# Tree-Root Sidewalk Damage in Riverside, CA: Who Pays? | Who Pays the Repair?

> In Riverside the owner maintains the sidewalk but is exempt from damage caused by a City-owned and maintained street tree.

**Who pays:** shared

Riverside: the owner maintains the sidewalk, but is exempt from damage caused by a City-owned street tree.

**Boundary:** The abutting owner has the general sidewalk-repair duty (Riverside Municipal Code § 13.10.010(B), consistent with CA S&H § 5610), but is expressly exempt from repairing sidewalk damage caused by a City-owned and maintained street tree in the right-of-way or easement (§ 13.10.119).

**Property owner:** Repair and maintain the abutting sidewalk area generally (§ 13.10.010(B)), except City-street-tree damage.

**City / agency:** The City bears sidewalk damage caused by a City-owned and maintained street tree (§ 13.10.119).

**Exceptions:** City-owned street-tree root damage: owner exempt, City repairs (§ 13.10.119).

## Sources
- [Riverside Municipal Code § 13.10.119 (exemption for City-owned street-tree damage)](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)
- [Riverside Municipal Code § 13.10.010 (owner baseline sidewalk-maintenance duty)](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)

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