Virginia Law

The following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings unless the context indicates otherwise:

"Actual cash value" means the amount equal to the replacement cost minus depreciation of damaged or stolen property at the time of the loss.

"Aircraft" means a machine or device capable of atmospheric flight, including hobby or model aircraft, drones, self-propelled missiles, and spacecraft.

"Bodily injury" means bodily harm, sickness, or disease, including care, loss of services, and resulting death.

"Business" means a trade, profession, or occupation whether full-time, part-time, or occasional activity, including (i) farming, (ii) the rental of the whole or a part of the residence premises by an insured, (iii) the business use of a part of the insured premises, or (iv) home-sharing.

"Business" shall not include:

1. The occasional rental of the whole or a part of the residence premises for dwelling purposes;

2. The rental or holding for rental of a part of the residence premises for no more than two roomers or boarders for use as a primary residence;

3. The rental of a part of the residence premises as a private garage;

4. The rental of a part of the residence premises as an office, school, or studio; or

5. The insured's use of the residence premises forremote work under an agreement with the insured's employer.

"Commission" means the State Corporation Commission.

"Condominium unit" means a dwelling as defined in § 55.1-1900 of the Code of Virginia.

"Covered watercraft" means a (i) sailing vessel with or without auxiliary power that is less than 26 feet in length; (ii) a vessel that is powered by an engine with less than 26 horsepower; and (iii) rowboats and canoes.

"Dwelling" means any residential structure specifically named in the policy.

"Farms" or "farming" means the use of land and buildings primarily for agricultural purposes with the objective of raising animals to produce food for sale or distribution to the public and growing crops for sale or distribution to the public.

"Fixtures" means permanently installed components of the dwelling or other structures including wells; plumbing systems; pumps; air conditioning equipment, systems, and parts; heating equipment, systems, and parts; hot water heaters; lighting systems; or built-in appliances and other components where removal would deface or damage the dwelling.

"Functional replacement cost" means the cost to repair or replace the damaged dwelling or other structures with less costly common construction materials and methods that are functionally equivalent to materials and methods used in the original construction.

"Home-sharing" means rental of the whole or a part of the residence premises for lodging purposes through an online-enabled application, website, or digital network during the policy term (i) for more than seven consecutive or random days or (ii) that generates revenue of more than $2,500. An individual occupying the residence premises through home-sharing is not a roomer, boarder, tenant, or guest.

"Hovercraft" means a self-propelled air cushioned vehicle that can travel over land and water.

"Insured" means:

1. Any person named as an insured in the policy, and if residents of the named insured's household, the named insured's spouse if not a named insured, and the relatives of either;

2. Other persons younger than 21 years of age in the care of an insured; and

3. Under personal liability and medical payments coverage:

a. A person having custody or possession of an insured's pet, unless the custody or possession is in the course of the person's business or without the insured's permission;

b. A person using or having custody or possession of an insured's covered watercraft unless the use, custody, or possession is in the course of the person's business or without the insured's permission; and

c. Residence employees while engaged in the duties of their employment with respect to a motor vehicle, recreational motor vehicle, hovercraft, or covered watercraft insured under the policy.

"Insured premises" means:

1. Under property coverage, any residence premises specifically named in the policy; and

2. Under personal liability and medical payments coverages:

a. Any residence premises specifically named in the policy;

b. Any premises not owned by an insured and where an insured is temporarily residing;

c. A residence premises acquired by the named insured or named insured's spouse during the policy term;

d. Individual or family cemetery plots or burial vaults owned by the named insured;

e. Unimproved land, other than land used for farming, owned by or rented to an insured; and

f. Land, other than land used for farming, owned by or rented to an insured on which a dwelling is being built as a residence for the insured.

"Medical payments" means expenses for necessary medical, surgical, x-ray, dental services, prosthetic devices, ambulance, hospital, professional nursing, rehabilitation, pharmaceuticals, and funeral services.

"Motor vehicle" means a vehicle that is self-propelled or designed for self-propulsion and is designed or licensed for use on public roads.

"Occasional rental" means rental of the whole or a part of the residence premises for lodging purposes during a policy term (i) for seven or fewer consecutive or random days or (ii) that generates revenue of up to $2,500 . Occasional rental is not home-sharing as defined in this section.

"Occurrence" means an accident, including continuous or repeated exposure to the same generally harmful conditions that results in bodily injury or property damage during the policy term.

"Pollutant" means solid, liquid, gaseous, thermal, or radioactive irritants or contaminants, including acids, alkalis, chemicals, fumes, vapors, and waste.

"Property damage" means injury to or destruction of tangible property and loss of use of tangible property.

"Recreational motor vehicle" means a vehicle designed for recreational use off public roads and not subject to motor vehicle registration.

"Replacement cost" means the cost to repair or replace the damaged or stolen property with material of like kind and quality without deduction for depreciation.

"Residence employee" means an employee of an insured who provides maintenance or domestic services for the residence premises or who performs similar duties elsewhere except in connection with an insured's business.

"Residence premises" means (i) a dwelling, other structures, and grounds at the location named in the policy; and (ii) that part of any other building occupied by the named insured or spouse for residential purposes.

"Theft" means an act of stealing or attempt to steal, including loss of property from a known place under circumstances when a probability of theft exists.

"Vacant" means a dwelling (i) that has not been occupied as a residence for more than 30 consecutive days immediately before a loss and (ii) where most of the named insured's personal property has been removed such that the dwelling is not functional as a customary place of residence. A dwelling is not occupied if the dwelling is being used without the permission of an insured. A dwelling under construction or being remodeled, repaired, or renovated is not vacant.

"Vandalism" or "malicious mischief" means the willful and malicious damage to or destruction of the property excluding loss by pilferage, theft, burglary, or larceny.