Self-Storage Facility Insurance Coverage Checklist
The coverages a self-storage facility business may carry — core, prevalent, and situational — why each matters, and the gap most often missed.
Pull out your current policy and check the box next to any coverage you can confirm is already in place — anything unchecked is worth a quick conversation with your advisor. Coverage checklist for self-storage owners and operators. Priorities reflect typical exposure; confirm against facility type and lien-sale volume.
Tick each coverage you can confirm you carry — anything left unticked is a good question for your next policy review.
| Have it? | Coverage | Why this business needs it | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sale & Disposal Liability | Covers wrongful lien-sale and disposal claims — standard policies often exclude them. | Core | |
| Customer Goods Legal Liability | Covers tenants' stored property when the facility is found legally liable for loss or damage. | Core | |
| Commercial Property & Business Income | Covers buildings, gates, and offices, plus lost rent after a covered loss. | Core | |
| Commercial General Liability | Covers customer injuries on drives, walkways, and in buildings. | Core | |
| Contractual Liability (Tenant | Protection Plan) Backs a facility-offered protection plan, where state law allows. | Situational | |
| Crime / Employee Dishonesty | Covers employee theft of rent payments or tenant property. | Prevalent | |
| Hired & Non-Owned / Commercial Auto | Needed if the facility rents trucks or uses vehicles. | Situational | |
| Cyber Liability | Covers tenant data and online payment and access systems. | Situational |
The coverage gap most often missed
The most commonly missed gap for this class is coverage for lien sales. Selling a delinquent tenant's belongings follows strict state procedures, and one slip — a notice not re-issued, a servicemember not checked — can turn into a large conversion and emotional-distress verdict, like the $379,000 award in one California case. Many standard policies exclude claims arising from the sale process, so operators need sale and disposal liability coverage, plus a second-person review and SCRA check before every sale.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your self-storage facility coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: Self-Storage Facility Insurance · Self-Storage Facility Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does a self-storage facility business need?
The core coverages for a self-storage facility business are Sale & Disposal Liability, Customer Goods Legal Liability, Commercial Property & Business Income, Commercial General Liability. This checklist also lists the prevalent and situational coverages worth considering, with a plain-English note on why each matters.
Is this checklist insurance advice?
No. It is a free educational tool to help you have a more informed conversation with a licensed professional. It affords no coverage and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice — only your actual policy language governs what is and isn't covered.
Can Cory Washington & Co. review my self-storage facility coverage?
Yes. Share your checklist and we'll review your program line by line, market your account across multiple carriers, and explain the trade-offs in plain English. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
This checklist is a free educational tool from Cory Washington & Co. to help you review your own coverage and have a more informed conversation with a licensed insurance professional. It is general information only — not insurance, legal, or financial advice, and not a recommendation to buy, change, or cancel any policy. Coverage terms, availability, limits, and requirements vary by policy, carrier, and state, and only the language in your actual policy governs what is and isn’t covered. Checking or leaving blank any item above does not indicate that you are adequately insured or under-insured. Using this checklist does not create a client, agency, or fiduciary relationship. Always consult a licensed professional about your specific situation.