Claim compensation from the City of Sydney

When you need to do this

We will consider compensation claims for personal injury, property damage or other matters, when you can prove that the City of Sydney breached its duty of care and is legally liable to pay compensation.

You can submit your claim along with any supporting material for us to consider by completing our online form.

Before you start

There is no automatic right to compensation. The City of Sydney is a public authority that is accountable to its ratepayers and must assess each claim in line with legal principles.

When we determine our legal liability to pay a claim, we consider relevant case law and legislation including the Civil Liability Act 2002 in our assessment.

To be held liable it must be shown that the City of Sydney owed a duty of care, that it breached that duty of care and that this caused the incident resulting in personal injury or property damage.

Where applicable, the City of Sydney will rely on statutory protections under relevant legislation.

What you need to do

Prepare your compensation claim

To submit a compensation claim for personal injury you need to provide the following:
- Details of the incident including the loss suffered by you, the reason you hold the City of Sydney responsible for the incident and the amount you are claiming in compensation.
- All photos showing the location and extent of personal injuries you have sustained.
- Documents that substantiate the amount you are claiming in compensation. For example, medical expenses, including quotes and invoices.
- Any other information or documents to support your claim.
To submit a compensation claim for property damage you need to provide the following:
- Details of the incident, damage sustained to your property, reasons why you hold the City of Sydney responsible for the damage and the amount you are claiming in compensation.
- Any photos showing the nature and extent of damage, as well as the cause of damage, if available.
- Repair quotes. Please provide a minimum of 2 repair quotes.
- Any other information or documents to support your claim.
If your claim relates to damage allegedly caused by a City of Sydney tree, we recommend reading the following fact sheets before lodging a claim: drains and pipes and buildings and other structures.
To submit a compensation claim for motor vehicle damage you need to provide the following:
- Photos showing the extent of the damage to the vehicle, as well as photos of the City of Sydney asset that caused the damage. For example, a tree or pothole.
- Copy of registration papers for the vehicle. If you’re not the registered owner, we require a signed authority from the registered owner allowing you to lodge the claim and act on their behalf.
- Repair quotes. Please provide a minimum of 2 repair quotes.
- Any other information or documents to support your claim.
Note, various roads across the Sydney metropolitan area are under the care and control of other authorities, such as Transport for NSW and Place Management NSW. We’ll advise you if your claim arises from one of these areas or assets outside our control and duty of care.

If your claim relates to damage allegedly caused by a City of Sydney tree, we recommend reading the following fact sheets before lodging a claim: drains and pipes and buildings and other structures.
To submit a compensation claim you need to provide the following:
- Details of the incident including the loss suffered by you, the reason you hold the City of Sydney responsible for the incident and the amount you are claiming in compensation.
- Any photos showing the location, nature and extent of the loss you allege.
- Documents that substantiate the amount you are claiming in compensation. For example, profit and loss statements, taxation records, invoices or quotes.
- Any other information or documents to support your claim.

Lodge your compensation claim online

We require all compensation claims to be lodged online with the claim for compensation form.

Make a claim

Note, submitting the completed form does not mean the City of Sydney has accepted liability for your compensation claim.

When we receive your compensation claim, a claims officer will be appointed to manage your claim. The claims officer will investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and decide if the City of Sydney has any legal liability.

After you finish

As part of our investigation we will take photos, review City of Sydney records and consult with relevant employees. We aim to complete our investigation within 6 weeks, but this may vary if the matter is complex and if we require further information.

When we receive your compensation claim we will acknowledge receipt and request any further documents we may require to determine your claim.

When we complete our investigation a decision will be made to accept or decline your claim based on relevant legal principles.

In some circumstances we may determine we’re not the proper respondent to your claim. In this instance we may redirect you to the appropriate authority.

If we determine the City of Sydney is responsible for the injury or loss suffered by you, we may offer compensation to you based on the evidence or loss that has been sustained.

If we determine the City of Sydney is not responsible for your claim, we will decline your claim. If you’re unhappy with the decision you can request an internal review. Alternatively, you can seek legal advice.

Claim compensation from the City of Sydney

When you need to do this

Before you start

What you need to do

Prepare your compensation claim

Personal injury compensation

Property damage compensation

Motor vehicle damage

Other matters

Lodge your compensation claim online

After you finish