Charges Filed Over Party House in Hills

A Sherman Oaks home used to stage loud parties that have disturbed neighbors and drawn noisy crowds to the hilly and narrow residential streets south of Ventura Boulevard is at the center of misdemeanor criminal prosecution by the city attorney's office.  

Those charged are due in court next week, said Deputy City Attorney Tamar Galatzan, who filed multiple charges in connection with municipal code violations of the city's noise ordinance and disturbing the peace, after police were called to the residence numerous times. Galatzan declined to provide the address of the house or the names of those charged. The home is in foreclosure and it’s unclear who legally owns it; thus, the individuals charged could be legal tenants or owners, she explained.

“It’s one of the things we’ve been seeing lately is that houses in the hills throughout the Valley and in the Hollywood Hills are being rented out, especially for parties by the night or by the week,” Galatzan said. “The one I’m prosecuting in Sherman Oaks, information went up on websites, Facebook and Twitter beforehand to advertise the party.”

The residence is just one of a few dozen homes throughout the city that have been rented out as party houses. In the Valley, three or four are located within Studio City, but the Sherman Oaks home has been the site of the most egregious violations of city ordinances, Galatzan said.

“It’s becoming a problem because owners who have a mortgage to pay can rent out these houses and charge thousands of dollars,” Galatzan added.

Typically, the houses are luxurious homes with views, outdoor entertainment areas and pools. The parties can attract hundreds of people and often feature live music, dancers or recorded music blasting out of speakers. In addition to using the Internet, party promoters distribute fliers to attract crowds. Often, the parties are used to promote a band, Galatzan said.

Other times, the houses are rented for weeklong partying, she added.

Police are often called to the homes and issue the party givers a warning, but after repeated calls in one night, those throwing the party can be cited, Galatzan said, as can property owners, even if they are not on site. Further, band instruments and speakers can also be seized by police as evidence.

Parties take place at the houses once or twice a month, if not more frequently, Galatzan said, filling the streets with cars, many of them parked illegally.

At the Sherman Oaks home, police cars drove by repeatedly during the night of a recent party and, according to Galatzan, “The party kind of broke up early. Ever since then, it’s been quiet, maybe because people realize they can be criminally prosecuted for a party.”

Meanwhile, the city attorney’s office is checking to see whether party houses can be assessed fees under the city’s Transient Occupancy Tax, or hotel tax, Galatzan said.

“If you turn your single-family home into a rental by the night, do you owe the city taxes?” she added. “We’re looking at creative ways to address the problem. The goal is to keep this a nice, quiet, residential neighborhood.”