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Default rule and exceptions
The City (Board of Public Works) owns and controls street/parkway trees and requires a permit for any work on one under LAMC 62.169, but the abutting lot owner must maintain the sidewalk under LAMC 62.104(b) and must remove a tree the Board determines has damaged the sidewalk before repair.
Permit required: yes.
| Party | What they are responsible for |
|---|---|
| Property owner | Maintain the sidewalk fronting the lot in safe, ADA-compliant condition, and remove any tree the Board determines has caused sidewalk damage before repair can proceed. |
| City | Owns and controls street/parkway trees; requires a permit for any planting, removal, pruning, or injury to a street tree. |
| Exceptions | The sidewalk-repair-notice limitation does not apply where the Board has determined a tree on the lot caused the damage; the Board must first notify the owner requesting removal of the tree. |
What the source says
Last verified against the primary source on Sep 24, 2026.
The owner of a Lot shall maintain any Sidewalk, Driveway Approach, Curb Return or Curb on or fronting on the Lot in such condition that the Sidewalk, Driveway Approach, Curb Return or Curb will not endanger any Person or property passing thereon or violate the Americans with Disabilities Act.
No person shall plant, remove, destroy, cut, prune or deface or in any manner injure any tree, shrub or plant in any street in the City, without first obtaining a permit to do so from the Board.
Before the Board causes any such tree or shrub to be cut down or removed, the Board shall give at least ten days written notice of its intention to so proceed to the owner, occupant, or agent of the property upon which the tree or shrub is located
City rules rest on state law. Read California's sidewalk statute, quoted verbatim, or see all 50 states in one table.
Common questions
Who pays for street tree / parkway in Los Angeles, CA?
Responsibility is shared. Maintain the sidewalk fronting the lot in safe, ADA-compliant condition, and remove any tree the Board determines has caused sidewalk damage before repair can proceed.
Do I need a permit to repair the sidewalk in Los Angeles, CA?
Yes. The rule on record requires a permit for sidewalk work in the public right-of-way.
Are there exceptions in Los Angeles, CA?
The sidewalk-repair-notice limitation does not apply where the Board has determined a tree on the lot caused the damage; the Board must first notify the owner requesting removal of the tree.
What is this based on for Los Angeles, CA?
This verdict is sourced to Los Angeles Municipal Code § 62.104: Repairs to Sidewalks, Driveway Approaches, Curb Returns and Curbs and 3 sources in total, each independently re-checked before publication.
Sources
- Los Angeles Municipal Code § 62.104: Repairs to Sidewalks, Driveway Approaches, Curb Returns and Curbsregulation · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-13
- Los Angeles Municipal Code § 62.169: Permit Required to Plant in Streetsregulation · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-13
- Los Angeles Municipal Code § 62.13/62.14 (Board authority to remove trees causing sidewalk obstruction)ordinance · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-27
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