# Tree Root Sidewalk Damage in Columbus, OH: Who Pays? | Who Pays the Repair?

> Columbus street trees belong to the city, but Code 905.06(a) still makes the abutting owner pay to repair a sidewalk the roots crack. Code text quoted.

**Who pays:** owner

Columbus owns its street trees but still bills the abutting owner for the sidewalk they damage, the sidewalk code never mentions trees or roots.

**Boundary:** The abutting owner is responsible for all sidewalk maintenance and repair in the abutting right-of-way (Code 905.06(a)). Street trees are city property under the Recreation and Parks Director (Ch. 912), but that ownership does not shift the repair bill.

**Property owner:** Columbus Code 905.06(a): "The abutting private property owner shall be responsible for the proper maintenance and repair of all sidewalks and driveway entrances within the abutting right-of-way or easement for any... street, alley, or other public way."

**City / agency:** Columbus Code Ch. 912 defines a "Public tree" as "any tree growing on land owned by the city including lands defined as "public place", "public street", or "park."" and puts public trees under the recreation and parks director. The city manages the tree, not the sidewalk it cracks.

## Sources
- [905.06 Sidewalk and driveway entrance maintenance and repair.](https://library.municode.com/oh/columbus/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT9STPAPUPRCO_CH905SISHEPADRCORE_905.01PU) — "The abutting private property owner shall be responsible for the proper maintenance and repair of all sidewalks and driveway entrances within the abutting right-of-way or easement for any improved or unimproved street, alley, or other public way within the city" (accessed 2026-09-27)
- [912.01 Definitions.](https://library.municode.com/oh/columbus/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT9STPAPUPRCO_CH912TRSHCOTRSU) — ""Director" means the director of the recreation and parks department of the city, or any representative the director so designates. ... "Public tree" means any tree growing on land owned by the city including lands defined as "public place", "public street", or "park."" (accessed 2026-09-27)

_Last verified 2026-09-27. Source: Who Pays the Repair? — https://whopaystherepair.com/rules/columbus-oh-tree-roots/ — every claim checked against a primary source before publication (see /methodology/)._