Residents of Pacific Palisades who lost their homes in last year’s deadly Palisades Fire say they are stunned and angered after receiving brush clearance fines from the City of Los Angeles, as reported [1] by The New York Post.
Several homeowners whose properties were destroyed in the blaze reported receiving invoices from the Los Angeles Fire Department citing alleged non-compliance with brush clearance requirements. The notices show a charge of $31.
Carol Sandborn, who lost the home she lived in for 40 years, said she could not believe what arrived in the mail.
“This is insulting and cruel. We have no house, and we have no brush,” Sandborn wrote in red ink across the invoice before sending it back to the city. “I was a little astonished.”
Brush clearance fines are typically issued to property owners in high-risk fire zones who fail to clear hazardous vegetation. The requirement is intended to create defensible space and slow the spread of wildfires.
In this case, residents argue the citations make no sense because their homes burned down and their lots are now under construction.
Some homeowners told Fox 11 that the fire department never inspected their properties before issuing the fines.
“It’s one final blow, you know, after they screwed us over, they’re still trying to take money,” another resident told the network.
“$31 is nothing, but you know I’m not paying it. This is the principle of it.”
Multiple residents in the area reportedly received similar notices and have expressed frustration over the charges. Some said they do not plan to pay the fines as a matter of principle.
WATCH: Fire victims in Pacific Palisades say they’re furious after getting brush-clearance fines from the City of Los Angeles for lots where their homes once stood. pic.twitter.com/Z3zigwI5A5 [2]
— Matthew Seedorff (@MattSeedorff) February 23, 2026 [3]
The mayor’s office said it is working with the Los Angeles Fire Department to review what occurred. In a statement, the mayor’s office described the fines as “unacceptable.”
“No resident who lost their homes in the Palisades fire should receive this charge,” the mayor’s office said. “The Mayor’s office is in contact with the LAFD to determine next steps.”
The California Post reported that it attempted to contact the number listed on the invoices, but the call went directly to voicemail, and the mailbox was full.
According to the outlet, no message could be left, and no department representative was reached by phone to dispute the charge or seek clarification.
Sandborn said the experience has added to the frustration already facing residents rebuilding their lives.
“It’s disappointing to get something like this and feel that somehow the city is working against you instead of with you,” she said.
The Los Angeles Fire Department was contacted for comment, but did not immediately respond.
For homeowners in Pacific Palisades, the fines come as many are still navigating insurance claims, reconstruction plans, and permitting issues following the fire.
While the amount listed on the invoices is relatively small, residents say the issue is not about the dollar figure but the message it sends.