The Best Home Insurance Quotes in Burlington

What risks do homeowners face in Burlington?

One of the greatest risks faced by Burlington homeowners in 2025 is severe weather, as is the case for most of southern Ontario. Flooding caused by 75 mm of rain in 2024 put a good portion of Burlington underwater.

In fact, summer floods cost Ontario $1 billion in insured losses that year, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC). Most of these floods occurred in the GTA and parts of southern Ontario.

Overall, home insurance premiums are increasing across the province, and severe weather is one of the biggest reasons. According to Applied Rating Index, personal property lines in Ontario saw a 5.7% increase in premium rate change year over year in Q1 2025. Throughout 2024, the rate change fluctuated between 13% and 9%. For context, this percentage used to hover around 1% in the early 2020s.

‘Flooding plays a significant role in influencing premiums, especially in areas with higher water-related risks,’ says Rates.ca insurance expert Daniel Ivans. ‘Some data we're working on shows that in regions prone to flooding, water coverage costs make up 10% of the premiums.’

How did we get these numbers? Check out our Home Insuramap methodology.

Why are Burlington homeowners paying than many other GTA cities?

While Burlington doesn't have the highest home insurance premiums in Ontario, it does have higher home insurance costs than the most other cities in the GTA. Burlington's estimated average premium is 9% below that of the province, so it's still doing well in the grand scheme of things. What sets it back, however, is its vulnerability to flooding, which has been a recurring issue over the years. In fact, Halton Region's floodplain map shows a high density of spill zone and floodplain hazards across the city, putting it at a higher risk of flooding than other cities in the region, including Oakville and Milton, both of which have lower home insurance premiums.

What keeps Burlington's premiums lower than they would've been otherwise is Halton Region's incredibly low Crime Severity Index (CSI), for both violent and non-violent crimes, and the city's low population density of 1,651 per square kilometre. Fewer crimes, especially property-related ones like break-ins, theft and vandalism, lead to lower premiums, while lower population density decreases the number of claims being filed under the same Forward Sortation Area/FSA as you, once again resulting in lower premiums.

The takeaway: Though there are many factors affecting Burlington's premiums as a whole, your FSA plays an even bigger. More on that below.

See our Home Insuramap methodology.

Why is Burlington home insurance so expensive in certain neighbourhoods?

Burlington's average home insurance rates don't fluctuate from one neighbourhood to another as much as they do in other cities in the province. The difference between the most expensive neighbourhood (FSA: L7N) and least expensive one (FSA: L7P) is $275, annually. For comparison, in Windsor, that difference is $655, annually.

Insurers look at your area's FSA, then check the number and frequency of claims filed within it, plus how much they cost. They use this information to determine the premiums. Insurers also assess the likelihood of certain perils occurring more than once in the area. For instance, if your neighbourhood is vulnerable to flooding, which you can check using Halton Region's floodplain map, then this could play a role in determining your premium in Burlington. Same applies to crimes, especially break-ins, burglaries and vandalism, which you can look up via Halton Regional Police Crime Map. Some areas in Ajax, or any city for that matter, will always have more claims than others, meaning that some areas will always cost more to insure.

That said, this state of things isn't permanent, so if your area has high premiums this year (as in 2025), there's a chance they might be lower next year. Do note that your current provider isn't likely to lower your specific premium, if that were to happen. You'd have to explore other providers and compare their quotes either via a broker or a rate comparison site like Rates.ca

Additionally, be aware that the reason the premium might be high in your area has nothing to do with the area itself. For example, it could just be that more people are filing claims for unrelated reasons, such as accidental indoor flooding, or frivolous reasons like pest infestation. All these factors can increase or decrease the premiums in your area, and by extension, your premiums.

See more of the factors that could affect you.

Choosing the right home insurance policy in Burlington

If you own a home in Burlington, you’re not required to have it insured. At least, not by law. That said, most lenders in Ontario won’t provide a mortgage unless your home is covered by insurance. That's why most homeowners still need a policy. It's also worth buying it even if you already own your home, since it's likely still the biggest asset in your possession.

The question is, what kind of policy do you need? And more importantly, what kind of protections actually exist for your home? We dive into all of that below, where you can find a full breakdown of what a home insurance policy can offer:

Types of home insurance in Burlington

There are three major home insurance types, which differ mainly by the amount of coverage they offer and by price. As you might expect, more coverage means higher costs – and vice versa.

