Home · Coastal · Second homes · Maine
By Jon Merwin, Founder & CEO, Portsmouth Atlantic Insurance · Reviewed by Jon Merwin, licensed insurance agent
Published October 2026 · Updated October 4, 2026
- Portsmouth Atlantic Insurance is licensed in Maine and insures homes in Kittery, Kittery Point, Kittery Foreside and Gerrish Island from our Portsmouth, NH office across the river.
- Kittery is mostly year-round homes. Only about 5.5 percent of its housing units are seasonal, compared with about 32 percent in neighboring York, per Census data.
- Kittery’s housing is old. About one unit in four was built in 1939 or earlier, and about 46 percent before 1960, so roof, wiring and heating updates matter to carriers.
- Flood is excluded from homeowners policies. Check FEMA’s flood maps for any home near the harbor, the river or the open coast.
- Insure the cost to rebuild, not the sale price or tax assessment.
Looking for home insurance in Kittery, Maine? Portsmouth Atlantic Insurance is licensed in Maine, among 10 states, and our Portsmouth office sits just across the Piscataqua River. We insure year-round homes, older houses near Kittery Foreside, waterfront homes on Kittery Point and Gerrish Island, and second homes and cottages. As an independent agency since 2005, we compare 30+ carriers instead of selling one company’s policy. In Kittery, the right carrier often depends on the age of the house, what’s been updated, and how close it sits to the water.
Can a Portsmouth agency insure a home in Kittery, Maine?
Yes. We hold a Maine license, and Kittery is the closest Maine town to our Islington Street office. Kittery faces Portsmouth across the Piscataqua, with Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on Seavey Island in between. If you also own a home in New Hampshire or Massachusetts, we can insure it too. The Maine Bureau of Insurance runs a public licensee search if you’d like to confirm any agent’s license. If you also own in the next town up the coast, see our York, Maine home insurance page.
How old are Kittery homes?
Older than most. In the Census Bureau’s 2019-2023 American Community Survey, about 24.5 percent of Kittery’s 5,464 housing units were built in 1939 or earlier, and another 14.6 percent in the 1940s. All told, about 46 percent were built before 1960. Here’s the breakdown by decade.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-year estimates, table B25034 (year structure built), from the ACS summary file. Our calculation: units in each period divided by total housing units. Small-town estimates carry margins of error; for example, the 1939-or-earlier figure is 1,337 units, plus or minus 289.
That matters for insurance. The Maine Bureau of Insurance says premiums are often higher for older homes, although many insurers offer discounts if the major systems (roof, heating, plumbing and electrical) have been updated within the past 10 to 20 years. When we quote a Kittery home, we ask about those updates first.
Are many Kittery homes second homes?
Fewer than you might expect on the Maine coast. The same Census survey puts about 5.5 percent of Kittery’s housing units (300 units, plus or minus 162) in seasonal, recreational or occasional use. Next door in York, it’s about 32 percent. Kittery is mostly year-round homes, but the seasonal cottages and second homes it does have, many of them near the water, still need the right occupancy rating and a winter plan. Our second and seasonal home insurance guide explains what carriers ask.
What does the Kittery coast change about home insurance?
Wind and water. The Maine Bureau of Insurance lists proximity to the coast among the factors all insurers use, because homes closer to the ocean have more windstorm exposure, which may mean a higher premium, a higher windstorm deductible, or both. Its consumer guide notes that policies in coastal areas may require a percentage deductible for windstorm, figured on your dwelling limit. Read the declarations page, and ask us to translate it.
FEMA declared a major disaster for the January 9 to 13, 2024 severe storms and flooding in Maine, and the Maine Emergency Management Agency lists York County, which includes Kittery, among the counties included for public assistance.
| Risk for a Kittery home | Usually covered by homeowners | Usually not covered | What to ask |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind damage to roof and siding in a nor’easter | Yes | The part of the loss under your deductible | Is there a percentage windstorm deductible? |
| Storm surge or high-tide flooding | No | Yes | NFIP or private flood policy |
| Fire from old wiring or a wood stove | Yes | Damage from wear and tear | Updates to electrical and heating, and wood heat disclosure |
| Sewer or drain backup | No | Yes, unless added | Water backup endorsement |
| Frozen pipes in a closed-up cottage | Often, if the home was heated or properly winterized | If vacancy rules or heating conditions were not met | Vacancy terms and low-temperature alerts |
“Inflation keeps moving the goalposts on what it costs to rebuild, and older New England homes like many in Kittery feel it most. Plaster walls, old-growth trim and custom millwork are expensive to replace. A lot of these homes need much higher dwelling coverage than they carried even a few years ago. The good news is that carriers are expanding their appetite for higher-value homes, so owners have more good choices than they used to.”— Jon Merwin, Founder & CEO, Portsmouth Atlantic Insurance
Does homeowners insurance cover flooding in Kittery?
