Which natural hazards are insured in Switzerland?

In short

Natural hazard damage means damage from high water, flooding, storm, hail, avalanche, snow pressure, rockfall, falling stones and landslide.

In Switzerland it is covered together with fire insurance, for the building and for household contents. Earthquakes are not included.

As of 2 October 2026 · Sources cms.vkg.ch, bafu.admin.ch, konsumentenschutz.ch

GuideTo the answer in a few questions

Which insurance is responsible?

Choose what is damaged and what happened. You see whom you have to contact.

All answers at a glance

What is damaged? Something that belongs to someone else

Your personal liability insurance. If you caused the damage, your personal liability insurance is responsible. With the car it is the motor liability insurance of the vehicle.

What happened? Hail, storm, flood or avalanche

The building insurance. In 19 cantons this is the cantonal building insurer, in Geneva, Uri, Schwyz, Ticino, Appenzell Inner Rhodes, Valais and Obwalden a private insurer. As a tenant you report the damage to the property manager, who is responsible.

What happened? Fire

The building insurance. Fire at the building is covered by the building insurance, like natural hazards. As a tenant you report the damage to the property manager.

What happened? Earthquake

Usually no insurance. Earthquakes do not count as natural hazard damage. Buildings in Switzerland are usually not insured against them. Some cantonal building insurers have a limited solution, and private extra cover exists as well.

What happened? Hail, storm, flood or fire

Your household contents insurance. It pays furniture, clothes and devices at replacement value if your insured sum is enough. Natural hazards are included with the fire cover.

What happened? Water from a pipe

Your household contents insurance, if water is included. Tap water is usually a separate component of household contents insurance. Damage to the building itself goes to the building insurance or the property manager.

What happened? Burglary or theft

Your household contents insurance. Burglary is covered in household contents insurance. Theft away from home, for example of the bike, only with the extension for simple theft away from home. Always report theft to the police as well.

What happened? Hail, storm, stone marten, glass breakage or theft

Your partial casco. Partial casco pays damage to your own car that you did not cause yourself. Without partial casco you pay yourself.

What happened? I drove into something myself

Your comprehensive casco. Damage to your own car after a collision that is your fault is only paid by comprehensive casco. The damage to the other party is paid by your motor liability insurance.

What happened? Someone else drove into me

The liability insurance of the other vehicle. The motor liability insurance of the person who caused it pays for your damage. Fill in the European accident report together.

General classification, as of 2026. What exactly is covered is in your policy. Not advice.

Want to know more?

Which natural hazards are insured?

Insured	Not insured
High water and flooding	Earthquake
Storm from 75 km/h	Volcanic eruptions
Hail	Water from reservoirs
Avalanche and snow pressure	Acts of war
Rockfall, falling stones, landslide	Backflow from the sewer, depending on the policy

Who insures your building?

In 19 cantons a cantonal building insurer insures all buildings against fire and natural hazards. It is compulsory and has a monopoly. It pays the replacement value without an upper limit.

In the seven remaining cantons, namely Geneva, Uri, Schwyz, Ticino, Appenzell Inner Rhodes, Valais and Obwalden, private companies insure buildings. There the benefit per event is limited.

You always insure your household contents privately. With the fire cover of household contents insurance, natural hazards are included.

What does that mean for you?

As a tenant you need household contents insurance. The building is the owner’s responsibility.
As an owner you check whether the building insurance reflects the replacement value of your house, especially after a conversion.
If there is a flood risk, prevention pays off. The cantonal building insurers often advise you free of charge.

What many people get wrong

“An earthquake is a natural hazard after all.” Yes, but it is usually not insured.
“Insurance always pays for flood water in the cellar.” Water from outside yes. Backflow from the sewer is regulated differently depending on the policy.
“Without household contents insurance the canton pays.” Wrong. The cantonal insurance only covers the building.

From what wind speed does a storm count?

Wind counts as a storm from 75 kilometres per hour if it uproots trees or damages buildings in the surrounding area.

Is an earthquake insured?

As a rule, no. Earthquakes do not count as natural hazard damage. Some cantonal building insurers have limited solutions, and private extra cover exists as well.

Is water from a burst pipe natural hazard damage?

No. That is water damage and usually a separate component of household contents and building insurance.

Do I have to insure my house against natural hazards?

In all cantons with cantonal building insurance this is compulsory, as it is in four of the remaining seven cantons. There, cover with private insurers is required.

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Sources and date 2 October 2026

This page explains in general terms and does not replace personal advice. Law and your policy are what counts.