• Named perils: As its name states, this coverage usually offers the least coverage for Burlington home insurance and protects the home against perils named in the policy, such as fire and wind. Because it is the most minimal coverage, it is generally the cheapest. It is sometimes referred to as a 'basic' policy.
• Broad form: his is mid-level home insurance. It provides comprehensive coverage for the structure of your home and basic coverage for your contents (but you must specify which items you want protected in your policy).
• Comprehensive: This is the most expensive home insurance policy you can get in Sudbury. It covers the structure and your contents against all insured perils.

Who gets covered

• Spouse and relatives: Your policy should cover your spouse and anyone related to either them or you, provided they reside in your home.
• Dependents: Home insurance should protect any dependents under the age of 21 who are students. They may be living in your primary home or temporarily away from it (e.g., college dormitory).

What gets covered

• Property and dwelling: This protects the structure of your home and other structures on your property. In most cases, you are protected from theft, fire, vandalism, storm damage, and some types of water damage. It is best to talk to your insurer about secondary structures like a garage or guest house to ensure your entire property is covered.
• Contents and personal property: This coverage protects your possessions from theft or damage. More expensive items, like fine art or jewelry, may require additional coverage, known as riders or endorsements.

Standard home insurance coverage in Burlington

Whether you opt for a named perils, broad form or comprehensive home insurance policy, it should cover the following:

Additional Living Expenses (ALE) coverage

In the event of natural disasters that force you to evacuate your home, additional living expenses insurance will come in handy. Additional Living Expenses (ALE) pays for temporary housing, commuting costs and even food, up to certain limits.

Here’s what ALE covers:

• Out-of-pocket expenses: If forced to temporarily move out, your insurance could cover expenses like accommodation, food, moving, laundry, transit, pet boarding and storage.
• Fair rental value: If you’re renting out a part of your home (such as a room or a basement) and your tenant is forced to move out due to a covered incident, your insurance could cover the loss of your rental income.
• Prohibited access: If your home becomes inaccessible due to an unexpected incident, such as a government-mandated evacuation order or a threat to your life, your insurance could cover you.

Liability coverage

Your liability coverage should encompass the following:

• Personal liability: If someone injures themselves on your property, personal liability insurance can help with legal expenses. This is important because the costs of a lawsuit can total thousands of dollars if you are not protected. The coverage amount can range from $100,000 to $5,000,000, depending on how much you’re willing to pay in premiums.
• Voluntary medical payments: What if someone injures themselves on your property and requires medical attention? Suppose you're not legally liable for the injury. This insurance will cover medical expenses for one year from the accident date. Your coverage can be as low as $1,000 or as high as $10,000.
• Voluntary property damage: In cases where you cause unintentional damage to someone else's property, this will help you pay for any unintentional direct loss or damage. It also covers accidental loss or damage to someone else's property by a minor (12 years or under) in your care.

Commonly covered perils

Commonly covered perils in Burlington – whether you choose basic, broad or comprehensive coverage – will usually include these:

• Fire: No matter what causes the fire, your insurance company will cover the costs of replacing, rebuilding or repairing your property and recovering your belongings.
• Smoke: If smoke damages your property, you'll receive coverage. However, the smoke has to have come from a malfunctioning cooking or heating device, not your fireplace.
• Lightning or electrical current: Should lightning strike your property, it could damage the wiring in your walls as well as break your appliances and electronics. This will pay for repairing or replacing whatever ends up damaged. Any other electrical current could do the same (and is also usually covered).
• Explosion: Should your property get damaged or destroyed by an explosion, you will receive coverage.
• Riot: If a riot that takes place near your property causes damage to it, your insurance will pay for the necessary repairs or replacement.
• Theft and vandalism: If your home happens to get robbed, this will pay for the replacement of the stolen items. The same applies if the home gets vandalized.
• Transportation: If your personal property, such as a laptop, gets damaged while temporarily away from your home, then its repairs or replacement will be covered. This applies to fixtures or fitting that are being repaired or in seasonal storage.
• Water damage: This pays for the damage to your property and belongings caused by water leakage from indoor plumbing, heating, air conditioning, sprinklers and similar appliances inside or outside your house. The tricky part is knowing what’s excluded. Most coverages usually exclude sewer back-up and overland flooding, so be sure to confirm what is and isn’t covered with your insurer.
• Hail and wind: Should wind or hail damage your property or belongings in any way, this will pay for them. This includes damage from flying debris as well as falling trees and branches (if caused specifically by hail or wind).
• Aircraft or vehicle impact: If an aircraft or another moving vehicle hits your property and damages or destroys it, you will get coverage. 
• Window breakage: This coverage applies only to homes that are occupied. If your home is vacant (meaning it's unoccupied for more than a month), then this coverage could be void. You'd need vacant home insurance to rectify that.
• Falling objects: This protects your property and belongings from falling objects, including space debris and space craft. There are exceptions, however, such as objects moved by landslides or snowslides. Confirm with your provider what is and isn’t covered.

