# Tree-Root Sidewalk Damage in Washington, DC: Who Pays? | Who Pays the Repair?

> In Washington, DC, DDOT repairs public sidewalks including tree-root heave as a 311 service, and street trees sit in District public space.

**Who pays:** city

Washington, DC: DDOT repairs public sidewalks including tree-root heave as a 311 service; street trees sit in District public space.

**Boundary:** The District (DDOT) repairs public sidewalks, including tree-root heave, as a service requested via 311. Street trees sit in DDOT-controlled public space and are managed by DDOT Urban Forestry; removing a protected Special Tree requires a DDOT permit issued by the Mayor (DC Official Code § 8-651.04). So root heave of a public sidewalk is the District’s to repair.

**Property owner:** Report damage via 311; a sidewalk on genuinely private property would fall outside the District service.

**City / agency:** DDOT does temporary (emergency) repairs within ~15 business days and permanent repairs subject to funding; no owner assessment for public sidewalk repair found.

## Sources
- [DDOT: Sidewalk Repair service (District repairs sidewalks, tree-root heave included, via 311)](https://ddot.dc.gov/service/sidewalk-repair) — "You can request sidewalk repair services by calling the Mayor's Citywide Call Center at 311... Provide information as to the severity of the damage (i.e., cracked or broken, missing bricks, tree roots pushing up through the sidewalk). A service request will be put into the tracking system... Temporary (emergency) repairs: up to 15 business days... Permanent repairs require a longer timeframe and depend upon funding." (accessed 2026-09-09)
- [DC Official Code § 8-651.04 (Special Tree removal requires a DDOT/Mayor permit)](https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/8-651.04) — "It shall be unlawful for any person or entity, including the District government, without a Special Tree removal permit issued by the Mayor, to top, cut down, remove, girdle, break, or destroy any Special Tree." (accessed 2026-09-09)

_Last verified 2026-09-09. Source: Who Pays the Repair? — https://whopaystherepair.com/rules/washington-dc-tree-roots/ — every claim checked against a primary source before publication (see /methodology/)._