Ohio has thousands of abandoned underground coal mines, and when one collapses, the ground above can shift enough to crack foundations or damage a home. Standard homeowners policies generally exclude this kind of earth movement. To fill that gap, Ohio created a state mine subsidence insurance program in 1985. Whether it applies to you depends on which county your home sits in, and around Mount Vernon, the county line makes a real difference.
How Nearby Counties Compare
| County | Mine Subsidence Program Status |
|---|---|
| Knox | Not part of the program |
| Holmes | Mandatory: coverage is automatically included with eligible policies |
| Coshocton | Mandatory: coverage is automatically included with eligible policies |
| Licking | Optional: insurers must offer it, and homeowners decide whether to add it |
| Delaware | Optional: insurers must offer it, and homeowners decide whether to add it |
Ohio law also allows commissioners in optional counties to vote to make coverage mandatory, so a county’s status can change over time.
How the Coverage Works
Mine subsidence coverage can’t be bought on its own. It attaches to a homeowners, farm owners, dwelling fire, or similar policy, and it’s designed for residential structures with one to four families, along with detached private garages. It covers structural damage caused by the collapse of an underground mine, subject to the program’s limits and rules.
If You’re Buying Across the Line
Families moving from Mount Vernon toward Utica, Coshocton, or the Holmes County line should ask whether the new address falls in a mandatory or optional county. In an optional county, make sure you understand whether coverage was offered and whether you accepted it. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources maintains maps of known abandoned mines that can provide useful background.
Browse our home insurance articles for more homeowner topics. Cunningham Insurance LTD in Mount Vernon, OH can explain how mine subsidence coverage fits with your home insurance. Policy wording varies, so homeowners in Mount Vernon, OH and the surrounding counties can reach out to Cunningham Insurance LTD with questions.
