| If your property has suffered damage of $10,000 or more as a result of the recent fires in Los Angeles County, you are eligible for a reduction in your property taxes. Your property will be reappraised and you will receive a corrected tax bill or refund. The adjustment and proration of taxes will be based upon the reduction in value from the date of damage to the end of the fiscal year, June 30, 2010, or until the structure is repaired or replaced.
The Assessor’s Office will make every attempt to identify those properties damaged through information obtained from local government agencies, property owners, and field checks by our appraisers. However, property owners are encouraged to submit an "Application for Reassessment - Property Damaged or Destroyed by Misfortune or Calamity" as soon as possible. The claim should include your current contact information. To ensure your rights are protected, an application must be filed within 12 months of the occurrence of the damage.
If it was your principal place of residence that was substantially damaged or destroyed by the fire, you may be eligible to transfer your home’s assessed value (trended base-year value) to a replacement property, either in Los Angeles County, or in certain other counties in California. There are several requirements that must be met to take advantage of this benefit. For information about transferring a base value within Los Angeles County, please click here. For information about transferring a base value to another California county, please click here.
Property owners in the fire damaged areas are encouraged to contact the appropriate Assessor’s Office noted below with any questions or concerns.
Station fire: Call the Assessor's North District Office in Sylmar at (818)833-6194.
Palos Verdes Peninsula fire: Call the Assessor’s South District Office in Signal Hill at (562)256-1853.
Cabin on Forest Service land: Call the Assessor’s Major Real Property Division at (213)893-0610. |