# Sidewalk Repair in Riverside, CA: Who Pays? | Who Pays the Repair?

> In Riverside the abutting owner repairs and maintains the sidewalk area, but the City owns damage caused by a City-maintained street tree.

**Who pays:** owner

Riverside: the abutting owner repairs and maintains the sidewalk area, but the City owns damage caused by a City street tree.

**Boundary:** Riverside Municipal Code § 13.10.010(B) makes the abutting owner responsible for repairing and maintaining the sidewalk area (parking strip, sidewalk, curb and gutter) at their own cost. A verbatim carve-out (§ 13.10.119) removes owner responsibility for damage caused by a City-owned and maintained street tree in the right-of-way.

**Property owner:** Repair and maintain the abutting sidewalk area and pay the costs (§ 13.10.010(B)).

**City / agency:** The City is responsible for sidewalk damage caused by a City-owned and maintained street tree (§ 13.10.119); on owner default the City repairs after 30-day notice and liens the cost (§§ 13.10.090, 13.10.111).

**Exceptions:** City-owned street-tree damage is not the owner’s responsibility (§ 13.10.119).

## Sources
- [Riverside Municipal Code § 13.10.010 (owner repairs and maintains sidewalk area)](https://library.municode.com/ca/riverside/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_TIT13STSITRTR_CH13.10MARESITR_13.10.010MARESITR) — "The owners of lots or portions of lots adjacent to or fronting on any portion of a sidewalk area between the property line of the lots and the street line, including parking strips, sidewalks, curbs and gutters, and persons in possession of such lots by virtue of any permit or right shall repair and maintain such sidewalk areas and pay the costs and expenses therefor" (accessed 2026-09-09)
- [Riverside Municipal Code § 13.10.119 (exception: City street-tree damage not owner’s responsibility)](https://library.municode.com/ca/riverside/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_TIT13STSITRTR_CH13.10MARESITR_13.10.119EX) — "Nothing in Chapter 13.10 shall require the adjacent property owner or person in possession, to maintain, repair or otherwise be responsible for damage to sidewalk areas caused by a City owned and maintained street tree located in the street right-of-way or easement." (accessed 2026-09-09)

_Last verified 2026-09-09. Source: Who Pays the Repair? — https://whopaystherepair.com/rules/riverside-ca-sidewalk-repair/ — every claim checked against a primary source before publication (see /methodology/)._