Any property owner upon whom a Noncompliance Fee has been imposed may appeal to the Board of Fire Commissioners.
1. The appeal shall be made in writing to the Board of Fire Commissioners, upon appropriate forms provided by the Department, within 15 days of the date of service of the billing.
2. An appeal processing fee of $50.00 shall be paid by the appellant prior to the Board processing the appeal and making a determination.
3. Additional inspections may be required in order to determine compliance with the Fire/Life Safety Order for purposes of preparing a Department presentation to the Board, or designee, for determination on appeal. The fee for these inspections shall be the hourly inspector’s salary rate multiplied by the number of hours expended (two-hour minimum) in the reinspection process, and shall be paid by the appellant.
4. In any appeal, the appellant shall cause to be made, at the appellant’s own expense, any tests required by the Board to substantiate the claims.
5. The Board may hold any hearings it deems appropriate to consider the appeal. The Board of Fire Commissioners, or its designee, shall conduct the hearings.
6. The Board shall determine whether to modify or rescind the fees, or to impose and require the owner to pay the fees. This determination shall be based on evidence in the record of any error on the part of the Fire Department or extreme hardship on the part of the property owner. This determination by the Board shall be final. The fees and charges imposed pursuant to Section 57.104.12 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code may be collected on the County tax rolls.