# Tree Root Sidewalk Damage in Dallas, TX: Who Pays? | Who Pays the Repair?

> In Dallas, City Code 43-33 keeps the sidewalk, parkway and driveway on the abutting owner even when a street tree caused the damage. Code text quoted.

**Who pays:** owner

Dallas: the abutting owner must repair a defective sidewalk at the owner's expense, and Ch. 48 on trees does not shift that bill.

**Boundary:** Dallas City Code Sec. 43-63 makes the abutting owner reconstruct or repair a defective sidewalk at the owner's expense, and Sec. 43-33 makes the owner primarily liable for injuries it causes. The tree ordinance (Ch. 48) governs the trees themselves; the code quoted here has no tree-root exception for sidewalk repair.

**Property owner:** Dallas City Code Sec. 43-63: "When a sidewalk, driveway, or any appurtenance to a sidewalk or driveway becomes defective, unsafe, or hazardous, the abutting property owner shall reconstruct or repair the sidewalk, driveway, or appurtenance, and the expense of such work must be borne by the abutting property owner."

**City / agency:** Chapter 48 (Trees and Shrubs) puts tree planting, trimming, and removal under the Park Board and City Forester by permit; it does not transfer sidewalk repair off the owner.

## Sources
- [Dallas City Code § 43-63 (owner must repair; expense borne by abutting owner)](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/dallas/latest/dallas_tx/0-0-0-120658) — "When a sidewalk, driveway, or any appurtenance to a sidewalk or driveway becomes defective, unsafe, or hazardous, the abutting property owner shall reconstruct or repair the sidewalk, driveway, or appurtenance, and the expense of such work must be borne by the abutting property owner." (accessed 2026-09-27)
- [Dallas City Code Ch. 43, Sec. 43-33 (owner maintains sidewalk and parkway)](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/dallas/latest/dallas_tx/0-0-0-120560) — "The abutting property owner or person enjoying the use of any property abutting on a sidewalk that has become defective and has resulted in causing damage or injury as a result of such defective condition shall be primarily liable in damages for any loss or damage sustained as a result of such defective condition." (accessed 2026-09-07)
- [Dallas City Code Ch. 48, Trees and Shrubs (City Forester permits)](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/dallas/latest/dallas_tx/0-0-0-123372) — "Sec. 48-1. Park board - Authority to regulate planting, cutting, etc. / Sec. 48-2. Same - Appointment and qualifications of city forester / Sec. 48-4. Permits required for planting, trimming, spraying, etc. / Sec. 48-11. Duty to remove dead, diseased, and damaged trees from parkway." (accessed 2026-09-27)

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