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Topline:
After the L.A. fires, property owners had the option to let the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers handle debris removal, or they could choose to take care of it on their own dime. For those who didn’t join the program, the deadline has arrived — the land must be cleaned up by June 30.
What if a property still isn’t cleared? If the properties aren’t cleared of debris by this week, they could be declared a public nuisance. If that happens, the county could later remove fire ash and debris and charge the property owner for the work. If the bill’s not paid, it could be recovered through a lien on the property. At least 1,965 property owners opted out of the government clean up, while others essentially opted out by not filling in the necessary paperwork.
What was the process? Property owners who opted out of government help were given until June 30 to clear the debris. For that they had to get county approval, a permit and a certified contractor to handle removal. These steps had other deadlines attached, so the county is aware of those who have fallen behind or didn’t participate at all.
What’s being done? The L.A. County Department of Public Works has been in touch with owners who are still making arrangements to clean up the properties, according to spokesperson Lisette Guzman, but they haven’t been able to reach everyone. LAist asked about the total amount of properties that will likely be past due but did not receive a response before publication. We’ll update this story if we hear back.