Legal Question in Business Law in California

The right of the people "freely to assemble" is guaranteed in the Constitution, but modern life has placed some restrictions on the exercise of that right in modern America. I would take the following precautionary steps:

(1) Check with "City Hall" in your community to see whether there are any local ordinances or zoning restrictions. The size of the proposed parties and the fact that admission will be charged probably puts them in a different legal category than the ordinary neighborhood barbecue. There may even be a tax payable on the admission fees. There almost certainly will be noise ordinances.

(2) Check with your insurance agent. There is a substantial hazard of accidents, violent incidents and host-liability lawsuits that probably wouldn't be covered by an ordinary homeowner policy.

(3) Fully consider where the automobiles transporting 250 to 400 "guests" will be parked, as well as whether the drivers will be capable of backing out of their parking places and finding their way down the driveway and back home after partaking of the festivities.

(4) Consult with a private security firm with experience in monitoring large parties to get their recommendations, and consider whether private security officers should be retained and present to maintain order.

This site exists to help users better understand the law, not to give them specific legal advice. If you and your friends own Los Angeles-area mansions and plan to profit by throwing lavish parties, you can afford to hire a lawyer instead of asking us to advise you for free. I'll give you a hint, though: Licensing and permits are not the only issues you need to worry about. Mr. Whipple just listed some, but there are others.