Frequently asked questions
Practical steps for the issues neighbors ask us about most.
Events calendar
How to subscribe to the events calendar
Apple / iPhone: copy and paste this URL to create a new calendar subscription in iCal:
Google / Android: use the Subscribe button at the top of the Events page.
Party houses
It's the middle of the night and somebody is having a rager. What do I do?
- Figure out where the party is. You need the address, or at least the street and the nearby cross street.
- Are there fire hazards, underage drinking or criminal activity? Is the road blocked? If yes, call 911. If no, call 1-877-ASK-LAPD. You may be on hold for a long time and response time may be long, but this is a very important step. If you think the noise might not be audible from the street, you may want the responding officer to come to your house first.
- Document what you are hearing and seeing. This matters if the house becomes a regular nuisance location.
- Email dspna@dspna.org to let us know what happened.
- Parking enforcement works 24/7. For parking issues, call (818) 374-4823.
My nearby party house is at it again. What do I do?
- Follow the steps above.
- Email our Community Law Corps attorney and LAPD Senior Lead Officer with the location. Put the address of the party house in the subject line.
- Copy dspna@dspna.org so we can help with follow-up.
- Documentation is very important, so record your observations every time.
- Persistence is incredibly important. Do not lose heart or think that this isn't working.
It's an Airbnb. What else should I do?
- File a complaint at airbnb.com/neighbors.
- Call the 24/7 complaint hotline (213) 267-7788 or email planning.home-sharing@lacity.org.
- Let us know what actions you have taken at dspna@dspna.org.
It's the middle of the day but the noise is driving me nuts. What do I do?
- Call 1-877-ASK-LAPD. The noise ordinance is in effect 24/7, and noise is not supposed to travel across property lines.
- On a weekday, you can also call noise enforcement at (213) 996-1250.
What laws apply to party houses?
Construction issues
It's 7:00 am and workers are already hammering next door. Is this allowed?
Construction activity may only occur between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm on weekdays. No construction except interior construction is allowed on Saturday, and no construction is allowed on Sunday.
- Report construction outside those hours on this LADBS form. LADBS inspectors monitor all responses.
- You will get an email confirmation. Please forward it to dspna@dspna.org.
It's only 7:00 am but workers and trucks are already arriving, off-loading and setting up equipment. Is this allowed?
Those activities count as "construction" and are only allowed during permitted construction hours. Report them on the LADBS form and forward your confirmation to dspna@dspna.org.
Trucks are idling and lined up on my street. Is this allowed?
It is not entirely clear whether this is allowed, which makes enforcement difficult. Email dspna@dspna.org and we will work on the problem. If the trucks are parked illegally, call parking enforcement dispatch at (818) 374-4823.
Construction activity has blocked the roads.
Email dspna@dspna.org immediately with the details.
I witnessed bad behavior by a contractor, subcontractor or construction vehicle driver.
Email dspna@dspna.org with the details.
Construction workers are parking illegally on my street.
Call parking enforcement dispatch at (818) 374-4823. For chronic problems, email details to dspna@dspna.org.
Construction workers are playing very loud music.
Report loud music or other excessive noise at construction sites to the LAPD Senior Lead Officer. Please copy dspna@dspna.org so we can follow up on chronic issues.
What is the Construction Monitoring Program?
Developers of several large projects are paying for an independent Construction Monitor to make sure they play by the rules. If you live near one of these projects, you should have the contact information for Matt Yelverton, our monitor. Email dspna@dspna.org for more information. Matt also has limited time for other construction issues in the neighborhood, so contact us to request his help. See the monitoring schedule.
I think my neighbor is building without permits.
Fill out the LADBS Code Enforcement form. You can also report by calling 311 (more details).
Anything else construction-site neighbors should know?
If a site is exporting a significant quantity of earth (100+ truckloads), the developer has to have a "haul route," which normally comes with significant restrictions. Those restrictions are detailed in a "final action letter." Find them here.
What laws apply to construction?
- The Hillside Construction Regulation: 185491 and 184827
- The Baseline Hillside Ordinance
How do I report porta-potties in the street, broken street lighting, potholes, mudslides and other problems?
Use MyLA311 through the app, your web browser, or by calling 311. For the first two you will get an email confirmation. Please forward it to dspna@dspna.org so we can follow up. If you phoned, send along your service request number.
Our Council District 4 field deputy can also help with a wide range of problems. Contact information is on the LA City Resources page. Please copy dspna@dspna.org so we know what is going on.
Mosquitos, health and sanitation
How do I report accumulated trash, unmaintained rentals, mosquito breeding or unmaintained pools?
Notify LA County Department of Public Health or report via MyLA311 as "other."
A construction vehicle has been idling near my property for more than 5 minutes.
I'm concerned about asbestos hazards from a renovation or demolition.
File a complaint or call (800) 288-7664.
I'm getting bitten by mosquitos. What can I do?
The invasive Aedes mosquito has been introduced to Southern California and is thriving in our neighborhoods. Please take these steps to keep the population down:
- Report dead birds for disease testing online or call (877) WNV-BIRD.
- Change standing water every 3 days (bird baths, bromeliads, planters, water dishes). Mosquito eggs are microscopic and look like dirt, so scrub when replacing water. See the full checklist.
- Find a repellent that's right for you.
- Have a fresh water pond? Pick up free mosquito-eating fish.
More information or a service request: LA County West Vector Control, 6750 Centinela Avenue, Culver City, CA 90230, (310) 915-7370. West Nile Virus and Zika information: westnile.ca.gov.
Filming
There's a film shoot at my neighbor's house and I never received notice. Do they need a permit?
Contact the coordinator at 213-977-8600 with questions about unpermitted activity. They can help contact LAPD or give you the information needed to get a patrol unit sent to the location.
Membership renewals
How do membership payments and renewals work?
We use Donorbox to securely process credit card payments and automate renewals. This simplifies signup and renewal and reduces administrative overhead, leaving more time for making an impact. We welcome feedback at info@dspna.org.
When you join as a member, you will receive two emails: a receipt from us and account login details from Donorbox. You can edit or cancel your membership any time by signing in to your Donorbox account. If you can't sign in, recover your password here.