If the repair is yours to pay
Get more than one quote before you agree to a price, and ask the contractor to confirm where the property line and the public side begin.
Compare local pros on AngiFor concrete, yard, tree, and foundation work, get a few quotes first.
Partner link. Who Pays the Repair? may earn a commission if you request a quote or sign up, at no cost to you. It never changes who we say pays.
Default rule and exceptions
San Francisco Public Works Code § 706(a) makes abutting owners responsible for maintaining the sidewalk and sidewalk area in good repair, resting on California Streets & Highways Code §§ 5610/5611. Since July 1, 2017 (Prop E / Charter § 16.129) the City assumed responsibility for damage caused by street-tree roots, carving that out of the owner’s duty.
| Party | What they are responsible for |
|---|---|
| Property owner | Maintain the abutting sidewalk and sidewalk area (parking strip, curb) in good repair and condition; make repairs as needed (§ 706(a); CA S&H § 5610). |
| City / public agency | Since July 1, 2017 the City is responsible for sidewalk damage caused by street-tree roots (§ 706(c)); the Sidewalk Revitalization Program waives permit and inspection fees for participating owners (§ 706(b)). |
| Exceptions | Street-tree root damage: City responsibility since July 1, 2017 (§ 706(c)). |
What the source says
Last verified against the primary source on Sep 9, 2026.
It shall be the duty of the owners of lots or portions of lots immediately adjacent to any portion of a public street, avenue, alley, lane, court, or place to maintain the sidewalks and sidewalk area, including any parking strip, parkway, automobile runway, and curb, fronting or adjacent to their property in good repair and condition... Any person who suffers injury or property damage as a legal result of the failure of the owner to so maintain the sidewalks and sidewalk areas shall have a cause of action for such injury or property damage against such property owner.
The State Highway Code (5611) and the local Public Works Code (Article 15, Sec. 706), DPW Order 177,525, requires property owners to maintain the sidewalk adjacent to their property to a condition acceptable to the Director of Public Works. This responsibility includes making repairs as needed when a sidewalk is damaged.
as of July 1, 2017, property owners do not have a duty to maintain street trees or portions of the public right-of-way impacted by street trees’ growth or root system, except as set forth in Article 16 of this Code.
Sidewalk Revitalization Program. ... If the property owner elects to participate in this program, the Department shall waive all permit and inspection fees related to the sidewalk repair.
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 sidewalk repair in San Francisco, CA?
The property owner. Maintain the abutting sidewalk and sidewalk area (parking strip, curb) in good repair and condition; make repairs as needed (§ 706(a); CA S&H § 5610).
What does the city cover in San Francisco, CA?
Since July 1, 2017 the City is responsible for sidewalk damage caused by street-tree roots (§ 706(c)); the Sidewalk Revitalization Program waives permit and inspection fees for participating owners (§ 706(b)).
Are there exceptions in San Francisco, CA?
Street-tree root damage: City responsibility since July 1, 2017 (§ 706(c)).
Is there any cost help for sidewalk repair in San Francisco, CA?
Sidewalk Revitalization Program (§ 706(b)) waives all permit and inspection fees for participating owners. Street-tree root damage is a City responsibility since July 1, 2017 (§ 706(c)).
What is this based on for San Francisco, CA?
This verdict is sourced to San Francisco Public Works Code § 706 (owner duty to maintain sidewalk; street-tree carve-out) and 4 sources in total, each independently re-checked before publication.
Sources
- San Francisco Public Works Code § 706 (owner duty to maintain sidewalk; street-tree carve-out)official · verified-official · accessed 2026-09-09
- SF Public Works: Sidewalk Repair (owner responsibility; § 706 / CA S&H § 5611)official · verified-official · accessed 2026-09-27
- San Francisco Public Works Code § 706: Owners of Frontage Responsible for Repair: Liability for Unsafe Conditionsordinance · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-27
- San Francisco Public Works Code § 706(b): Sidewalk Revitalization Programordinance · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-27
Spot an error? Challenge this record
Found an out-of-date code section, a wrong verdict, or a better primary source? Tell us. Corrections that check out are applied, with the change shown in history. That is our standing policy.