Los Angeles shifted significant sidewalk repair responsibility to the city following the Willits v. City of Los Angeles ADA settlement, which committed $1.37 billion over 30 years to fix broken sidewalks. LAMC Section 62.104 governs sidewalk repair obligations, with the city handling tree root damage and issuing sidewalk certificates of compliance.
Los Angeles sidewalk repair responsibility has evolved significantly. Historically, LAMC Section 62.104 placed repair duties on abutting property owners. The landmark Willits v. City of Los Angeles settlement (finalized 2016) required the city to spend $1.37 billion over 30 years to repair broken sidewalks, inaccessible curb ramps, and other pedestrian access barriers that violated the Americans with Disabilities Act. The city adopted a Sidewalk Repair Program with a 'fix and release' policy: the city performs repair work and issues a Sidewalk Certificate of Compliance along with a limited warranty to the adjacent property owner. After that, the city can enforce the property owner's ongoing maintenance duty. Tree root damage is treated differently: the city takes responsibility for sidewalk damage caused by city street trees. LAMC Section 62.104.1 establishes the Sidewalk Repair Program Projects framework. Property owners may still be responsible for damage caused by factors other than city trees, such as their own landscaping or construction activities. The Bureau of Engineering manages the program.
After the city issues a Sidewalk Certificate of Compliance, property owners are responsible for ongoing maintenance. Failure to maintain sidewalks after certification may result in the city performing repairs and billing the property owner. Property owners remain liable for injuries caused by sidewalk defects on their frontage.
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