What does Virginia require for homeowners insurance?
Virginia does not require every homeowner to carry homeowners insurance by statute. Ownership of a home, by itself, does not trigger a statewide mandatory homeowners policy the way Virginia auto liability minimums apply to drivers.
Mortgage lenders typically require homeowners coverage as a loan condition. If a borrower does not maintain the insurance the lender requires, the lender may force-place fire insurance on the property and charge the cost to the borrower. Force-placed coverage usually protects the lender's interest in the structure and is not a substitute for a full homeowners policy you choose yourself.
What are the minimum coverage limits in Virginia?
Virginia sets no statewide statutory minimum homeowners insurance limits for all owners. Coverage amounts are set by the policy, your lender's requirements if you have a mortgage, and what you need to rebuild and replace.
The Virginia State Corporation Commission's property-casualty shopping tips advise selecting dwelling coverage of at least 80% of the home's replacement cost. The same SCC guidance notes that sewer backup coverage and ordinance or law coverage must be offered with homeowners policies — important offers to review even when the Commonwealth does not dictate a single dollar minimum for every policy.
What happens if you own a home in Virginia without homeowners insurance?
Virginia will not fine you solely for owning a home without a homeowners policy. The practical consequences are contractual and financial, not a statewide criminal penalty for missing homeowners coverage.
If you have a mortgage and let required coverage lapse, the lender may force-place fire insurance and pass the cost to you. Without a policy, you also have no personal contract to rebuild the dwelling, replace personal property, or defend liability claims after a covered loss — and flood damage still requires a separate NFIP or private flood policy either way.
How much does homeowners insurance cost in Virginia?
The average Virginia homeowners insurance premium was $1,332 per year in 2022, according to the Insurance Information Institute citing NAIC data. The U.S. average for the same year was $1,569 — an 11.2% year-over-year increase nationally in that III/NAIC series.
Your own premium depends on dwelling replacement cost, deductible, location, construction, claims history, and the coverages and endorsements you choose. The figures below are statewide house-year averages for market context — not a quote for your address. Epic Insurance Group shops 13 carriers for Virginia homeowners and can run your actual property for real numbers.
Source: III, from NAIC data. Statewide house-year averages, not Epic Insurance Group placements or city-level quotes. The U.S. average rose 11.2% year over year nationally in the III/NAIC series for 2022.
Methodology
Premium figures on this page are statewide and national house-year averages published by the Insurance Information Institute from National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) data covering 2022. They are market context for Virginia as a whole — not quotes from Epic Insurance Group, and not city-level medians. Freely published city-level homeowners premium tables were not available for this page, so we report only the statewide III/NAIC averages.
Statutory duties for sewer/drain backup offers, flood exclusion notices, and repetitive NFIP loss disclosure are taken from Code of Virginia §§ 38.2-2120, 38.2-2125, and 55.1-708.2. Shopping guidance on dwelling replacement-cost adequacy and required offers for sewer backup and ordinance or law coverage is taken from the Virginia State Corporation Commission Bureau of Insurance. Flood coverage is addressed via FEMA FloodSmart / NFIP.
What makes Virginia different: sewer backup, flood notices, and seller disclosure
Three Virginia statutes matter for homeowners shopping coverage or buying a house. Each is a concrete duty — not marketing language.
§ 38.2-2120 — sewer or drain backup coverage must be offered
Virginia Code § 38.2-2120 requires insurers that write homeowners policies in Virginia to offer coverage for loss caused by water that backs up through sewers or drains. The offer is mandatory; buying the endorsement is still your choice, but you should see the option when the policy is sold.
§ 38.2-2125 — written flood exclusion notice
Virginia Code § 38.2-2125 requires a written notice that the homeowners policy excludes flood. Flood damage is not covered by a standard homeowners form; coverage comes from a separate National Flood Insurance Program policy or a private flood policy.
§ 55.1-708.2 — seller disclosure of repetitive NFIP risk losses
Virginia Code § 55.1-708.2 requires a seller to disclose whether the property is subject to repetitive loss under the National Flood Insurance Program when that disclosure duty applies. Buyers reviewing a residential contract should treat flood history and NFIP status as part of due diligence alongside the homeowners quote.
Read Title 38.2, Chapter 21 at the Virginia Legislative Information System and seller disclosure at § 55.1-708.2 .
Which Virginia-specific coverages should you consider?
A standard homeowners policy (commonly an HO-3 form) is built around dwelling, other structures, personal property, loss of use, and personal liability. In Virginia, several offers and exclusions deserve a deliberate look:
- Dwelling at replacement cost — the Virginia SCC shopping tips recommend dwelling coverage of at least 80% of replacement cost so a partial loss is not underinsured under common coinsurance rules
- Sewer or drain backup — must be offered with Virginia homeowners policies under § 38.2-2120; ask whether the endorsement is on your quote and what limit applies
- Ordinance or law — must be offered per SCC shopping guidance — helps with code-upgrade costs after a covered loss when rebuilding to current building codes costs more than the damaged portion alone
- Flood — excluded from standard homeowners; buy NFIP coverage through FloodSmart or a private flood policy if you need flood protection
Justin Miller at Epic Insurance Group in Roanoke can walk dwelling limits, backup endorsements, and flood separately so the policy matches how you own and finance the home — without treating a statewide average as your rate.
