SEC. 98.0421. CODE VIOLATION INSPECTION FEE.

(Title and Section Amended by Ord. No. 181,497, Eff. 2/3/11.)

(a) Code Violation Inspection Fee. The Department may impose a fee equivalent to the Department's actual cost of investigation or $336.00, whichever is less, whenever the Superintendent of Building conducts an inspection and issues an order or notice after verification of violation(s) of any provision(s) of the Los Angeles Municipal Code, Administrative Code or any Ordinance or State law enforced by the Department.

The fee may be imposed only after a violation is identified and verified upon inspection by the Superintendent. The individual(s) notified, shall be jointly and severally responsible to ensure that the fee specified in this section is paid to the Department. Notification of the fee shall be given to the property owner, person in control of the property, the actual violator, tenant in possession and/or business operator as may be relevant and determined by the Superintendent.

(b) Notice. Notification of the order or notice and the Code Violation Inspection Fee shall be sent by United States Mail in a sealed envelope, with postage paid, addressed to the last known address of the person cited as the address appears in the last equalized assessment roll or delivered in person. Service of the notice shall be

deemed to have been completed at the time of deposit with the United States Postal Service.

(c) Collection of the Code Violation Inspection Fee. The person cited shall remit the Code Violation Inspection Fee to the Department within 30 days of the effective date of the order or notice. If a permit is required in order to correct a violation stated in the order or notice, the permit shall not be issued until the Code Violation Inspection Fee including any late charge is paid. Failure to pay the Code Violation Inspection Fee within 30 days after notification will result in a late charge of two (2) times the Code Violation Inspection Fee plus a 50 percent (50%) collection fee for a maximum total of $1,176.00. The Code Violation Inspection Fee is in addition to any other applicable fee, fine or penalty specified elsewhere in the Los Angeles Municipal Code, Administrative Code or any Ordinance or State Law enforced by the Department.

In addition to any other remedy provided by law, the City may collect any judgment, fee, cost, or charge, including any permit fees, fines, late charges, or interest, incurred in relation to the provisions of this section as provided in Los Angeles Administrative Code Sections 7.35.1 through 7.35.8.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Code Violation Inspection Fee payment deadline shall be 90 days from the effective date of the order or notice instead of 30 days from the effective date of the order or notice. This 90-day deadline for payment of the fee shall apply to all orders and notices issued up to and including September 24, 2020. (Added by Ord. No. 186,638, Eff. 5/29/20.)

(d) Noncompliance Fee. (Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.) A noncompliance fee pursuant to LAMC Section 98.0411 may be charged.

(e) Appeals. (Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.) Any person served with an order or notice may appeal the Code Violation Inspection Fee or request a slight modification pursuant to the procedures set forth in LAMC Section 98.0403.1.

The Department or the Board may rescind or modify the Code Violation Inspection Fee under the authority granted by LAMC Section 98.0403.1.

If the appeal or request for slight modification is not filed within 30 days after the effective date of the order or notice or extensions granted therefrom, the determination of the Department to impose a Code Violation Inspection Fee shall be final.