Malibu City Council Votes to Ban
‘Party’ Houses
• New Law Sets Event Limit at Four
“We want to get the word out that
party houses are banned in Malibu,” said City Attorney
Christi Hogin, after the Malibu City Council
unanimously voted this week to approve a new ordinance that is
designed as an attempt to prohibit party houses, a
phenomena last summer that became a plague for many of the
neighbors of the homes.
“I’m already getting calls from
people looking for party houses,” said Councilmember Andy
Stern, who is a Realtor. “They asked me if we were going
to pass a law. I told them, I hope so.”
The mechanism to effect a ban is a new
ordinance that was approved on first reading that
allows residents only four special events per household
involving 100 guests or more.
In addition, the soon-to-be law would
require a permit for certain events that attract or involve
fewer than 100 persons when those events are ones in which
there is some commercial element or some aspect of the
operation of the event that is likely to impose on the
neighborhood.
The socalled party houses became a
nightmare for some beach residents, especially last summer
along Malibu Road, where big companies such as LG, MTV and
Polaroid were buying or leasing houses on the beach and either
renting them or making them available to celebrities for
parties, drawing out the paparazzi and using product placement
to cash in on the events.
Likewise, and not as well publicized, are a
few homes on the bluffs in Malibu that city officials describe
as “wedding factories.” During the height of the
season, every weekend, both days, a wedding would be held,
bringing with it all the cars, limos, DJs or bands, catering
trucks and guests.
Municipal officials agreed with residents
who urged the council to pass the measure right away, though
some homeowners originally complained the law did not have
enough teeth.
The strategy, according to staff, is that
the time is now in March, when corporations and PR firms are
planning their party house blitzes in the community, to send a
message that party houses would not be allowed.
The city attorney said drafting the law at
defining a party house by allowing no more than four events
would invite the least challenge.
Council members agreed with Hogin that
getting the word out that Malibu has banned party houses would
probably have the most impact, with enforcement of the law for
scofflaws made easy. “The sheriff comes and stops
the party if they don’t have a permit,” said Hogin.
“What is at stake is the integrity of
our community,” said Remy Shapiro, who last summer had
been deluged by several dozen parties next door to her.
“This is not a party city. They are not paying the city.
It is costing the city and it is harmful to our
reputation.”
