Who pays to fix a Burbank sidewalk lifted by a city tree?

The City hasn't published a simple rule for tree-root cases, so call Street and Sidewalk Maintenance at (818) 238-3800 before hiring anyone. The code puts the general duty to maintain the sidewalk on the property owner (BMC 7-3-501), while the City's Asphalt and Concrete Repair crew also repairs damaged curbs, gutters, alleys and driveways. Which one handles your case is the first thing to settle.

Can I cut the roots or trim the parkway tree myself?

No. Burbank's permits FAQ says residents may not trim parkway trees, and BMC 7-1-222 requires anyone digging in the right-of-way to protect street trees and notify Parks and Recreation when damage is likely. Root pruning is one of the free services the City's Forestry crews provide.

How high does a sidewalk lift have to be to count as a trip hazard?

Burbank's code standard is a sidewalk that won't endanger people or property. A common yardstick is the federal accessibility standard for walking surfaces (2010 ADA Standards, section 303): a change in level up to 1/4 inch can be left vertical, 1/4 to 1/2 inch must be beveled, and anything over 1/2 inch needs a ramp. A root-lifted panel is usually well past that.

Can I have a parkway tree removed because it damages the sidewalk?

You can ask through Our Burbank 311, but Forestry inspects each request and grants removal only when a justifiable and necessary cause is established under its removal policy. Root pruning or other options may come first.

What happens if the City posts a sidewalk repair notice on my property?

BMC 7-3-505 and 7-3-506 give the owner five days after the notice to make the repair. If it isn't done, the City can repair the sidewalk and the cost becomes a lien on the property.

Who waters and looks after the tree in my parkway?

The property owner. Burbank's parkway tree page says the owner is responsible for watering and maintenance, while the City controls the right-of-way and trims parkway trees only to keep clearances, such as the 14 foot clearance over traffic.

Burbank Sidewalk Repair and Street Trees

Last reviewed October 2026, from the Burbank Municipal Code and City Public Works and Parks and Recreation pages.

Who fixes a lifted sidewalk in Burbank

The short answer is the property owner, with an important exception to check. Burbank Municipal Code 7-3-501 creates a duty for owners to keep the sidewalk in front of their property from endangering people or property, and lets the Public Works Director make repairs at the owner's expense if they don't. The code's definition of sidewalk reaches past the walk itself to the curb, the parkway, parking strips, driveways and retaining walls between the property line and the street.

At the same time, the City's Street Services division runs an Asphalt and Concrete Repair crew that fixes damaged curbs, gutters, alleys and driveways, and damaged concrete can be reported through Our Burbank 311. Who pays when a city parkway tree caused the damage isn't spelled out on the City's pages, so ask Street and Sidewalk Maintenance at (818) 238-3800 before you pay for anything.

Tree-lined East Olive Avenue in Burbank — East Olive Avenue in Burbank, lined with trees.

What counts as a sidewalk trip hazard

Burbank's code doesn't give a height; its test is whether the walk endangers people. Most owners and contractors use the federal accessibility standard for walking surfaces as the measuring stick:

Changes in level on a walking surface (2010 ADA Standards, section 303)

Height of the edge	What the standard allows
Up to 1/4 inch	May stay vertical
1/4 to 1/2 inch	Must be beveled, no steeper than 1 to 2
Over 1/2 inch	Must be treated as a ramp

Swipe sideways to see every column.

The ADA standard governs accessible routes; it's used here as a yardstick for how small a hazardous edge can be. Burbank decides what it requires on a given sidewalk.

A panel lifted by roots typically shows an inch or more at the joint, which is why a small bevel grind rarely ends the problem once a tree is still pushing. The lasting fix replaces the panels after the root question is settled.

Burbank's parkway trees and who controls them

A parkway tree is one growing in the City right-of-way, usually between the sidewalk and the curb. Burbank's parkway tree page splits the job: the owner waters and maintains it, and the City controls the right-of-way and trims parkway trees only to keep the required clearances. Residents may not trim parkway trees themselves.

Forestry's free services include pruning, planting, removal, watering, traffic clearance, root pruning and storm cleanup.
Removal requests go through Our Burbank 311 and are granted only when a justifiable and necessary cause is shown.
Burbank keeps a Street Tree Master Plan and an online tree map, and Burbank Water and Power gives residents up to three free shade trees.
Forestry's number is (818) 238-5304.

Roots and new concrete

Concrete work next to a street tree has its own rule. BMC 7-1-222, amended in 2025, requires anyone excavating in the right-of-way to avoid damaging street trees and to notify Parks and Recreation whenever there's a danger of damage. In practice, Forestry should look at the roots before the old panels come out, so the replacement isn't poured over roots that will lift it again.

Freshly poured sidewalk panel between wood forms, with a board laid across it — A new sidewalk panel, just poured between its forms.

Getting a Burbank sidewalk repaired, step by step

1
Measure and photograph
Measure the height of the lift at its worst point and photograph it with a tape in the frame. Note whether a parkway tree is next to it.
2
Report it
Report damaged sidewalk through Our Burbank 311, or call Street and Sidewalk Maintenance at (818) 238-3800 when a tree is involved.
3
Settle the tree first
Forestry (818-238-5304) decides on root pruning or other options. Nobody should cut roots of a parkway tree on their own.
4
Permit and insurance
If the repair is yours to make, the contractor pulls a Public Works excavation permit with a DigAlert ticket and a $1,000,000 liability certificate naming the City.
5
Replace to the City standard
Panels are replaced to the nearest score line in sections at least 5 by 5 feet, finished to match, with no more than a 2 percent fall to the curb.

Worked example

A tree-lined street, a one-inch lift and a notice

A homeowner on a street lined with mature parkway trees finds a notice about a lifted panel near the corner of the lot. The edge measures about an inch.

The first call goes to the City, because a parkway tree is involved and the answer may change who does the work. Forestry looks at the roots. If the repair falls to the owner, a permit-ready contractor replaces the panels to the City's score lines within the notice period, without cutting roots on its own.

Lift at the worst joint	About 1 inch, over the 1/2 inch ramp threshold
First call	Street and Sidewalk Maintenance, (818) 238-3800
Tree	Forestry inspects and decides on root pruning
If the repair is the owner's	Public Works excavation permit, DigAlert ticket, $1,000,000 certificate
Replacement	Back to the score lines, 5 x 5 ft minimum, 2 percent fall to the curb

Example only, to show the order of calls under Burbank's rules. Not a job we did and not a ruling on who pays.

Related Burbank concrete work

Sidewalk, curb and gutter replacement is covered on curb, gutter and sidewalk in Burbank. A root-lifted apron or driveway end is often rebuilt with concrete driveway replacement and the driveway approach permit, and cracks on your own lot are concrete repair. Back to the concrete contractor in Burbank overview.