# Who Pays for Sidewalk Repair in Sacramento? The Owner | Who Pays the Repair?

> Sacramento makes the owner repair a damaged sidewalk, even when a City tree's roots did it. If the City does the work, you may pay in interest-free installments.

**Who pays:** owner

Sacramento: the abutting owner must repair a defective sidewalk, even when a City-owned tree's roots caused it. If the City does the work, the owner may qualify for interest-free installments.

**Boundary:** Sacramento City Code Ch. 12.32 makes the abutting owner responsible for maintaining and repairing a defective sidewalk fronting the property, and expressly keeps that duty on the owner even where the defect is caused by tree roots. This operates under California Streets & Highways Code § 5610.

**Property owner:** Maintain and repair any defective sidewalk fronting the property, including tree-root-caused defects (Sacramento City Code § 12.32; CA S&H § 5610).

**City / agency:** The City runs a Sidewalk Maintenance Program and maintains curbs, gutters and pedestrian curb ramps (program handbook; not verbatim-verified here beyond the reference).

## Sources
- [Sacramento City Code Ch. 12.32 (owner duty to repair; tree-root clause)](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/sacramentoca/latest/sacramento_ca/0-0-0-23641) — "An owner shall maintain and repair any defective sidewalk fronting such owner's lot, lots or portion of a lot. Where a defective sidewalk is caused in whole or in part by a tree root or roots, the owner shall nevertheless have the duty to repair the sidewalk." (accessed 2026-09-09)
- [California Streets & Highways Code § 5610 (owner duty to maintain fronting sidewalk)](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=SHC&sectionNum=5610) — "The owners of lots or portions of lots fronting on any portion of a public street or place when that street or place is improved ... shall maintain any sidewalk in such condition that the sidewalk will not endanger persons or property" (accessed 2026-09-09)
- [Sidewalks, Curbs & Gutters](https://www.cityofsacramento.gov/public-works/maintenance-services/sidewalks--curbs---gutters) — "requires that the maintenance and repair of public sidewalks be the responsibility of the property owner." (accessed 2026-10-03)
- [Sidewalks, Curbs & Gutters](https://www.cityofsacramento.gov/public-works/maintenance-services/sidewalks--curbs---gutters) — "City ordinance requires property owners to take responsibility for sidewalk repairs, regardless of whether or not the tree’s roots causing damage is City owned." (accessed 2026-10-03)
- [Sidewalks, Curbs & Gutters](https://www.cityofsacramento.gov/public-works/maintenance-services/sidewalks--curbs---gutters) — "If the property owner has the City do the work, they may qualify to make interest free installments on the amount through the City’s Revenue Division." (accessed 2026-10-03)
- [Sidewalks, Curbs & Gutters](https://www.cityofsacramento.gov/public-works/maintenance-services/sidewalks--curbs---gutters) — "Unpaid collection will ultimately lead to a lien on the property." (accessed 2026-10-03)

_Last verified 2026-10-03. Source: Who Pays the Repair? — https://whopaystherepair.com/rules/sacramento-ca-sidewalk-repair/ — every claim checked against a primary source before publication (see /methodology/)._