“Party houses,” residential homes used or rented out frequently for parties, are a long-running problem in Los Angeles. The issue has become so acute, that entire houses are being built for the purpose of hosting weekly parties. Further, the process has now become even easier, and thus more harmful, due to the rise of short-term rental platforms and the ease with which an individual can now rent a “party house.”

This issue poses serious public safety concerns for first responders and residents in the hillsides where the park land is adjacent to severe hazard fire zones and the streets are narrow and windy. While valuable city resources are expended to address these cases, the city’s current noise ordinance and tools do not provide LAPD enough enforcement to discourage future offenses.

“My goal is to protect the quality of life of our residential neighborhoods and to prioritize public safety. Egregious Party Houses represent only 1% of the homes in my hillside communities, however, we must provide LAPD more effective enforcement tools that will bring relief to the 99% of residents who are besieged by these inconsiderate neighbors. These new tools will save taxpayer dollars while streamlining enforcement. ”

Councilmember Ryu ‘s motion instructs the City Attorney, with assistance from LAPD, to draft an ordinance to address party houses as follows:

• ●  Adds additional activities typically found at an unruly party as a ‘nuisance per se’ that LAPD can identify as being associated with a “Party House”;
• ●  Provides for escalating fines for successive violations to both the party host and, crucially, the property owner;

• ●  Requires posting a public notice of violation on the property, that will serve to notify the neighborhood that the property is under a violation period of a set number of days where addition unruly parties will lead to higher fines or even criminal charges for excessive numbers of violations;
• ●  Includes liens on properties for property owners who fail to pay fines;
• ●  Includes additional fines for commercial events or parties held at a residential unit;
• ●  Includes a prohibition on any home-sharing or short-term rental activity during a posted notice of violation period;Today, Councilmember Ryu’s motion passed the Los Angeles City Council unanimously and will head to the City Attorney’s office for the drafting of an ordinance.

  Read Councilmember Ryu’s letter to the Planning and Land Use Management Committee, here. Read Councilmember Ryu’s motion, here .

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  Los Angeles City Councilmember David E. Ryu represents the 4th Council District which includes Griffith Park, Sherman Oaks, Toluca Lake, Hollywood, Hollywood Hills, Los Feliz, Silverlake, Miracle Mile, Hancock Park, Windsor Square, Larchmont and portions of Koreatown and Van Nuys.