The Los Angeles County Fire Department recently mailed their Annual 2023 Brush Clearance Notices to residents in Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZs) which includes Santa Clarita.

There are approximately 60,000 homeowners who are expected to receive the notice for the very first time, while others have been part of our annual brush clearance program for many years, Fire officials said.

Over the last two years, the Fire Department integrated a geospatial database into the Defensible Space Inspection Program that is far more accurate than visual identification used in previous years, according to officials.

“Using criteria-based mapping, numerous parcels have been identified within the FHSZs that have never been inspected,” Fire officials said.

California Health & Safety Code, Section 14902, allows recovery of inspection program costs.  In 1989, the Los Angeles County Department of Agricultural Commissioner, Weights and Measures, was authorized by the Board of Supervisors to recover their inspection program costs, according to officials.

“The Fire Department resisted imposing this fee until 2022,” Fire officials said. “Working with the Board of Supervisors, the Fire Department agreed to phase in the Brush Inspection fee over a three-year period.”

In 2022, the fee was $50, and was to be billed on the 2023 property tax bill; in 2023, the fee is expected to be $100, to be billed on the 2024 property tax bill; and in 2024, the fee is expected to be $151 which is set to be billed on the 2025 property tax bill, according to officials.

“These fees will be assessed on all declared hazardous properties whether they are cleared by the property owner or not,” Fire officials said. “The fee is intended to offset the Department’s costs in an effort to keep the Brush Clearance Inspection Program cost neutral.”

Brush Clearance inspections are scheduled to begin as follows:

• April 1, 2023, for the desert communities
• May 1, 2023 for inland communities
• June 1, 2023 for coastal communities

“If hazardous fire conditions exist on a property at the time of inspection, the property owner will be issued an Official Inspection Report which will indicate existing violations and provide specific clearing instructions and a compliance deadline,” Fire officials said.

The Fire Department encourages residents to attend their upcoming Brush Inspection Educational Meetings scheduled for the following dates and times:

• Thursday, March 9, 2023, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Rowland Heights Community Center, located at 18150 East Pathfinder Road, Rowland Heights, CA 91748
• Friday, March 10, 2023, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Founders Hall Calabasas Civic Center, located at 200 Civic Center Way
• Calabasas, CA 91302
• Saturday, March 11, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Santa Clarita City Hall, located at 23920 Valencia Boulevard, #120
• Santa Clarita, CA 91355

Information regarding brush clearance requirements and responsibilities can be obtained on the Fire Department’s website.

KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.