Renters insurance in Pennsylvania averaged about $153 a year, or about $13 a month, in 2023, below the $173 U.S. average, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). A Pennsylvania renters policy covers your belongings against fire, theft and burst pipes, plus your liability to others, but not flooding, which the state’s insurance department calls Pennsylvania’s most common natural disaster.
Key takeaways
- Renters insurance in Pennsylvania cost an average of $153 a year in 2023, compared with $173 nationally, tied with New Hampshire for 38th most expensive of the 50 states and D.C., according to NAIC data.
- The Pennsylvania Insurance Department says a landlord’s homeowners insurance does not cover a tenant’s belongings; only a renters policy does.
- Standard renters insurance in Pennsylvania does not cover flood damage; renters can buy up to $100,000 of NFIP contents coverage, usually after a 30-day wait (FEMA, 2024).
- Only about 1% of Pennsylvania households carry flood insurance, according to the Pennsylvania Insurance Department (September 2026), even though all 67 counties have had destructive flooding.
- Pennsylvania law caps a security deposit at two months’ rent in the first year of a lease and one month’s rent after that, and requires its return within 30 days of the lease ending.
How much is renters insurance in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania renters paid an average of $153 a year in 2023, $20 below the national average and less than renters in most neighboring states. Pennsylvania was tied with New Hampshire for 38th most expensive of the 50 states and D.C. Here is how it compares, using NAIC 2023 data:
| State | Average yearly premium (2023) | About per month |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $176 | $15 |
| West Virginia | $172 | $14 |
| Ohio | $163 | $14 |
| Maryland | $162 | $14 |
| Pennsylvania | $153 | $13 |
| New Jersey | $151 | $13 |
| Delaware | $146 | $12 |
| U.S. average | $173 | $14 |
Your own price depends on your address, coverage limits, deductible and claims history; insurers in most states can also use credit-based insurance scores (how credit affects renters insurance). The Pennsylvania Insurance Department’s renters page adds that a laptop stolen from a coffee shop or your car can be claimed on your policy, because renters insurance covers your belongings away from home too.
Is renters insurance required in Pennsylvania?
Renters insurance is generally not required by law in Pennsylvania, but a landlord can make it part of the lease. The Pennsylvania Insurance Department encourages renters to consider a policy even if the landlord doesn’t require one, and notes you can buy it at any time, whatever your lease date (is renters insurance required?).
Pennsylvania’s security deposit rules come from the Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951:
- Deposit caps. A landlord can’t require more than two months’ rent in the first year of a lease, or more than one month’s rent in the second and later years.
- Escrow and interest. Deposits over $100 must be held in escrow at a regulated institution. After the second anniversary of the lease, the tenant earns the interest, less a 1% annual fee the landlord may keep.
- Return deadline. Within 30 days of the lease ending, the landlord must give a written list of damages and return the rest. A landlord who skips the list loses the right to withhold any of the deposit, and one who wrongly withholds money can owe double the amount. Give your landlord a forwarding address in writing.
A renters policy’s liability coverage generally excludes damage to the unit you rent, except fire, smoke or explosion, so the deposit is often what pays for a broken fixture (does renters insurance cover accidental damage?).
What are the biggest renters insurance risks in Pennsylvania?
Flooding, severe storms and winter freezes are Pennsylvania’s signature risks, and a standard renters policy covers only some of them:
| Risk | Covered by standard renters insurance? | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| River and flash flooding | No | Buy NFIP or private contents-only flood insurance at least 30 days ahead |
| Remnants of hurricanes and tropical storms | Wind damage yes; flood water no | Rain that gets inside is covered only if wind first breaks an opening in the roof or a wall |
| Frozen and burst pipes | Generally yes, for your belongings | Sudden water discharge from plumbing is a covered peril; the pipes are your landlord’s |
| Fire in a row house or apartment building | Yes | Fire and smoke are covered, and loss of use helps pay for somewhere to stay |
| Tornadoes and severe thunderstorms | Yes (windstorm and hail) | Your belongings are covered; the building is your landlord’s |
| Theft, at home or away | Yes | Covered minus your deductible, including a laptop stolen from your car |
Flooding, Pennsylvania’s most common disaster
“Flooding is Pennsylvania’s most common natural disaster,” the Pennsylvania Insurance Department says, and the state’s emergency management director has called Pennsylvania “one of the most flood-prone states in the nation.” The remnants of Hurricane Ida showed what that means for renters: on September 1 and 2, 2021, the National Weather Service recorded catastrophic flash flooding in eastern Pennsylvania, the Schuylkill River at Philadelphia crested at 16.35 feet (major flooding), and the Schuylkill at Norristown reached a record 26.85 feet. FEMA’s disaster declaration covered Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, York and Bedford counties.
The department is blunt that standard homeowners and renters policies “do not cover damages resulting from a flood,” and that a new flood policy usually has a 30-day waiting period. Renters can buy NFIP contents coverage for up to $100,000 of belongings, but in a basement apartment it covers little beyond a washer, dryer and freezer, according to FEMA (2024). Details: flood insurance for renters.
