FIRE HYDRANT FEE:
The Fire Hydrant fee is an important source of revenue for the City of Los Angeles for the installation and maintenance of fire hydrant infrastructure within the City. The Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety is required to collect the fee for any building permit with a total valuation of $50,000 or greater according to the following section of the Los Angeles Municipal Code.
91.107.4.4 Fire Hydrant fee notice. Before issuing any building permit required by this code, if the total value of all new construction or work for which the permit is issued is $50,000 or greater, as determined by the department, the department shall collect a fire hydrant fee. The amount of this fee shall be equal to 22/100 of 1 percent of the total value of all construction work for which the permit is issued...
However, the City of Los Angeles may amend the Fire Hydrant Fee Ordinance and at this time, building permit applicants have three options. Those options are:
- Pay the Fire Hydrant fee without protest.
A fee equal to 22/100 of 1 percent of the total value of all construction work for which the permit is issued shall be assessed and no protest will be documented.
- Pay the Fire Hydrant fee under protest.
A fee equal to 22/100 of 1 percent of the total value of all construction work for which the permit is issued shall be assessed and it will be documented that the fee was paid under protest.
- Refuse to pay the Fire Hydrant fee.
No fee shall be assessed and it will be documented that the fee was not paid.
For more information regarding the potential implications of each option, please contact the Los Angeles Fire Department at:
Construction Services - Hydrant and Access Unit
200 N. Main Street, Room 1000
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 485-5964, Monday - Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm