Questions

FAQ SHEET REGARDING $23 INVOICE

ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT BILLING SHALL BE DIRECTED TO FIRE ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLES AT (213) 978-3424.

Why am I getting this bill from the Fire Department?
You are receiving this invoice because you live in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ) and the State of California mandates that the Fire Department inspect these properties. The fees are a charge from the City of Los Angeles to cover the costs of the Fire Department’s Brush Clearance Program.

Who established the VHFHSZ?
The State of California established it after a devastating fire swept through the Oakland Hills in 1991 destroying many homes. Largely because of inadequate brush clearance, the State of California enacted much more stringent requirements on cities to enforce brush clearance regulations.

Can I appeal this fee?
This fee is mandatory for all property in the VHFHSZ and not able to be appealed. You could have sought an exemption by filing the affidavit described in the March notice.

Why is this fee being implemented this year? I’ve never received one of these before.
Although this fee ordinance (No.172, 449) has been in place since 1997, it was not collected until last year because the Fire Department was able to absorb the cost of the inspection program within its budget. As you are aware, the City is facing severe fiscal constraints and the Fire Department can no longer absorb the cost of the program without jeopardizing its emergency response capability. We must ask property owners in VHFHSZ to cover the cost of the program.

How do I get out of paying this bill? I don’t believe that I should have to pay for my property because I don’t have any brush hazards.
In March you were sent a Notice informing you of the implementation of this fee and it gave you the opportunity to “opt out”. If you felt your property should be exempt you were required to complete the affidavit and send it with the required documentation/ pictures to be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by our Brush Inspectors.

Can I “opt out” now?
No, the deadline for the “opt out” option was due 30 days from the March Notice. We did not accept anything past the April 15th deadline.

I never received the “opt out” affidavit?
The notices were sent out by the Accounting to the same addresses that this invoice was mailed to. The parcel addresses are forwarded from the County Assessors Office. Please contact the County Tax Assessors office to update your information.

How do I know that my property was inspected?
In the months of May through July, our Brush Task Force, consisting of approximately 48 firefighters inspected all 132,000 properties of the VHFHSZ within the City of Los Angeles.

How do I know if my property was in compliance?
If you have not received a Notice of Non-compliance, then your property was found to be in compliance. This information may also be verified at www.lafd.org, Brush Unit page.

If my property is within the City’s Lot Cleaning responsibility, do I still have to pay the $23?
Currently you do not have to pay the Brush Fee. In the near future the Brush Clearance Unit may be taking over the Lot Cleaning parcels within the City.

Why did I receive two bills when I only have one property?
If you received multiple invoices then it is likely that your property has multiple Assessor Parcel Numbers (APN). You need to check with LA County Assessor’s Office to confirm or change that. The notices were billed out one to each APN.

Is this going to be something the City is doing every year or only this year?
This is going to be a continuing program and we are planning improvements in our procedures.

What happens if I don’t pay my inspection fee or if it is late?
If you do not pay the $23 within 30 days (there is an “invoice due date” printed on the top right corner) there will be a penalty fee of $46, for a total of $69. If you do not pay this fee, the fees will be recouped by a collection agency. There will be a charge of 34% for the collection agency.

How do I pay my $23 inspection fee?
You can send a check or money order to the PO Box address on the invoice or you can send in your credit card information on the form that is provided. Please place your APN# on the check or money order. You will not be able to pay the fee at your local FS, the Brush Clearance Unit office or over the phone. There is also an online service to pay with a credit card at www.lafd.org.

What if I have any questions regarding my bill?
You can contact the Accounting Department at (213) 978-3424. All questions regarding any billing service must be directed to these numbers only.

I sent in an affidavit & pictures but I still received an invoice.
Do not pay the $23 now, please contact the Brush Clearance Unit and have your Assessor Identification number available when you call. If the phones are busy please leave your name, contact number and AIN number. We will research the information. Once it is confirmed, the fee will be waived. You can also contact us on our website at www.lafd.org/brush.

I sent a $23 check with the first Notice and later I received an invoice.
Do not pay the $23 now, please contact the Brush Clearance Unit and have your Assessor Identification number available when you call. If the phones are busy please leave your name, contact number and AIN number. We will research the information. Once it is confirmed, the fee will be waived. You can also contact us on our website at www.lafd.org/brush.

I also received a notice that I owe an additional $23 because I did not pay in 2010, why?
Our records indicate that the property owner for the parcel(s) in question did not remit payment or file an affidavit for the initial inspection fee in 2010. The City Council has instructed the Department to include a notice for the past due amounts in this year’s bill rather than submit the past due amount to a collection agency. If the past due amount and the current amount due are not paid this year, the past due amounts will be sent to a collection agency.

*ALL FEES SUBJECT TO CHANGE