If the repair is yours to pay
Get more than one quote before you agree to a price, and ask the contractor to confirm where the property line and the public side begin.
Compare local pros on AngiFor concrete, yard, tree, and foundation work, get a few quotes first.
Partner link. Who Pays the Repair? may earn a commission if you request a quote or sign up, at no cost to you. It never changes who we say pays.
Default rule and exceptions
Portland City Code §11.60.060 puts full maintenance duty and cost for street/planting-strip trees on the adjacent property owner, and treats curb/sidewalk damage caused by an owner-maintained tree as an ordinary owner-paid sidewalk repair under Title 17.
| Party | What they are responsible for |
|---|---|
| Property owner | Maintain trees on the property or adjacent street planting strip and bear all costs of maintenance, removal, and replacement, including sidewalk/curb repair caused by the tree. |
| City | Administers the code (Bureau of Planning and Sustainability / Urban Forestry) but does not bear maintenance or repair costs under this section. |
| Exceptions | None on record |
What the source says
Last verified against the primary source on Sep 26, 2026.
It is the duty of every owner of property to maintain trees located on the property or on the adjacent street planting area in accordance with this Section. Further, the owner must be responsible for all costs associated with such maintenance, removal and any tree replacement, if required.
When the curb or sidewalk, or both, abutting any property become damaged or in a state of disrepair because of a tree maintained by the property owner, the repair of the curb or sidewalk, or both, will be treated as other curb or sidewalk repairs in accordance with the provisions of Title 17.
City rules rest on state law. Read Oregon's sidewalk statute, quoted verbatim, or see all 50 states in one table.
Common questions
Who pays for street tree / parkway in Portland, OR?
The property owner. Maintain trees on the property or adjacent street planting strip and bear all costs of maintenance, removal, and replacement, including sidewalk/curb repair caused by the tree.
What is this based on for Portland, OR?
This verdict is sourced to Portland City Code § 11.60.060: Tree Maintenance Specifications and Responsibilities and 2 sources in total, each independently re-checked before publication.
Sources
- Portland City Code § 11.60.060: Tree Maintenance Specifications and Responsibilitiesregulation · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-13
- Portland City Code § 11.60.060(F): Sidewalks and curbsregulation · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-13
Spot an error? Challenge this record
Found an out-of-date code section, a wrong verdict, or a better primary source? Tell us. Corrections that check out are applied, with the change shown in history. That is our standing policy.