If the repair is yours to pay
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Default rule and exceptions
San Diego's Park and Recreation Department has legal jurisdiction and control over all trees in the public right-of-way and requires a permit for any planting, removal, or trimming; owners must trim their own frontage trees, but the City removes or remedies a tree damaging a sidewalk at the City's own expense once notified under Municipal Code §62.0613.
Permit required: yes.
| Party | What they are responsible for |
|---|---|
| Property owner | Trim branches of trees fronting their property, and notify the Park and Recreation Director when a street tree is damaging a public sidewalk. |
| City | Park and Recreation Department has jurisdiction over planting, maintenance, care, and removal of street trees, and removes or remedies a tree damaging a sidewalk at City expense once notified. |
| Exceptions | None on record |
What the source says
Last verified against the primary source on Sep 26, 2026.
The Park and Recreation Department shall exercise jurisdiction and control over the planting, maintenance, care and removal of trees, or plants in all streets or other public rights of way of The City of San Diego...
The duty is hereby imposed upon a property owner to notify the Park and Recreation Director when any tree, palm, shrub or plant in a public street adjacent to his property is injuring or damaging any public sidewalk. The Park and Recreation Director is hereby authorized to have removed, at the expense of The City of San Diego, such tree, palm, shrub or plant or to otherwise remedy the dangerous condition.
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 San Diego, CA?
Responsibility is shared. Trim branches of trees fronting their property, and notify the Park and Recreation Director when a street tree is damaging a public sidewalk.
Do I need a permit to repair the sidewalk in San Diego, CA?
Yes. The rule on record requires a permit for sidewalk work in the public right-of-way.
What is this based on for San Diego, CA?
This verdict is sourced to San Diego Municipal Code, Ch. 6, Art. 2, Div. 6 (Street Planting), § 62.0602: Jurisdiction and Authority and 2 sources in total, each independently re-checked before publication.
Sources
- San Diego Municipal Code, Ch. 6, Art. 2, Div. 6 (Street Planting), § 62.0602: Jurisdiction and Authorityregulation · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-13
- San Diego Municipal Code, Ch. 6, Art. 2, Div. 6, §§62.0611/62.0613: Owners Required to Trim Branches; Notice of Damage by Property Owner to Park and Recreation Directorregulation · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-13
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