Unit when you're ready for your reinspection.

That reinspection will be automatically scheduled as appropriate with their time frames.

It's all computerized.

So if your property remains in non-compliance after a failed re-inspection, then it's going to be cleared by city contractors.

And the property owner or you will be invoiced a non-compliance fee of $668 plus an administrative fee of 1,498 on top of the contractor's fee.

So you certainly want to avoid this.

We get asked a lot of questions.

Here is your top seven most frequently asked questions and the answer.

So number one is how can I check the brush status of my own property?

Again, that's that important website that we're driving home, the VMS3.lafd.org, you can register a new brush clearance account there and check the status.

Now use your APN or the assessor parcel number as well as a PIN, which is your personal identification number.

It's going to be printed on the bottom of the owner notification that was mailed to you annually in March.

Often we get asked, well, what is the best way to contact the brush unit?

Simply put, the best way is to send an email.

You send it to LAFD brush at LACity.org.

Now if you incorporate your APN and a brief description of the issue or the problem that you would like to discuss, that greatly assists us determining who you are and what the issue is.

And then a member of our brush unit will respond to you within 48 hours.

Also, you could feel free to call.

But we do ask for your patience in advance because it's very busy and there's minimal inspectors, so we have a limited resources to take your call.

But the office hours are from 7 a.m.

until 3 p.m.

Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.

So what if you received a notice of noncompliance in the mail?

What are you supposed to do then?

Well, start by reading that notice very carefully.

Identify the actual violations that were mentioned on your property.

See what was cited there.

And then you could follow the steps in the frequently asked questions.

The first one there to see photos that was taken by the inspector of your property and where the problem is.

Then you want to correct those violations by the due date.

So look at that due date, it'll be located at the top right corner of your notice.

Here's another question we get.

Okay, you were issued a notice of noncompliance, and now you did the right thing, you finished clearing your property of the violations that you were cited.

Now what?

What's next?

Well, truthfully, you don't have to do anything at this point.

After the allotted 30-day period, a fire inspector is going to reinspect your property, and if your property is still in non-compliance, then you get that second notice to abate the fire hazard.

That'll be mailed to you.

Now the city will start the process to have your property cleared by a contractor at your expense, so you want to avoid that.

Some ask if there is a particular contractor that should be used to clear your property.

Well, simply put, the city does not provide a recommendation, nor do we endorse any contractor.

So really it's you as the property owner, it's your responsibility to request the current proof of insurance, if they're bonded, if they have a license, and obtain any other relevant information about that contract.

But we do try to help.

So there is a brush clearance contractor list on the website.

So what do you do if you feel that the inspector is wrong and that your property is in compliance and can you file an appeal?

Well, the answer is yes.

Yes, you can.

Visit the LEFD brush website to view the detailed inspection process, and that includes appeals.

However, note that a failed inspection will subject you as the owner to fees that continue to increase with each failed inspection.

All billing is conducted through the city's accounting services section.

So if you have questions about that concerning your fees or your invoices or any fees that even could be attached to a tax bill, you should direct those to the source.

That's accounting.

So you could either call them at 213 978-3424, or you can send an email to LAFD.brush, ACCTG at LACity.org.

We understand that many people might be worried about their neighbors' property and that they might have a fire hazard because of some overgrown brush.

And how would you report that?

So first off, we want you to know that the fire department wants to hear your concerns so we can provide the clearance necessary for our firefighters to protect your property and your neighborhood.

So you can report a brush fire hazard by email to LAFD brush at LACity.org.

Now please make sure that you include the exact location of the brush hazards, the address.

If you have the APN, that would be even better.

But of course, you need to put a brief description of what the hazards are and where those hazards are on the property.