Party Poopers: LA pols approve motion that would ban party houses

From the Los Angeles website: Party’s over, folks.

The Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved on Wednesday a motion by local council member David Ryu calling for an ordinance regulating so-called “party houses.” The City Attorney’s office will now begin drafting the ordinance, in consultation with the Los Angeles Police Department.

Ryu has been rallying against party pads since last year, when he suggested that renting a house for the sole purpose of a rager become a misdemeanor. His district includes the Hollywood Hills where things are known for getting a bit out of hand. In one case, an unpermitted lion and an elephant were present at a boozy shindig.

Ryu said in a letter to Council member Jose Huizar that entire houses are being built for the purpose of hosting weekly parties. In the note, he took aim at Airbnb for contributing to the problem.

“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,’” he said.

Ryu said the the windy, steep hills in his district — adjacent to fire zones — are dangerous for first responders trying to break up festivities. The city’s current noise ordinance and tools do not provide LAPD enough enforcement to discourage future offenses, he said.

“Egregious Party Houses represent only one percent of the homes in my hillside communities, however, we must provide LAPD more effective enforcement tools that will bring relief to the 99 percent of residents who are besieged by these inconsiderate neighbors,” Ryu said in a statement. “These new tools will save taxpayer dollars while streamlining enforcement.”

Ryu‘s motion instructs the City Attorney and the LAPD to draft an ordinance to address party houses that includes escalating fines for successive violations for both hosts and property owners; the requirement that a public notice be posted on party houses to “notify the neighborhood” that it is under violation; and a ban on using services like Airbnb during a violation period.