Sidewalk maintenance is the responsibility of the homeowner.  When sidewalks buckle, trees are what everyone blames, the fact is trees are the culprit, the soil is.  Most municipalities have at least two soil types within their boundaries; soils conducive and soils not conducive to construction. By looking through a Soil Survey Map of Cuyahoga County, you can find out what kind of soil is present where you live.  Soils not conducive to laying down cement on the bare ground require a substrate when a new sidewalk is installed.  By putting down six (6) inches of pea gravel, your sidewalk will not buckle, even if a tree is growing next to it.  If a sidewalk is laid without substrate, chances are it will need to be replaced again in 3-5 years if there are no trees nearby.