential coverage costs about 27 cents per $1,000. It does not cover limestone sinkholes.
- Cancellation and non-renewal. An insurer's notice must take effect at least 30 days after it is mailed or delivered, give specific reasons, and explain your right to ask the Pennsylvania Insurance Department to review it. Act quickly, because the window to request review is short.
- The FAIR Plan. If standard insurers decline your home, the Pennsylvania FAIR Plan offers coverage as a last resort. Applications go through a licensed agent like us.
- Basements and sewer backup. Heavy rain, like the remnants of Ida in 2021, floods basements across the state. Sewer and drain backup is excluded unless you add the endorsement.
- Flood is excluded. River and flash flooding are not covered by home policies. See flood insurance.
How to compare Pennsylvania quotes apples to apples
A cheaper quote is only cheaper if the coverage matches. Line up each quote using the same limits and deductibles.
| Coverage | What to match |
|---|---|
| Dwelling (Coverage A) | Same rebuild amount, based on replacement cost, not market value |
| Other structures and personal property | Same limits, and replacement cost (not actual cash value) for belongings |
| Loss of use | Same limit for living expenses if you cannot stay in the home |
| Personal liability and medical payments | Same limits, such as $300,000 liability |
| Deductibles | Same deductible, the same sewer and drain backup limit, and the same coverage for older-home code upgrades |
| Roof settlement | Replacement cost or actual cash value for the roof, and any roof age schedule |
| Endorsements | Water backup, extended replacement cost, ordinance or law, and scheduled jewelry |
Pennsylvania cities and ZIP codes we quote
We quote statewide in Pennsylvania, including Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Bethlehem, Reading, Scranton, Erie, Harrisburg, Lancaster, and State College.
- 19102
- 15201
- 18101
- 18015
- 19601
- 18503
- 16501
- 17101
- 17601
- 16801
Insurers price by the exact address, the roof's age and material, the home's age and updates, and the cost to rebuild, so have those details ready for an accurate quote.
Discounts worth asking about in Pennsylvania
- Home and auto bundle, compared on the total of both policies.
- Protective devices, such as monitored alarms, sump pump alarms, and water leak sensors.
- Updated systems, such as newer roofs, wiring, and plumbing, where offered.
- The basics. Home and auto bundle, claims-free, new or impact-resistant roof, monitored alarm, smart water shutoff, new home, paid-in-full, and paperless discounts, where the insurer offers them.
Discount names, amounts, and availability vary by insurer.
Non-renewed, an older roof, or prior claims? You still have options. Some insurers and specialty markets write harder-to-place homes. Call 888-387-3687 and we will shop it for you.
Pennsylvania home insurance FAQs
What if a fire next door damages my rowhome?
Your own policy covers damage to your home, subject to your deductible. Your insurer may then seek recovery from your neighbor's insurer if they were at fault.
Is a backed-up sewer or floor drain covered?
Not unless you add sewer and drain backup coverage. It is an inexpensive endorsement and one of the most important for Pennsylvania homes with basements.
Why does my older home cost more to insure?
Older homes can cost more to rebuild, especially to current code. Ordinance or law coverage helps, and updated wiring, plumbing, and roofs can lower your price.
Is mine subsidence covered by my home policy?
No. Mine subsidence is excluded from standard home policies. The state Mine Subsidence Insurance Fund sells coverage from $5,000 to $1,000,000.
Does Pennsylvania require homeowners insurance?
No state law requires it, but nearly every mortgage lender does. Most owners keep coverage even after the mortgage is paid off.
Do I need mine subsidence insurance in Pennsylvania?
Check the DEP mine subsidence risk map. If your home sits over or near abandoned mines, coverage from the state fund costs about 27 cents per $1,000 and is excluded from regular home policies.
My insurer sent a non-renewal notice. What can I do?
The notice must list specific reasons and explain how to request review by the Pennsylvania Insurance Department. Request review quickly and call us to compare other insurers.
Pennsylvania city guides and related pages
- Flood insurance in Pennsylvania
- Home insurance in Philadelphia, PA
- Home insurance in Pittsburgh, PA
- Home insurance in Allentown, PA
- Home insurance in Bethlehem, PA
- Home insurance in Reading, PA
- Home insurance in Scranton, PA
- Home insurance in Erie, PA
- Home insurance in Harrisburg, PA
- Home insurance in Lancaster, PA
- Home insurance in State College, PA
- Pennsylvania auto insurance guide
- Flood insurance
- Landlord insurance
Important information
Compensation. Links in the partner quote box near the top of this page are sponsored, and Blake Insurance Group may be paid if you make a purchase. Sponsored placement does not affect the other information on this page.
Independent agency. Blake Insurance Group LLC is an independent insurance agency. Licensed insurance producer NPN 16944666. Licensed states: AZ, AL, TX, CA, NY, OH, FL, NC, VA, GA, OK, NM, IA, KS, MI, NE, SC, SD, WV, IL, NJ, PA, TN, and WA. Which insurance companies we can quote depends on our current appointments, the product, and your state.
Availability. Coverage, prices, discounts, and eligibility vary by insurer, state, and applicant, and are subject to underwriting. The issued policy controls. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Service area. Blake Insurance Group is based in Tucson and serves Pennsylvania clients by phone and online. We do not claim a physical office in Pennsylvania.
Your next step
Request a quote, and a licensed agent will compare options available to us for your Pennsylvania address.
