Home & Property
HO-3 Policy
The most common homeowners insurance form, providing open-perils coverage on the dwelling and named-perils coverage on personal property.
Last reviewed: May 2026 · Editorial methodology
Definition
The HO-3 is the standard homeowners policy sold by the vast majority of U.S. insurers and covers single-family owner-occupied homes. It protects the dwelling structure (Coverage A) on an open-perils basis, meaning all causes of loss are covered unless specifically excluded — common exclusions include flood, earthquake, and normal wear and tear. Personal property (Coverage C) is covered on a named-perils basis, so only the 16 perils listed in the policy apply. Most HO-3 policies include liability protection under Coverage E and medical payments under Coverage F. Policyholders can add endorsements for water backup, scheduled jewelry, or equipment breakdown to fill common gaps. In high-risk coastal states like Florida and Louisiana, HO-3 availability has narrowed significantly since 2020, pushing many homeowners toward surplus-lines carriers.
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Cover Forge USA Editorial Team
Editorial Lead
This article was researched and written by the Cover Forge USA editorial team against federal sources (NAIC, CMS, FEMA, DOL, SSA, state DOIs) and standard policy forms. Bylines organize content by topic — they do not assert individual licensure. See our editorial-policy for details.
Reviewed 2026-06-14
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