Chapter 10.58 — POLICE SERVICES AT LARGE PARTIES, GATHERINGS OR EVENTS ON

The City Council finds and declares that:

A. The control of large parties, gatherings or events on private property is necessary when
such continued activity is determined to be a threat to the peace, health, safety or general
welfare of the public and the immediate control of large parties, and the cessation of unruly
or illegal behavior is essential to preventing a major disturbance on Memorial and Labor
Day, the weekend before Memorial and Labor Day, and the July 4th Independence Day
holiday in the Safety Enhancement Zones;

B. The City of Newport Beach is a tourist destination with numerous beach rentals;

C. This influx of tourists results in many large parties, gatherings or events;

D. Frequently, Police Officers have been required to make multiple return calls on the same
date to the location of a party, gathering or event to disperse uncooperative participants;

E. Frequently, Police Officers have been required to make multiple calls to the same location
on different dates in response to repeated, large parties and gatherings;

F. The return of Police Officers to a location constitutes a drain of manpower and resources
often leaving other areas of the City without police protection and, in the case of the Safety
Enhancement Zones on Memorial and Labor Day, the weekends before Memorial and
Labor Day, and the July 4th Independence Day holiday, the return of Police Officers may
be difficult if not impossible due to the large crowds and the heavy workload of law
enforcement personnel; and

G. The above conditions create a significant hazard to the safety of the Police Officers and to
peace, health, and safety of the public in general and, in the case of the Safety Enhancement
Zones, these conditions create an immediate potential for a major disturbance that could
result in serious injury or death to members of the public and/or law enforcement personnel.
(Ord. 88-19 § 1 (part), 1988; Ord. 91-31 § 1 (part), 1991; Ord. 94-56 § 1 (part), 1995; Ord.
2003-5 § 12, 2003; Ord. 2025-3 § 3, 2025)

For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:

“Large party, gathering or event” means a group of persons who have assembled or are assembling for a social occasion or for a social activity.

“Person responsible for the event” means the owner of the property where the large party, gathering or event takes place, the person(s) in charge of the premises and/or the person(s) who organized the event. If the person responsible for the event is a minor, then the parents or guardians of that minor will be jointly and severally liable for the fines imposed for the special security assignment.

“Safety Enhancement Zone” or “Safety Enhancement Zones” means each Safety Enhancement Zone established pursuant to Section 1.04.060.

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City of Newport Beach, CA § 10.58.020 NEWPORT BEACH CODE § 10.58.040

“Special security assignment” means the assignment of Police Officers in response to a return or subsequent calls after the distribution of a written warning that a large party, gathering or event violates the law. (Ord. 88-19 § 1 (part), 1988; Ord. 91-31 § 1 (part), 1991; Ord. 94-56 § 1 (part), 1995; Ord. 2023-22 § 477, 2023; Ord. 2025-3 § 4, 2025)

Subsequent Responses.

A. No person shall promote, host, organize or otherwise allow a large party, gathering or event
to occur on private property which is determined by a Police Officer to threaten the public
peace, health, safety or general welfare of the neighborhood or surrounding community.

B. The person responsible for the large party, gathering or event will be held liable for civil
fines in amounts established by resolution of the City Council, for a special security
assignment by the police, to control the threat to the public peace, health, safety or general
welfare, at any time within any twelve (12) month period after a first written warning.

C. In the case of a large party, gathering or event on private property in a Safety Enhancement
Zone during the period that the designation is in effect, the person or persons responsible
for the party, event or gathering, the occupant or occupants of the property and the owner
or owners of the property are, jointly and severally, responsible for immediately complying
with a request from any law enforcement officer to terminate all unruly or illegal behavior
on the property and shall be responsible, in addition to other fines and penalties provided
by this chapter, for the payment of a fine in the amount of three hundred dollars ($300.00)
for each full ten (10) minute segment that unruly or illegal conduct continues past the time
that the law enforcement officer requests termination.

The initial call, or any subsequent call, may also result in the arrest and/or citation of
violators of the California Penal Code or other local regulations.
(Ord. 88-19 § 1 (part), 1988; Ord. 91-31 § 1 (part), 1991; Ord. 94-56 § 1 (part), 1995; Ord.
2003-5 § 13, 2003; Ord. 2023-22 § 478, 2023; Ord. 2025-3 § 5, 2025)

Civil fines for special security assignments, as authorized by § 10.58.030(B), shall be imposed, in the manner provided in this section.

A. For all violations of § 10.58.030 where substantial evidence in support of a violation exists,
and a special security assignment occurs, the Administrative Services Director shall issue
written notice of civil fines imposed in accordance with the resolution of the City Council.
The written notice shall be served on the person responsible for the party and the owner, if
different. The notice shall specify the facts which, in the opinion of the Administrative
Services Director, constitute substantial evidence to establish grounds for imposition of the
fines, and specify that the fines are effective 30 days from the date the notice is given unless
an appeal is filed in writing before the fine becomes effective.
(Ord. 88-19 § 1 (part), 1988; Ord. 91-31 § 1 (part), 1991; Ord. 94-56 § 1 (part), 1995; Ord.
2023-22 § 479, 2023; Ord. 2025-37, 1/13/2026)

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City of Newport Beach, CA § 10.59.010 OFFENSES AND NUISANCES § 10.59.020