As a long time Hawaii resident, I have some experience with palms. Most palms have a tap (anchor) root which extends straight down. The tap root keeps the tall palms swaying in the wind without falling over. The other roots are small and soft and usually 6 to 12 inches deep. They spread out in every direction. My yard in Hawaii is full of palm roots. The roots do not interfere with the sprinkler system or harm walk ways or foundations. You will not be able to plant a palm of any size over sprinkler piping due to the size of the root ball. The roots will be an issue if you plan to do any digging in the yard. One thing to keep in mind is that all these roots absorb moisture and you will need to water your grass more because the roots will suck the moisture from the same level as the grass roots. Palms are a good choice in tight areas because of their soft root systems. You can see them planted in circular holes cut in the sidewalks all over downtown Honolulu and Waikiki.
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