Does Home Insurance Cover a Broken Window in Ontario?
Usually yes, if the window broke suddenly: storm, vandalism, a break-in or an accident are generally covered by Ontario home policies, subject to your deductible and only while the home is normally occupied. Seal failure (fog between the panes), wear and tear and old age are not covered. Because typical deductibles run $500–$2,000, many single-window repairs cost less than the deductible, so a claim makes most sense after a break-in, a storm or damage to several openings.
Sudden damage from storms, vandalism and break-ins is generally covered; seal failure from age and wear and tear are not.
IBC lists window breakage and vandalism as insured perils only in a building that is normally occupied, and some policies cut cover after 30 or 60 days of vacancy.
Typical deductibles of $500–$2,000 often exceed the $150–$700 cost of replacing one pane or sealed unit in the GTA.
Your policy requires you to act to limit further damage, so secure the opening first and keep the board-up invoice.
Proof of loss is typically due within 30 days if your insurer asks for it.
Condo and rental glass follows different rules: the condo corporation or the landlord may be responsible, not you.
On this page
Usually, yes, if the window broke suddenly. Storms, vandalism, break-ins and accidents are the kinds of damage Ontario home policies generally cover, subject to your deductible and as long as the home is normally occupied. Fog between the panes, worn-out seals and old age are not covered.
The catch is the deductible. Typical deductibles of $500–$2,000 are often more than one pane or sealed unit costs to replace. A claim makes the most sense after a break-in, a storm or damage to several openings.
This is general information, not insurance or legal advice. Your policy wording decides.
What's usually covered, and what isn't
| Cause of damage | Usually covered? | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Wind, hail or a falling branch in a storm | Generally yes | Sudden storm damage is typically covered |
| Vandalism or malicious damage | Generally yes, if the home is normally occupied | Vandalism coverage applies where the building is normally occupied |
| Break-in | Generally yes | Report to police and keep the report number |
| Accidental impact (a ball, a tool, a slammed door) | Depends on your coverage level | Comprehensive policies cover all risks not excluded; named-perils policies only what's listed |
| Thermal stress crack (cracked "by itself") | Check your policy | Also check the window warranty; some manufacturers cover thermal cracks on new windows |
| Fog between the panes (seal failure) | No | Age-related seal failure and wear and tear aren't covered; gradual, expected deterioration isn't an insured peril |
| Breakage while the home is vacant | Often excluded | See the vacancy section below |
The four coverage levels
Home coverage comes in four levels:
- Comprehensive: covers all risks except those specifically excluded.
- Broad: comprehensive coverage on big-ticket items such as the building, and named-perils coverage on contents.
- Basic or named perils: covers only the causes the policy lists.
- No-frills: offered by some insurers for properties that don't meet normal insurance standards.
Window breakage is an insured peril only in a building that is normally occupied. Look for "glass breakage" in your policy's list of perils or exclusions.
Vacant homes
Vacancy is the exclusion that catches people out: a rental between tenants, an estate property, or a house left empty over a long winter away. Ontario policy wordings commonly exclude glass breakage and vandalism while the dwelling is vacant, and drop coverage after the home has been vacant more than 30 consecutive days without a vacancy permit. Some insurers use 60 days instead. If a property will sit empty, call your broker before you leave.
Should you claim? The deductible maths
Compare the repair cost with your deductible before you call your insurer.
| Scenario | Typical GTA cost (CAD) | Against a $500 deductible | Against a $1,000 deductible |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small single pane, daytime | $150–$300 | Pay yourself | Pay yourself |
| Standard sealed unit, daytime | $350–$700 | Borderline | Pay yourself |
| Sealed unit, same night, plus board-up | $550–$1,000+ glass plus $300–$600 board-up | Likely worth it | Borderline |
| Patio door sealed unit | $650–$1,700 | Likely worth it | Depends on size |
| Break-in or storm: several openings, frames or contents | The lines above, multiplied, plus other damage | Usually worth claiming | Usually worth claiming |
Put bluntly: typical Ontario deductibles of $500–$1,000 usually exceed the cost of a single-window repair, so claiming is rarely worth it unless the window is part of a larger covered loss.
Before you file a small claim, ask your broker how it could affect your premium or claims history. For the full price list, see our window and glass repair cost guide.
Big storms: when claims make sense
Storms are where glass claims add up. Toronto has had at least four storms that exceeded the 100-year storm in parts of the city in the last 20 years; the July 2013 storm caused about $940 million in insured damage across the GTA, and the July 2024 storm more than $940 million across Toronto and southern Ontario. The May 2022 derecho caused more than $875 million in insured damage, over $720 million of it in Ontario. After an event like that, broken windows are often one line in a larger claim.
How to make a claim, step by step
A home insurance claim boils down to this:
- Limit further damage. Your policy requires you to act to limit any further damage. For a broken window, that means covering or boarding the opening. Keep the invoice. Our first-hour guide covers the safety steps.
- Document everything. Photograph the damage before cleaning up. List damaged or stolen items with receipts, and keep damaged items unless they're dangerous.
- Report the claim as soon as possible, with accurate details. For a break-in or vandalism, include the police report.
- Keep every receipt, including cleanup and, if your home becomes unliveable, additional living expenses.
- File a proof of loss if asked. It typically has to be returned within 30 days.
What a glass company provides
Your insurer or adjuster, not the contractor, decides what's covered. A board-up contractor should supply job photos and an itemized invoice on request for your insurer. We work that way: we supply itemized invoices that separate the board-up, the glass and any hardware, so your adjuster can see exactly what was done.
Mistakes that weaken a claim
- Cleaning up before taking photos. Once the glass is in the garbage, there's no record of how it broke.
- Throwing out damaged items. Keep them unless they're dangerous; wrap broken glass safely and set it aside if you can.
- Leaving the opening open overnight. Rain or snow damage that follows a broken window is exactly the "further damage" your policy expects you to prevent.
- Waiting weeks to report. Report as soon as possible, and watch the proof-of-loss deadline if your insurer asks for one.
- Forgetting about vacancy. If the home was empty for more than the policy allows, glass and vandalism cover may not apply.
When the warranty is the answer, not insurance
If the problem is fog between the panes, skip the insurer and check the sealed-unit warranty. Seal-failure coverage typically runs 10–20 years. Labour is often covered for only the first 1–2 years, glass coverage may be prorated, and most warranties aren't transferable to a new owner. The manufacturer's name and date are usually printed on the spacer bar between the panes. Our foggy window guide explains your repair options.
Renters and condo owners
Who pays depends on who's responsible for the glass, and that isn't always the person who lives there.
- Tenants: Ontario landlords must keep the rental "in a good state of repair," and tenants must repair "undue damage" caused wilfully or negligently by them or their guests. Tell your landlord right away. See broken windows in a rental.
- Condo owners: the corporation repairs common elements, and your declaration can change the default split. Original windows are generally the corporation's, while glazing an owner added may be the owner's. Some unit-owner policies cover glass breakage only if the by-laws make you responsible, or the glass is part of your improvements. If you or a guest damaged common elements, you may owe the corporation's deductible under s.105 of the Condominium Act. Read more in condo window glass: who's responsible.
What we'd do
If you call us after a break-in or storm, we secure the opening first through our 24/7 emergency line with board-up, then measure for glass-only replacement so sound frames stay in place. You get a free quote and an itemized invoice with photos for your adjuster. If the repair is below your deductible, we'll show you the numbers so you can decide whether to claim.
Next step
For a broken window that's already secure, see our broken window repair service or send photos through our contact page for a free, itemized quote you can use with your insurer.