WeHo tweaks regulations for special events

City Council is holding a public hearing Monday to discuss making changes to how special events are managed in West Hollywood.

These updates are aimed at helping businesses host events more easily, while keeping things clear and fair for everyone involved. They also include increasing the number of special events and “activations” businesses can have each year, from 12 to 16. Activations are smaller-scale events, like adding temporary activities that don’t disrupt daily business too much.

The updates will also exempt certain restaurant events, like private parties, from needing permits as long as they don’t include things like live entertainment, street closures, or amplified noise.

Currently, the rules for special events are part of the city’s zoning code, which focuses on land use. The new plan is to move these rules to the business licensing code, making it easier for business owners to understand and follow them. The change will also streamline the process for city staff, so they can handle applications faster and more efficiently. Businesses will be able to focus on planning events instead of navigating a confusing process. This move doesn’t weaken oversight or safety measures, but it does simplify how the rules are applied.

Another major goal of these updates is to support businesses by giving them more opportunities to host events, which can boost their visibility and bring more customers to their doors. For example, a business will be able to host up to 16 special events and 16 activations per year instead of just 12 of each. Restaurant buyouts—when someone rents out an entire restaurant for a private event—will no longer count as special events, as long as they don’t add disruptive elements like loud music or blocked streets.

The city has been working on improving the special events process for years. Back in 2009, the city temporarily allowed businesses to have more events to help them recover from economic challenges. This change became permanent in 2011. Over time, the rules have been updated to make them clearer and to encourage creative uses of space. Now, the city wants to build on that progress by making the process even smoother.

The updates also include clear deadlines for submitting applications: at least 72 hours in advance for smaller events and 30 days for major events like WeHo Pride or Halloween Carnaval. These timelines give the city enough time to review the plans and ensure they meet safety and community standards. For smaller events, businesses may not need to apply for separate permits to use sidewalks or streets, as long as their plans meet city guidelines.

These changes were developed with input from the community, including local businesses and city commissions. Business owners have asked for more flexibility, such as being allowed to apply for multiple events at once instead of filing separate applications for each one. Others have requested clearer rules about what counts as an event and what doesn’t. The updates also address concerns about amplified noise and how different types of businesses—like restaurants and retail shops—will be affected.

City staff will also update the penalty system for violations under the new rules. This ensures that businesses follow the guidelines, but the changes won’t affect the city’s budget since no new costs are being added. City Hall says the updates are designed to make the process fairer and more user-friendly without sacrificing safety or quality of life for residents.