El Segundo considers regulation of AirBnb "party houses" after noise complaints

EL SEGUNDO, CA (FOX 11) - The city of El Segundo is considering different methods on how to potentially crack down on "party houses" used in short-term rentals through websites like Airbnb.

One consideration put forward by the city council is to formally legalize short-term rentals, so they can then be required to have permits, and thus, be regulated.

Another option is to impose fines on short-term rental properties that generate repeated noise and nuisance complaints.

The proposals comes in response to numerous complains from neighbors about one house in particular.

Located at the 400 block of Virginia Street, the "Beach Entertainer" is a 5 bedroom house advertised on AirBnb with a capacity of up to 30 people.

"It's known as a party house," said Joanne Puleo, who has lived beneath the house for 50 years. "When they're out in the pool it's like there's 20 people doing stuff, and with a pool, the water magnifies the sound and they're higher than us so it comes down here. I don't think they should be allowed, I think they should be licensed and I don't think they should have 20 people in a house."

Mary lives right next door to the party house, and her patience is running out.

"Every night there's somebody different, in the winter it's not so bad but in the summer it's like every night there's a new group of people," she said. "People are drinking cause the hot tub and the deck faces our house, so all the noise just comes right into our house, and they're up til 4 in the morning drinking, the more they drink the louder they get."

At Tuesday's El Segundo city council meeting, the council didn't make any formal decisions, instead saying they will hold another public meeting to discuss possible regulation of short term rentals, and will possibly write up an updated ordinance to target nuisance "party houses."