The sidewalk is up. The tree may still stay.

One lifted square is a sidewalk problem until the city says the tree qualifies.

A liquidambar or a zelkova will heave a parkway walk. That photo gets sent to us as “the city wants it gone.” Sometimes they do. Often the panel can be ramped or replaced, and the tree is still a trim: raise it for the 8 feet over the sidewalk and the 14 feet over the street, and take the deadwood.

Repeated concrete damage is the street-tree test in San Jose.

When the walk actually points to removal

San Jose’s street-tree removal criteria include extensive concrete damage when that concrete has been replaced more than once in the past ten years. One crack, or one trip edge you have not repaired yet, is not that test. Sewer damage that cannot be fixed any other way is a separate line on the same list. So is a tree that is already hazardous.

If the tree is in the right-of-way, the city inspector is the one who says it qualifies. Then it is tagged for removal, with the reason and the 15-gallon replacement count. Until that tag is up, do not take the tree out to “get ahead of the sidewalk.” A street-tree removal without the permit is the expensive mistake.

Private-yard roots under your own walk are a different conversation. You can grind a stump after a removal, or you can prune and live with a repaired panel. The species matters. Sweetgum and some ornamentals will lift the next pour if the trunk stays. An oak with a deep root system often is not the tree that ruined the walk.

Photograph the lift, the trunk, and any old patch in the concrete.

What to send

• The buckled panel from the side, so the height of the lift shows.
• The trunk and the full canopy, so we can see species and whether the tree is sound.
• Any patch, stamp, or scar in the concrete that says this walk was already replaced.
• The tag, if the city already tagged it for pruning or tagged it for removal.

We flag when a permit may apply — you confirm with the city. We do not pull permits unless that is scoped in writing. In San Jose, Campbell, and Los Gatos the sidewalk rules are not copies of each other. The address is part of the quote.

Start Easy Estimate or call 408-439-6975.