City Home Rules

Sidewalk repair in Los Angeles, CA: who pays and how the city helps

California · Last checked November 2026

Owner pays

State law makes Los Angeles owners responsible for adjacent sidewalks, except damage from street tree roots. Under Fix-and-Release, the city repairs a sidewalk and then hands upkeep back to the owner.

Cost split: Owner responsible, except street tree damage

Key facts

Responsibility
Adjacent owners, except street tree root damage.
Fix-and-Release
Under LAMC 62.104 (2017), the city repairs and then releases maintenance to the owner.

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How it works

Most US cities make the owner of the adjacent property responsible for the public sidewalk, even though it sits in the public right of way. Some cities share the cost, some reimburse a set rate, and a few, like Denver, now repair sidewalks themselves and charge a fee.

  1. Check whether the slab is on the city's list of hazards, or report it and ask for an inspection.
  2. Ask whether a cost-share program is open this year. Most have a small budget that runs out early.
  3. Read the program rules before you hire anyone. Some cities only pay if their own contractor does the work.
  4. If you hire your own contractor, get the city permit first and keep the invoice for any reimbursement.

What it costs

Fort Wayne puts a 5-by-5 foot slab at about $550 to $600, and Minneapolis reported an average of $1,255 per property in 2024. Prices depend on slab count, thickness, tree roots and whether a curb or drive approach is included.

Other Los Angeles home rules

More in California and nearby

Sources

Last checked November 2026. Programs open, close and change funding every year. Confirm with the city before you hire anyone. Report a change.