No. Flood is excluded from homeowners policies, whether it comes from storm surge on the open coast, a high tide in a harbor or creek, or heavy rain. Start by looking up your address on FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center and ask whether an elevation certificate exists for the home.
We write NFIP policies and also quote private flood through Flow Flood, Neptune Flood, Beyond Floods, The Flood Insurance Agency, CatCoverage and Aon Edge where they’re available for the property. NFIP coverage generally starts 30 days after purchase, though FloodSmart notes exceptions, including a policy bought while making, increasing, extending or renewing a mortgage. Our flood insurance page explains the options.
We’ll compare carriers for older homes, wind and flood, right from our office across the river.
Talk to our Portsmouth team: (603) 431-4020 · Start a Kittery home insurance quote
How much dwelling coverage does a Kittery home need?
Insure the cost to rebuild. The Maine Bureau of Insurance is clear that coverage is based on the estimated cost to rebuild, not market value, purchase price or tax assessment. Its guide also notes that inflation in building materials raises replacement cost even when market values fall, and that extended replacement cost coverage may add a cushion above the policy limit. For an older home with original details, ask how the replacement cost estimate handles them.
For higher-value homes on Kittery Point, Gerrish Island and the waterfront, we compare our six high-value home carriers: Chubb, Cincinnati, Hanover, Openly, National General and Andover. All six write in every state where we do business, including Maine, and we place Cincinnati in all 10 of our licensed states across nearly all personal lines. For homes up to $5 million, we place only with Cincinnati, Chubb, Openly and National General. For homes of $10 million and up, we use only Chubb and Cincinnati. Our Maine homeowners and second-home insurance page covers statewide details.
- Your current declarations page, including any windstorm deductible.
- The year the home was built and when the roof, heating, plumbing and wiring were last updated.
- How you heat the home, including any wood stove.
- Flood zone, elevation certificate and any current flood policy.
- Whether the home is your primary residence, a second home or a rental.
- Valuables kept at the house, like jewelry, art or a boat.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Portsmouth, NH insurance agency insure my home in Kittery, Maine?
Yes. Portsmouth Atlantic Insurance is licensed in Maine, among 10 states, and our Portsmouth office is just across the Piscataqua River from Kittery. We insure homes in Kittery, Kittery Point, Kittery Foreside and Gerrish Island.
Does the age of my Kittery home affect my insurance?
Often, yes. The Maine Bureau of Insurance says premiums are often higher for older homes, though many insurers offer discounts if the roof, heating, plumbing and electrical systems have been updated within the past 10 to 20 years. About 46 percent of Kittery’s housing units were built before 1960, per Census estimates.
Does homeowners insurance cover flooding in Kittery?
No. Flood from storm surge, high tides or heavy rain is excluded from homeowners policies. You need a separate NFIP or private flood policy. NFIP coverage generally starts 30 days after purchase, unless an exception applies, such as a policy bought when you close on a mortgage.
Is a coastal Kittery home insured differently from one inland?
It can be. The Maine Bureau of Insurance lists proximity to the coast as a factor insurers use, because homes closer to the ocean face more windstorm exposure. That may mean a higher premium, a higher windstorm deductible, or both.
Can I keep my Kittery home with the same agent as my New Hampshire home?
Yes. Because we are licensed in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts, among 10 states, we can coordinate your homes, your cars and one umbrella policy from our Portsmouth office.
Sources
- Maine Bureau of Insurance, “A Consumer’s Guide to Homeowners Insurance”
- Maine Bureau of Insurance, “Factors Affecting Your Premium”
- Maine Bureau of Insurance, “Licensee Search”
- FEMA, “Maine Severe Storms and Flooding” (DR-4764)
- Maine Emergency Management Agency, “Declared Disasters – List of Open Disasters”
- FEMA, “Flood Map Service Center”
- FEMA FloodSmart, “Buy a Flood Insurance Policy”
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-year estimates, table B25034 “Year Structure Built”
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-year estimates, table B25004 “Vacancy Status”
This page is general information, not a policy. Coverage, forms and availability vary by state, carrier and property, and every policy is subject to underwriting. Your policy documents control.
Year-round house, waterfront home or cottage, we’ll compare carriers from our Portsmouth office.
Talk to our Portsmouth team: (603) 431-4020 · Request a Kittery home insurance quote
Reviewed by Jon Merwin, licensed insurance agent
Portsmouth Atlantic has been an independent agency since 2005, is licensed in 10 states, works with 30+ carriers and has earned over 2,000 testimonials. Meet our team.