Ventura, CA Public Conduct: Loud Party Ordinance (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing sections
- SBMC §§ 10.650.210-260
- First response
- Written notice issued to host, must be signed
- Trigger for fee
- 2nd call within 12 hrs or 3rd within 6 months
- Who is liable
- Host, property owner, or minor host's parent/guardian
- Collection method
- Civil debt, collectible by civil action if unpaid
Summary
San Buenaventura Municipal Code §§ 10.650.210-260 lets Ventura Police bill a party host for 'special police services' after officers must return to the same address a second time within 12 hours, or three times within six months, to break up a disruptive gathering.
The purpose of this article is to establish standards and controls of large parties, gatherings or assemblages (“the events”) on private property when such events are determined to be a threat to the public peace, health, safety or general welfare and require initial police response and return calls to the location of the party, gathering or assemblage in order to disperse uncooperative participants. ... The notice shall state that (A) if city police return to the same premises within the following 12-hour period in response to a complaint involving a disturbance caused by or resulting from an event; or (B) if city police return to the same premises a total of three times or more within a six-month period, in response to a complaint involving a disturbance caused by or resulting from an event and involving the same host ... then each such further response after the initial response shall constitute special police services. The notice shall state that the host will be assessed for the cost of providing such special police services.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2026-008, passed May 12, 2026).
Full Breakdown
650, Disturbances Caused by Parties and Other Assemblages of Persons, targets private-property gatherings that repeatedly draw police response. 220 defines a "host" broadly to include the property owner or lessee, the person hosting the event, anyone who collects money or other consideration for access, anyone who serves or furnishes alcohol at the event, and the parent or guardian of a minor host. 240 allows officers to instead post the notice conspicuously if no host is available or the host refuses to sign. 260 makes the resulting fees, set by council resolution, a debt owed by the property owner, the person in charge of the premises, or the person responsible for the gathering (or their parent or guardian if a minor), collectible by civil action if unpaid.
Violations & Fines
There is no criminal penalty section within Article 2 itself; the consequence is a billed 'special police service' fee under § 10.650.250, which becomes a civil debt against the host, property owner, or responsible parent under § 10.650.260, collectible by civil action, plus related charges and fees, if the host does not pay after the city's collection attempts.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Ventura start charging a party host for police calls?
Who counts as a 'host' under Ventura's party ordinance?
What happens if a host refuses to sign the police notice?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ventura
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Loud Party Ordinance in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Ventura County handle loud party ordinance.