Winter freezes and burst pipes
Pennsylvania winters make frozen pipes a regular claim. The insurance department advises keeping a steady temperature at home and knowing where your water shut-off is. Under the standard renters form, sudden water damage to your belongings from a burst pipe is covered, minus your deductible (water damage). Flooding from outside, or water backing up through a drain, is not covered unless you have flood insurance or a water backup endorsement.
Renters insurance in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh
Renting is common in Pennsylvania’s big cities: in Pittsburgh, the owner-occupied housing rate was 47.7% in the Census Bureau’s 2020–2024 estimates, so roughly half of households rent. In Philadelphia, much of the rental housing is in row houses and apartment buildings, where a fire or leak next door can damage your belongings and the liability side of your policy matters as much as your belongings (renters liability coverage and fire and smoke coverage). Renters in low-lying neighborhoods near the Schuylkill, Delaware and the rivers around Pittsburgh should look hard at flood coverage.
How can Pennsylvania renters pay less?
- Compare at least three quotes for the same limits and deductible (how to get renters insurance).
- Choose a deductible you could comfortably pay after a storm or a theft.
- Bundle with your auto insurance and ask about discounts for smoke detectors, alarms and deadbolts.
- Keep a home inventory so you buy the right amount of coverage; the department recommends photos or video stored online.
What should I do after a flood, fire or burst pipe?
The Pennsylvania Insurance Department’s disaster guide recommends documenting everything before you clean up:
- Report the loss to your insurer promptly, and call the police for any theft.
- Take photos or videos of the damage and your belongings.
- Don’t make permanent repairs until your insurance company approves them; keep receipts for any temporary repairs.
- Keep receipts for hotel and meal costs if you can’t stay at home.
The full walkthrough is in how to file a renters insurance claim. Next door, see renters insurance in New York and Ohio.
Pennsylvania renters insurance FAQ
How much is renters insurance in Pennsylvania?
Renters insurance in Pennsylvania averaged about $153 a year, roughly $13 a month, in 2023, below the $173 U.S. average, according to NAIC data. Compare every state.
Does my landlord’s insurance cover my belongings in Pennsylvania?
No. The Pennsylvania Insurance Department says a landlord’s homeowners insurance does not cover a tenant’s belongings, and that just because a landlord insures the space you rent does not mean you are covered. More on landlord vs. tenant coverage.
Does renters insurance cover flooding in Pennsylvania?
No. Standard renters policies don’t cover flood damage, which the Pennsylvania Insurance Department calls the state’s most common natural disaster. Renters can buy contents-only flood insurance, up to $100,000 through the National Flood Insurance Program, usually with a 30-day waiting period. Flood insurance for renters explained.
How much can a Pennsylvania landlord charge for a security deposit?
Under Pennsylvania’s Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, a security deposit can’t exceed two months’ rent in the first year of a lease or one month’s rent after that, and the landlord must return it, with a written list of any damages, within 30 days after the lease ends.
Who do I call in Pennsylvania about a renters insurance problem?
The Pennsylvania Insurance Department takes consumer questions at 1-877-881-6388 and asks consumers to report insurance problems online through its consumer services portal. What to do after a denied claim.
Sources
- NAIC: Dwelling Fire, Homeowners Owner-Occupied, and Homeowners Tenant and Condominium/Cooperative Unit Owner’s Insurance Report: Data for 2023 (July 2026)
- Pennsylvania Insurance Department: Renters insurance (accessed 2026)
- Pennsylvania Insurance Department: Why buy renters insurance? (accessed 2026)
- Pennsylvania Insurance Department: Renters insurance reminder for college students (August 2025)
- Pennsylvania Insurance Department: Flood insurance (accessed 2026)
- Pennsylvania Insurance Department: Three years of progress on flood preparedness (September 2026)
- Pennsylvania Insurance Department: Flood insurance task force final report (July 2024)
- Pennsylvania Insurance Department: Natural disaster insurance guide (accessed 2026)
- Pennsylvania Insurance Department: Complaints, questions and help (accessed 2026)
- Pennsylvania General Assembly: Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, §§ 511.1–512 (accessed 2026)
- National Weather Service Mount Holly: September 1, 2021, remnants of Ida (accessed 2026)
- FEMA: Pennsylvania remnants of Hurricane Ida, DR-4618 (2021)
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Pittsburgh city (2020–2024 ACS)
- FEMA / NFIP: Flood insurance for renters (2024)
- Oklahoma Insurance Department: ISO Homeowners 4 Contents Broad Form, HO 00 04 10 00 (form edition 2000)
New to this? Start with What is renters insurance?
This site offers general information, not insurance or legal advice. Coverage, prices and rules vary by insurer, policy and state, so always read your own policy and ask your insurer or agent about your situation.