# Tree Roots in San Diego, CA: Who Pays? | Who Pays the Repair?

> San Diego tree root damage: the City is responsible when a right-of-way tree did it; the owner pays for private trees, age, and normal wear.

**Who pays:** shared

San Diego splits it by the tree: right-of-way street trees are the City’s problem, private trees and plain old age are yours.

**Boundary:** Split by whose tree did the damage. The City of San Diego is responsible for sidewalk damage caused by trees within the public right-of-way (plus heat expansion, City utility work, and grade subsidence, and sidewalks fronting City-owned property). Normal wear and tear, age damage, and damage from private trees are the property owner’s responsibility.

**Property owner:** City of San Diego: "Normal sidewalk wear and tear, damage caused by private trees, or age damage is the responsibility of the homeowner."

**City / agency:** City of San Diego: "The City of San Diego Transportation Department is responsible for maintenance of sidewalks fronting City-owned property or damage caused by heat expansion, City utility work, grade subsidence and trees within the right-of-way."

**Exceptions:** City right-of-way tree caused the damage: City responsibility; Heat expansion, City utility work, grade subsidence: City responsibility

## Sources
- [City of San Diego Transportation: Sidewalk maintenance responsibility](https://www.sandiego.gov/street-div/services/roadways/sidewalk) — "The City of San Diego Transportation Department is responsible for maintenance of sidewalks fronting City-owned property or damage caused by heat expansion, City utility work, grade subsidence and trees within the right-of-way. Normal sidewalk wear and tear, damage caused by private trees, or age damage is the responsibility of the homeowner." (accessed 2026-09-01)
- [Sidewalks (temporary repair)](https://www.sandiego.gov/street-div/services/roadways/sidewalk) — "This temporary sidewalk repair is done by City staff regardless of maintenance responsibility." (accessed 2026-10-03)
- [Sidewalks (Notice of Responsibility)](https://www.sandiego.gov/street-div/services/roadways/sidewalk) — "If the damage is the responsibility of the private property owner, it is placed on a list to notify the property owner of their responsibility via a Notice of Responsibility letter." (accessed 2026-10-03)

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