To the City of West Hollywood and our community,
Consider this our request for an administrative hearing. On September 21, 2024, at 7:40 AM, we were issued a sound violation citation by code enforcement officers, resulting in a $100 fine, a $75 administration fee, and a $5 convenience fee—all due to an employee accidentally turning on our stereo system 20 minutes earlier than scheduled. What’s with an 80% tip for the city? $80 in fees on $100 of sound!?! This minor mistake has cost us over $180, which equates to almost a full day’s wages for one of our employees. Unfortunately, this money now has to go toward covering city fees, rather than supporting our team.
As discussed and previously highlighted in numerous news articles, the City of West Hollywood seems intent on creating barriers for small businesses. It’s almost as if they don’t want us to open our doors. We take pride in operating within the city’s guidelines and being respectful of our neighbors, but being penalized for a small, early-morning error feels like unnecessary overreach.
This type of enforcement makes it increasingly difficult for small businesses to thrive in West Hollywood. The city’s excessive fines and disproportionate penalties are not aligned with the collaborative spirit they claim to promote. Small businesses like ours are the backbone of the community, and yet we continue to be hindered by costly, bureaucratic obstacles.
We urge the city to reconsider how it applies these fines, and labels them as non-correctable and to reflect on how such enforcement negatively impacts local businesses. We remain committed to being good neighbors and contributing to the community, but the city must take steps to foster a more supportive environment for small businesses.
Paul,
Chief Operating Paws-fficer
The Collar Club ™️
Collar & Comb:
The most infuriating part about this is that the city never cites residential landlords for code violations. Noise violations, safety violations, etc, they get away with it all.
Why is a dog groomer blasting music at ALL much less at before 8 AM? If your clientele are dogs then simply play music only dogs can hear. Problem solved 🙂
Theyve had music blasting before 6am sometimes. It looks more like a club than a groomers.
Dear WeHo Ville Community, We appreciate the opportunity to address the concerns about the early morning sound issue. To clarify, the sound in question came from an enclosed courtyard, facing the corner of La Cienega and Santa Monica, not toward any residential area. It was an honest mistake, and we have taken full responsibility, promptly paying the $185 fine. What’s worth noting is that code enforcement was literally walking by at the time. They admitted they didn’t receive any complaints, but rather than simply informing our employee to turn off the sound—which they acknowledged was only on at 7:40, slightly… Read more »
Sorry but it looks like an eyesore! Hope you have ample reserves for your rent….terrible access too.
Code Enforcement’s action did not divert “taxpayer and city resources”. They did exactly what the taxpayers pay them to do and they did it pro-actively. Furthermore, the music coming from an “enclosed” courtyard had to be pretty loud for it to be heard on the public sidewalk and road at 7:40am.
i wish code enforcement could also do its job in citing the many (far too many) hedges that encroach on sidewalk accessibility. Between the overgrown hedges, the delivery robots, scooter scofflaws, bikers on sidewalks, and the crazy lines that form outside some places (think Hamburger Mary’s), sidewalk safety seems to be the last priority of Danny Rivas and team.
All valid points made herein, I take no-issue with the sightings – Yes, most unfortunate to have rcv’d. a citation & accompanying fees, however, doesn’t seem to be a one-time event – Regardless, given the fact your business exists in a residential community & is supported by such, perhaps any & all new or current employees require a stricter understanding of community & city guidelines as if they & you are the very neighbors who are affected.
Sorry for the cost, hopefully it won’t happen again..
Good job Code Compliance! Keep it up!
Not a word of consideration here for the folks who were disturbed enough to motivate them to complain. Wild narcissism at play
I guess this means Code Enforcement is doing its’ job. The neighbors who were inconvenienced by the noise at 7:40 a.m. obviously called the City and the City responded in an appropriate manner. The costs to the City to have a Code Enforcement Division, office space, wages, health care and equipment is paid by the tax payers. It only seems fair that violators contribute toward this expense as long as the fine is not unreasonable punitive.
💯, that’s what they’re here for, it makes for a better more harmonious society.
What irritates me about posts like this are that they totally miss the point of the noise ordinance. People live around you, and that noise interrupts their sleep. It must have been loud enough for someone to call and report you!
the music is blaring sometimes well before 6am! Don’t live near it but I pass it almost daily.
Exactly, however, we’re living in a day & age whereby narratives or issues are often misguided & never the point of a discussion🤦🏻♂️
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Sorry but your music has been on before well before 7am! Sometimes even 6am. Your not a club lose the music and wrap up your buildout sheesh.