Frequently Asked questions
+ How to Subscribe to DSPNA Events Calendar
Apple / iPhone
Copy & paste the below url to create a new calendar subscription to DSPNA events in iCal:
Google / Android
Click on the subscribe button at the top of the Events page to subscribe to DSPNA events in your Google calendar.
+ 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 the very least the street the house is on and the nearby cross street.
- Are there fire hazards or underage drinking or is criminal activity happening? Is the road blocked? If you answered yes, you should call 911. If you answered 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 respond to your house first.
- Document what you are hearing and seeing. This is important information to have in the event that this house becomes a regular nuisance location.
- Email [email protected] to let us know what happened.
- Parking enforcement works 24/7, so if there are parking issues please call parking enforcement at (818) 374-4823
It’s the middle of the night and my nearby party house is at it again. What do I do?
- Follow the above steps.
- Email our Community Law Corps attorney and LAPD Senior Lead Officer to let them know about the location. Please include the address of the party house in the subject line of your email.
- Make sure to copy [email protected] so that 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 [email protected]
- Let DSPNA know what actions you have taken ([email protected])
It’s the middle of the day but the noise from the party 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.
- If it’s a weekday, you can also call noise enforcement at (213) 996-1250.
What laws apply to party houses, anyway?
+ Construction Issues
It’s 7:00 am and workers are already hammering at the house next door. Is this allowed, and if not, what do I do? I thought I heard something about work not starting until 8:00 am.
Construction activity may only occur between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm on weekdays. No construction except for interior construction is allowed on Saturday and NO CONSTRUCTION is allowed on Sunday.
- You can report construction outside of those hours on this form. LADBS inspectors monitor all responses.
- You will get an email confirmation. Please forward that to [email protected].
It’s only 7:00 am but workers and trucks with materials are already arriving, off-loading and setting up equipment. Is this allowed, and if not, what do I do?
Listed above activities are considered "construction" and are only allowed during permitted construction hours. You can report construction outside of those hours on this form. LADBS inspectors monitor all responses. You will get an email confirmation. Please forward that to [email protected].
There are trucks, trucks and more trucks idling and lined up on my street. Is this allowed?
It’s not entirely clear whether this is allowed or not, so enforcement is difficult to make happen.
Email [email protected], and we will work on the problem.
If the trucks are actually parked illegally, you can call parking enforcement dispatch at (818) 374-4823.
I can’t get where I need to go because construction activity has blocked up the roads.
Email [email protected] immediately with the details.
I witnessed some outrageously bad behavior by a contractor or subcontractor or construction vehicle driver.
Email [email protected] with the details.
Construction workers or contractors are parking illegally on my street. What can I do?
Call parking enforcement dispatch at (818) 374-4823.
For chronic problems, please email details to [email protected].
Construction workers are playing very loud music
Complaints concerning loud music or any other excessive noise at construction sites should be reported to the LAPD Senior Lead Officer. Please copy [email protected] on any correspondence so that we can follow up.
For chronic problems, please email details to [email protected].
What’s this I’m hearing about a Construction Monitoring Program?
Developers of several large projects are paying to have an independent Construction Monitor ensure that they are playing by the rules. If you live near one of these projects, you should have the contact information for Matt Yelverton, our monitor. Email [email protected] for more information.
Matt also has limited time allotted to deal with other construction issues in the neighborhood. Please contact [email protected] to request his assistance.
I think my neighbor is doing a construction project without permits. What do I do?
Fill out the LADBS Code Enforcement form. You can also report using 311 (more details here).
Anything else construction site neighbors need to know?
Thanks for asking. If the site is exporting a significant quantity of earth (100+ truckloads), the developer has to have a “haul route.” Normally these come with significant restrictions on how this is done. These restrictions are detailed in a “final action letter” which you can find here.
What laws apply to construction?
- The Hillside Construction Regulation: 185491 & 184827
- The Baseline Hillside Ordinance
How do I report porta-potties in the street (yes, they have to be on the property), broken street lighting, potholes, mudslides, and any number of other problems?
Los Angeles has an excellent reporting tool – MyLA311. You can use this tool through the MyLA311 app, through your web browser or just by calling 311. For the first two options, you will get an email confirmation. Please forward that to [email protected] so that we can follow up. If you phoned, you will get a service request #. Please send that along.
We also have our own superhero – our CD4 Field Deputy. They can help with a whole host of problems and the contact info is available here. Please copy [email protected] because we like to know what’s going on.
+ Mosquitos, Health & Sanitation
How do I report accumulated trash or debris at a property, rental properties that are not maintained, mosquito breeding, or swimming pools that are not maintained?
Having a clean and safe environment contributes to the health and wellbeing of our residents. It also helps maintain property values. Notify LA County Department of Public Health or report via MyLA311 as "other."
What do I do when a construction vehicle is idling near my property or anywhere in the residential neighborhood for more than 5 minutes?
Click here to report a violation.
What do I do if I am concerned with possible asbestos-related hazards as a result of a renovation, remodeling, asbestos removal or demolition activity of a building?
Click here to file a complaint or call (800)288-7664.
I'm getting bit by mosquitos! What can I do?
Unfortunately, the invasive Aedes species has been introduced to Southern California and are thriving in our neighborhoods. Please take the below steps to keep the population to a minimum and slow the spread of associated diseases:
- Report dead birds for disease testing online or call (877) WNV-BIRD.
- Change standing water every 3 days, e.g. bird baths, bromeliads, planters, and water dishes. Mosquito eggs are microscopic and look like dirt so be sure to clean when replacing water. See full checklist.
- Find a repellent that's right for you.
- Have a fresh water pond? Pick up your free mosquito eating fish.
For more information or to file a service request, visit LA County West Vector Control at 6750 Centinela Avenue, Culver City, CA 90230 or call (310) 915-7370.
West Nile Virus & Zika Information: http://westnile.ca.gov
+ Filming
There's a film shoot at my neighbor's house. I never received any notice. Do they need a permit?
Contact the coordinator at 213-977-8600 for questions about unpermitted activity. They can assist in contacting LAPD, or provide you the contact information, so that a patrol unit can be sent to the location.
+ Annual Membership Renewals
DSPNA now uses Donorbox to securely process credit card payments and automate the renewal process. Not only does this simplify signup and renewals for DSPNA members, it greatly reduces adminstrative overhead allowing for more time spent on making an impact for our neighborhood. We hope that you enjoy the service as much as we do, and welcome all feedback at [email protected].
When you join as a member, you will receive two emails: