The State of California Improvement Act of 1911 provides cities the authority to require property owners to effect repairs to sidewalks abutting their property (California Streets and Highways Code.) Should the property owner fail to effect such repairs, City forces are authorized to make the repairs and the property owner is assessed for the cost. However, Los Angeles Municipal Code (Section 62.104, Ordinance No. 146.040 effective July 3, 1974) exempts homeowners from the responsibility for sidewalk repairs caused by city owned trees and places responsibility for these repairs with the City's Department of Public Works.

Between 1978 to 2000, no full-scale permanent sidewalk repair program existed in the City. However, in the interest of public safety, the Bureau of Street Services made repairs with asphalt at no direct cost to the property owner.

For the first time in approximately 25 years, the Mayor and City Council approved in the 2000-2001 budget approximately $9 million to permanently repair 46 miles of the most damaged sidewalks throughout the City. The locations scheduled for sidewalk repair were based on a criteria of selected areas where there have been trip, slip, and falls; where tree roots have raised sidewalks within American with Disabilities Act “transition areas” as determined by the Department on Disability; where paths of travel issues exist in conjunction with access ramp construction, and in low and moderate income census tracts. The Bureau coordinates the sidewalk repair work with respective Council offices. Each request is evaluated as it relates to the criteria established for this program. This program was again funded in the 2001-2002 budget and increased to repair an additional 98 miles of sidewalks. In Fiscal Year 2002-2003, the Mayor and City Council increased the program by 20 miles bringing the total to 118 miles for that year. Fiscal year 2003-2004 suffered cutbacks in the budget and the number of miles was reduced to 74. Funding levels for fiscal year 2005-2006 allowed for over sixty miles to be repaired and fiscal year 2006-2007 is funded for 50.5 miles with funding allotments for both years devoted to the 50/50 Voluntary Sidewalk Reconstruction Program.

Of the damaged sidewalks in the City, it is estimated that approximately 80 percent of the damage is the result of parkway tree root growth. As the custodian of the City's Urban Forest, the Bureau endeavors to save the trees identified as causing damage to adjacent sidewalks and other structures. In addition to normal sidewalk repair, the Bureau uses many innovative repair processes such as meandering sidewalks, reduced width sidewalks, and ramping.

To request sidewalk repair, please contact our Service Request line at 3-1-1 or 1 (800) 996-CITY or fill out an online request form.