# Sidewalk Repair in San Francisco, CA: Who Pays? | Who Pays the Repair?

> In San Francisco the abutting owner maintains the sidewalk in good repair, but since July 2017 the City is responsible for damage caused by street-tree roots.

**Who pays:** owner

San Francisco: the abutting owner maintains the sidewalk in good repair, but since July 2017 the City owns damage caused by street-tree roots.

**Boundary:** 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.

**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 / 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)).

## Sources
- [San Francisco Public Works Code § 706 (owner duty to maintain sidewalk; street-tree carve-out)](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/san_francisco/latest/sf_publicworks/0-0-0-3530) — "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." (accessed 2026-09-09)
- [SF Public Works: Sidewalk Repair (owner responsibility; § 706 / CA S&H § 5611)](https://sfpublicworks.org/services/permits/sidewalk-repair) — "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." (accessed 2026-09-27)
- [San Francisco Public Works Code § 706: Owners of Frontage Responsible for Repair: Liability for Unsafe Conditions](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/san_francisco/latest/sf_publicworks/0-0-0-3530) — "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." (accessed 2026-09-27)
- [San Francisco Public Works Code § 706(b): Sidewalk Revitalization Program](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/san_francisco/latest/sf_publicworks/0-0-0-3530) — "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." (accessed 2026-09-27)

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