LA's Pandemic Party Houses Put On Notice, Face Utility Shutoffs

LOS ANGELES, CA — Three Los Angeles pandemic "party houses" have been put on notice and their addresses sent to the desk of Mayor Eric Garcetti to decide whether their utilities should be shut off. Residents at the houses were repeatedly warned that they're violating the city's ban on large gatherings due to the pandemic, according to authorities.

One of the partiers facing shutdown is TikTok star Bryce Hall. Parties at the Hollywood home dubbed The Sway House linked to Hall have been featured on social media, showing guests not wearing masks or following social distance guidelines. The house continued to be the site of parties after the LAPD's warning.

It's one of several homes popping up around the city where celebrity influencers record their lives and antics for millions of followers, making money of their branding and sponsorship.

Over the weekend, police issued 13 citations following complaints of noisy gatherings at homes across Los Angeles. The hosts at all 13 party homes were warned that they could lose water and power if they didn't stop hosting large gatherings. Residents at one of the homes was given an additional warning later that same night after guests failed to disperse.

Garcetti announced on Aug. 5 that he would authorize the Department of Water & Power to shut off utilities to homes and businesses that host "egregious" gatherings amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Most of the party addresses were not sent to Garcetti's office because the guests dispersed after the warning and there have not been additional parties there, The Times reported. However, they have been added to a list of homes that have been warned, and parties continue to be held there, they may be subject to a shut-off.

Garcetti's office also received a third address of a home that was the site of a party before last weekend, according to The Times.

No homes have had their utilities cut, in response to parties, as of Tuesday afternoon, according to The Times.

Garcetti said the house parties usually take place at short-term rental homes, but the city's house party ordinance prohibits gatherings that could cause risks to people's health and safety.

The LAPD officers' union pushed back against the potential use of officers in Garcetti's efforts to shut off utility service at homes where large parties have occurred.

The Los Angeles Police Protective League, the union representing LAPD officers, tweeted its opposition to using officers in utility cutoffs.

"Mayor Garcetti wants to reimagine policing. He should send his civilian staff to turn off people's electricity & cut off their water," the union tweeted Aug. 9.

"Let officers deal with the rise in shootings and killings in LA. We need a leader and not a political contortionist."

City News service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.