Add-ons to home insurance coverage in Burlington

You can enhance your standard home insurance in Burlington with additional coverage – commonly known as ‘add-ons,’ ‘riders’ or ‘endorsements.’ Here’s what usually gets sold in addition to the standard coverage (varies from insurer to insurer):

• Overland water: Ontario is no stranger to flooding and overland water issues. There is also the threat of melting snow in the springtime. This add-on helps protect against damage from this type of overflowing water.
• Sewer back-up: In cases where the main sewer backs up, or water from downspouts, septic tanks, drains, and eaves troughs cause damage, this add-on will protect you.
• Earthquake: Covers losses or damage caused by an earthquake. This coverage makes more sense for people living on the West Coast, where there is a potential for earthquakes to cause structural damage to your home.
• Mass evacuation: Weather, forest fires or other major events can create so much damage that it causes the need for a mass evacuation. This comes with expenses for temporary housing, commuting and even everyday necessities like food. It is best to talk to your provider about how much coverage you can get during your temporary displacement.
• Identity theft: Covers the cost of replacing important documents, such as your passport.
• Lock replacement: If you need to replace the locks on your house, this add-on provides coverage.
• Personal valuables: If you own expensive things like jewelry, collectibles and artwork, then you may need extra coverage for them. Do an inventory of all your possessions and assign monetary value to them. Then talk to your provider to find out if you need extra coverage.
• Home sharing: If you’re looking to rent out your property, this will provide you with the additional property and liability coverage you need to stay protected.
• Personal umbrella: If you’re worried that your standard liability coverage isn’t enough (e.g., if your lawsuit costs you more than expected), this add-on can make up the difference.

What is not covered under your Burlington home insurance

Unfortunately, your home insurance can’t protect you from every existing danger in Burlington. Certain perils are always excluded – usually because they are both predictable and preventable. Here’s what they are:

• Absence from the home: Damage that takes place while you’re away from the home for an extended period of time.
• Alterations: A homeowner will only be protected against damage to a property that occurs during an alteration to it if they have received written permission from the insurance provider to undertake the alteration. However, common repairs such as painting or fixing a broken railing are not subject to this exclusion.
• Bylaw enforcement: You are not likely to be covered for costs stemming from the application or enforcement of a bylaw.
• Damage from renters: Most insurance providers require specific coverage for landlords. A standard home insurance policy is unlikely to protect you if a renter damages the property.
• Mold: Insurance companies consider mold to be a homeowner issue. If you see it is becoming a problem in your home, it is your responsibility to handle it before it gets worse. Because it is your responsibility to deal with it, your home insurance policy in Burlington will not cover mold issues. 
• Pest infestations: Much like mold, pests or rodents must be dealt with by the homeowner. You won't find coverage for this, so it's best to keep your home clean or spray for bugs before any problems get out of hand.
• Volatile substance: If you have more than one gallon of a volatile substance on your property and a fire or explosion takes place, you may be denied coverage. This is likely to include gasoline.
• Purposeful damage: Why would anyone purposefully damage their property? Who knows, but if you do, you will not receive an insurance settlement. Causing damage intentionally and claiming it on your policy is insurance fraud, so it is best to take care of your property as best you can.
• Intentional injuries to guests: Do unto others, the saying goes. But if you choose to injure someone in your home intentionally, you will not be covered for any liability that may ensue.
• Existing damage: You’re unlikely to be covered for damage that began before you held the policy.