What does homeowners insurance cost in Virginia cities?
Published free city-level average homeowners premiums for Virginia municipalities were not available for this page. We therefore report the statewide III/NAIC average of $1,332 per year for 2022 rather than inventing Roanoke, Richmond, or other city medians.
Local rates still vary by ZIP, construction, and exposure. Epic Insurance Group serves homeowners across the Roanoke Valley and surrounding Virginia markets — call (540) 269-1301 for a quote based on your address, not a statewide average.
How do you file a homeowners insurance claim in Virginia, and what are your rights?
After a covered loss, document damage with photographs or video before major cleanup when it is safe to do so. Contact your carrier or your agent to open the claim, keep damaged property available for inspection if the adjuster asks, and save receipts for temporary living expenses if the home is uninhabitable.
If you believe a claim was mishandled, you may file a consumer complaint with the Virginia State Corporation Commission Bureau of Insurance. Epic Insurance Group clients can also call us so we can help coordinate reporting and follow up with the adjuster.
Consumer complaint resources: SCC file a complaint or the property-casualty consumer hub .
How do you verify a license or file a complaint with the Virginia SCC?
Homeowners insurance in Virginia is regulated by the State Corporation Commission Bureau of Insurance. Consumers can review property-casualty guidance in the Virginia Homeowners Insurance Guide and the Commission's shopping tips for homeowners buyers.
To raise a concern about an insurer, agent, or claim handling, use the SCC's consumer complaint process. Start at the Bureau of Insurance file-a-complaint page or the property-casualty consumer hub, and keep your policy number, claim number, and correspondence ready when you submit.
Guides and shopping tips: Virginia Homeowners Insurance Guide and SCC shopping tips . Flood coverage: FloodSmart.gov .
Virginia homeowners insurance FAQs
Is homeowners insurance required in Virginia?
Virginia does not require all homeowners to carry homeowners insurance by statute. Mortgage lenders typically require coverage as a condition of the loan. If required coverage lapses, a lender may force-place fire insurance and charge the borrower for it.
How much does homeowners insurance cost in Virginia?
The average Virginia homeowners insurance premium was $1,332 per year in 2022, according to the Insurance Information Institute citing NAIC data. The U.S. average for 2022 was $1,569. Your quote will differ from the statewide average based on the home, limits, and endorsements.
Does Virginia require insurers to offer sewer backup coverage?
Yes. Virginia Code § 38.2-2120 requires insurers to offer coverage for loss from water that backs up through sewers or drains with homeowners policies. You are not forced to buy the endorsement, but the offer must be made.
Does homeowners insurance cover flood damage in Virginia?
Standard homeowners policies exclude flood. Virginia Code § 38.2-2125 requires a written notice of that flood exclusion. Flood coverage is available through the National Flood Insurance Program at FloodSmart.gov or through a private flood insurer.
What dwelling limit should I shop for in Virginia?
The Virginia SCC property-casualty shopping tips advise selecting dwelling coverage of at least 80% of the home's replacement cost. The same guidance notes that sewer backup and ordinance or law coverage must be offered — review those offers when you compare quotes.
How do I file an insurance complaint in Virginia?
File a consumer complaint with the Virginia State Corporation Commission Bureau of Insurance through the SCC file-a-complaint process or the property-casualty consumer resources. Include your policy and claim details and copies of relevant correspondence.
Epic Insurance Group is a licensed independent insurance agency in Virginia. Coverage descriptions are general; the policy governs. Coverage is not bound or changed until confirmed by a licensed agent during normal business hours.
We are appointed with multiple carriers and are compensated by commission. We are paid the same regardless of which carrier you choose.
Sources
- Insurance Information Institute . “Facts + Statistics: Homeowners and renters insurance.” Accessed August 20, 2026.
- Virginia Legislative Information System . “Code of Virginia Title 38.2, Chapter 21 (including §§ 38.2-2120 and 38.2-2125).” Accessed August 20, 2026.
- Virginia Legislative Information System . “§ 55.1-708.2. Disclosure of repetitive risk loss.” Accessed August 20, 2026.
- Virginia State Corporation Commission, Bureau of Insurance . “Property & Casualty Shopping Tips.” Accessed August 20, 2026.
- Virginia State Corporation Commission, Bureau of Insurance . “Virginia Homeowners Insurance Guide.” Accessed August 20, 2026.
- Virginia State Corporation Commission, Bureau of Insurance . “File a Complaint.” Accessed August 20, 2026.
- FEMA National Flood Insurance Program . “Buy a Flood Insurance Policy.” Accessed August 20, 2026.