Glossary

Named perils

Coverage that applies only to the causes of loss listed in the policy, so a claim is paid only if the damage came from one of them.

Also called: named peril coverage, specified perils, broad form perils

Named perils coverage pays only for losses caused by perils the policy lists by name. If the cause is on the list, the loss is covered subject to the policy's terms. If it is not, there is no coverage, even if the damage is serious.

The standard ISO HO-3 uses named perils for personal property (Coverage C). Its list has 16 entries, including fire or lightning, windstorm or hail, theft, vandalism, falling objects, the weight of ice, snow or sleet, accidental discharge of water from plumbing, and freezing. The older HO-2 broad form applies a named list to the house as well, and the HO-1 basic form uses a shorter one.

The practical effect shows up in odd claims. Say a heavy ceramic planter slips and breaks a glass tabletop. "Dropped it" is not on the list, so a named-perils contents policy may not respond, while an open perils policy often would. In most states, the policyholder must show the loss came from a listed peril.

Look at how each coverage on your policy is written, because dwelling and contents are often different. If you want broader contents protection, ask about the HO-5 form or an endorsement that extends open perils to personal property. The guide to named and open perils compares them with examples.

Last reviewed October 10, 2026

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Related terms

Open perils Coverage that applies to any direct physical loss unless the policy specifically excludes the cause, so the insurer must point to an exclusion to deny a claim. Peril A specific cause of loss, such as fire, wind, theft or water, that a policy covers or excludes; it is the cause of the damage rather than the damage itself. Exclusion A policy provision that removes coverage for a stated cause, type of loss, property or circumstance that the coverage would otherwise reach. Personal property (Coverage C) Coverage for the movable things you own, such as furniture, clothing, electronics and tools, whether they are at home or elsewhere in the world. HO-2 (broad form) A named-perils homeowners policy covering 16 listed causes of loss for the house and belongings: broader than the basic form, narrower than the special form. HO-3 (special form) The most common homeowners policy: open-perils coverage for the house and other structures, and named-perils coverage for belongings.

Related guides

Collapse coverage: what counts as a collapse The standard HO-3 pays only for abrupt collapse from listed causes such as hidden decay or a covered peril. Sagging, cracking and settling do not count. Difference in conditions policies to pair with a FAIR plan A difference in conditions (DIC) policy adds the water, theft and liability coverage a FAIR plan leaves out. How the pairing works and where it can fail. Does homeowners insurance cover wildfire? Wildfire is covered as fire under a homeowners policy. Gaps to check: dwelling limits, code upgrades, wildfire deductibles, FAIR Plan forms and mudflow. Dwelling fire policies: DP-1, DP-2 and DP-3 Dwelling fire forms insure a rental, a vacant house or a home that can't get a homeowners policy. DP-1 is basic, DP-2 broad, DP-3 open perils. No liability. Food spoilage and power outage coverage A standard HO-3 excludes food lost when the utility loses power off your premises. When spoilage is covered, which endorsements add it, and how to document it. HO-2 broad form vs HO-3: what changes in a claim The HO-2 insures the house against 16 named perils; the HO-3 against anything not excluded. Where the gap shows up, who must prove what, and lender limits.

Related insurers

California FAIR Plan California's insurer of last resort, a pool of all licensed property insurers selling basic fire policies; 696,562 policies in force in June 2026. People's Trust Insurance Family-owned Florida insurer founded in 2008 that sells homeowners policies online, by phone and via agents and repairs many claims with its own contractor. Wellington Insurance Group Fort Worth managing general agent that writes Texas homeowners and dwelling fire policies for about a dozen carriers, sold through independent agents.