Social Host Ordinance (SHO) in Lane County

Contacts: Lane County Board of Commissioners, 541-682-4203; C.A. Baskerville, Lane County Health & Human Services, 541-682-3031

Click here for an amended copy of the Lane County Social Host Ordinance (July 2011)

July 2011--

The Commissioners approved to amend the Social Host Ordinance (SHO), that was originally passed in 2010 to reduce under-age parties in unincorporated areas of Lane County. These parties are being hosted or otherwise supported by adults, and are causing great concern for area residents. The amended ordinance includes the following key changes:

• The ‘host’ is no longer limited to parents or guardians; it now includes any person who is the owner or occupant of a residence
• A violation of the SHO is now an unclassified violation requiring mandatory appearance (in court)
• If convicted of violating the SHO, penalties range from $500 for the first offense to $1000 for the third offense and will be assessed the cost of law enforcement and other responders to the residence
• Fees and fines will be collected through a collection agency, through civil action or through a request for restitution through the appropriate court handling either the violation proceeding or related proceedings.  Responding entities may formulate intergovernmental agreements as to the handling of response fee assessments.

The amended SHO goes into effect August 12, 2011.

Below: View the slide show below for an overview of what the "SHO" is, why it's important, and how it affects us in Lane County.