Lane County, OR Public Conduct: Loud Party Ordinance (2026)
Key Facts
- First offense fine
- $500, plus a warning
- Second response fine
- $750 plus actual response cost
- Later response fine
- $1,000 plus actual response cost
- Gathering size
- 3 or more persons
- Look-back period
- 3 years per address
- Host need not attend
- liability applies even if absent
Summary
Lane County holds hosts liable when a gathering they run lets an underage person drink or use drugs. A first offense in three years draws a warning and a $500 fine; repeat responses add real law-enforcement response costs plus fines of $750 and then $1,000.
6.700.900 - Social Host Ordinance. B. All persons are prohibited from: 1. Hosting or allowing any event or gathering at any residence, premises, or on any other private or public property where alcohol or illegal, controlled, or intoxicating substances are present when the person knows or reasonably should know that an underage person will or does: a. Consume or ingest any alcohol, alcoholic beverage, or illegal, controlled substance; or b. Possess any alcohol, alcoholic beverage, or illegal, controlled substance with the intent to consume it; and c. The person fails to take reasonable steps to prevent possession, ingestion or consumption by the underage person(s). D. Enforcement and Penalties. 2. Violation of the Social Host Ordinance, LC 6.700.900, is an unclassified violation requiring a mandatory appearance... a. First response within a three (3) year period: (2) The occupant(s) and owner(s) of the property shall be fined five hundred ($500). b. Second... response, the occupant(s) and owner(s) shall be assessed the actual cost for law enforcement, fire and other emergency response providers to respond... and a fine of seven hundred fifty dollars ($750).
Full Breakdown
900 makes it unlawful to host or allow a gathering of three or more people at a residence or any other private or public property where alcohol or an illegal or controlled substance is present, if the host knows or reasonably should know an underage person (under 21) will or does consume, ingest or possess it with intent to consume, and the host fails to take reasonable steps to prevent that. A host does not need to be physically present at the event to be liable, and anyone who aids, advises, hires or conspires to bring about the prohibited conduct is equally covered.
'Knowledge and consent' is presumed if the owner or occupant was already told an underage party happened at the same address within the prior three years. Exceptions exist for conduct solely between an underage person and their own parent in the parent's household, for legally protected religious observances, for underage possession during the course of lawful employment, and for owners of non-residential timber or agricultural tracts over 50 acres or rental-income property owners who did not know of and consent to the event. Enforcement runs through any Lane County police officer or sheriff's deputy, and the ordinance is an unclassified violation requiring a mandatory court appearance rather than a simple ticket.
Violations & Fines
Penalties escalate with repeat incidents at the same address within a three-year window. A first response brings a warning notice plus a $500 fine on the occupants and owners. A second response adds the actual cost of the law enforcement, fire and emergency responders who came to investigate or provide care, on top of a $750 fine; each subsequent response in that three-year period again bills the actual response cost and adds a $1,000 fine. Fees and fines can be pursued through a collection agency, civil action, or a restitution request in the court handling the violation, and responding agencies may set up intergovernmental agreements to divide the assessed response costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to be at the party to be cited as a host in Lane County?
How much is the fine for a first social-host violation?
Is a rental property owner liable if their tenant throws the party?
Does the social host ordinance only cover alcohol?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lane County
Compare Lane County to another location·View the Oregon public conduct overview
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