Alcohol & Parties
East Lansing Police Department
Tips & Suggestions on Alcohol & Parties
Please refer to the following guidelines, tips, suggestions and resources regarding parties and alcohol consumption in East Lansing.
Guidelines for Hosting a Party in East Lansing
1) Visit surrounding neighbors, be friendly, and inform them of plans for a party. Please keep in mind that you have neighbors and you you do not want to disturb the quality of neighborhood life. Party hosts should make every effort to keep the entire party on their own premises. This includes noise, litter, parking etc.
2) Invite only people you know to your party. The better you know people, the more likely they are to respond to your expectations and requests.
3) Do not advertise alcohol related parties to the general public. Large parties usually get out of control and the hosts have a very difficult time maintaining order.
4) Always provide non alcoholic beverages and food as an alternative to alcohol.
5) Do not allow underage drinking. Providing alcohol to a minor is a misdemeanor offense and carries a maximum fine of $1,000 + court costs and up to 60 days in jail and/or community service. Additionally, the host can be charged for having an unlawful party.
6) Keep your party under control. If you go outside, remember noise carries more than you think, especially at night. The City's noise ordinance states that you cannot have any noise that leaves your property. If there is any noise that is plainly audible from the street or adjacent property then you are subject to a noise violation citation. The police are under no obligation to give you a warning. The fine can range from $250 to $1,000 + court costs for the first offense. Additionally, your landlord will be notified every time there is any type of violation on your property.
7) Make sure you clean up any litter that is generated from your party immediately. PACE Officers and police officers have the authority to issue party litter warnings and citations if a property is not cleaned up. Residents have two hours from the time they are notified of the violation to clean up the mess. The fine for party litter starts at $185.
8) Do not allow anyone to drive home if they have had toomuch to drink. A host can be held civilly and criminally liable for the intoxicated person's actions. Know when to stop serving alcohol.
9) Do not posses or provide false identification to a police officer or liquor establishment. Doing so constitutes disorderly conduct and subjects the offender to arrest and a maximum fine of $500 + court costs.
10) It also helps to register your party at the East Lansing Police Desk. Officers will know who to contact if there is a complaint. If the police do come to your party, make every effort to cooperate. Immediately make contact with them and provide them with your identification. Ask your guests to quiet down and turn off any amplified music. Register Your Party
11) Do not sell alcohol. It is illegal to have an unlicensed cash bar. It is also illegal to sell cups, have a cover charge, or charge for a band or other entertainment and "give away" the alcohol. Doing so constitutes a "blind pig" party for which you may be charged with a felony.
12) Don't have a party every weekend. Your neighbors will become less and less tolerant of the activities surrounding the party.
13) Do not carry open containers of alcoholic beverages in public. This is illegal in East Lansing , even if you are 21.
14) Have sober people at the party that are monitoring activity and can provide rides to those that have had too much to drink.
Block Parties
Block parties are generally prohibited by the City of East Lansing because of their potential to get out of control, resulting in personal injury and property damage. Since an ordinance was adopted to prohibit carrying alcohol in open containers in public, it is not legal to have open alcohol on the streets, on public sidewalks, parking lots, or any place open to the general public.
Small, neighborhood block parties may be approved if alcohol is not being consumed on the streets or sidewalks. Requests for this type of block party must be approved by the City Council through the City Manager's Office. (517) 319-6863.
Group Awareness Presentations
The ELPD offers presentations to neighborhood organizations, student organizations, residence hall floors or any other interested group to provide information about the following topics:
1) The kinds of ongoing neighborhood conflict in East Lansing.
2) The Noise and Nuisance Ordinances.
3) Liquor laws and related violations.
4) Crimes that often accompany large, uncontrolled parties.
5) Presentations on drunk driving.
6) Advice on how to host a non-disruptive party.
7) Information regarding the new zero tolerance alcohol laws for those under 21 years of age. Each presentation allows time for question and answer periods. If you are interested in learning contact (517) 319-6812.
Rental Owner Notification
Property owners or their legal agents will be notified by the Code Enforcement and Neigborhood Conservation of violations resulting in the issuance of police citations for nuisance parties. Owners and agents of rental properties will be expected to increase their superintending control or be subject to rental licensing sanctions.
Please refer to the following guidelines, tips, suggestions and resources regarding parties and alcohol consumption in East Lansing.
Guidelines for Hosting a Party in East Lansing
1) Visit surrounding neighbors, be friendly, and inform them of plans for a party. Please keep in mind that you have neighbors and you you do not want to disturb the quality of neighborhood life. Party hosts should make every effort to keep the entire party on their own premises. This includes noise, litter, parking etc.
2) Invite only people you know to your party. The better you know people, the more likely they are to respond to your expectations and requests.
3) Do not advertise alcohol related parties to the general public. Large parties usually get out of control and the hosts have a very difficult time maintaining order.
4) Always provide non alcoholic beverages and food as an alternative to alcohol.
5) Do not allow underage drinking. Providing alcohol to a minor is a misdemeanor offense and carries a maximum fine of $1,000 + court costs and up to 60 days in jail and/or community service. Additionally, the host can be charged for having an unlawful party.
6) Keep your party under control. If you go outside, remember noise carries more than you think, especially at night. The City's noise ordinance states that you cannot have any noise that leaves your property. If there is any noise that is plainly audible from the street or adjacent property then you are subject to a noise violation citation. The police are under no obligation to give you a warning. The fine can range from $250 to $1,000 + court costs for the first offense. Additionally, your landlord will be notified every time there is any type of violation on your property.
7) Make sure you clean up any litter that is generated from your party immediately. PACE Officers and police officers have the authority to issue party litter warnings and citations if a property is not cleaned up. Residents have two hours from the time they are notified of the violation to clean up the mess. The fine for party litter starts at $185.
8) Do not allow anyone to drive home if they have had toomuch to drink. A host can be held civilly and criminally liable for the intoxicated person's actions. Know when to stop serving alcohol.
9) Do not posses or provide false identification to a police officer or liquor establishment. Doing so constitutes disorderly conduct and subjects the offender to arrest and a maximum fine of $500 + court costs.
10) It also helps to register your party at the East Lansing Police Desk. Officers will know who to contact if there is a complaint. If the police do come to your party, make every effort to cooperate. Immediately make contact with them and provide them with your identification. Ask your guests to quiet down and turn off any amplified music. Register Your Party
11) Do not sell alcohol. It is illegal to have an unlicensed cash bar. It is also illegal to sell cups, have a cover charge, or charge for a band or other entertainment and "give away" the alcohol. Doing so constitutes a "blind pig" party for which you may be charged with a felony.
12) Don't have a party every weekend. Your neighbors will become less and less tolerant of the activities surrounding the party.
13) Do not carry open containers of alcoholic beverages in public. This is illegal in East Lansing , even if you are 21.
14) Have sober people at the party that are monitoring activity and can provide rides to those that have had too much to drink.
Block Parties
Block parties are generally prohibited by the City of East Lansing because of their potential to get out of control, resulting in personal injury and property damage. Since an ordinance was adopted to prohibit carrying alcohol in open containers in public, it is not legal to have open alcohol on the streets, on public sidewalks, parking lots, or any place open to the general public.
Small, neighborhood block parties may be approved if alcohol is not being consumed on the streets or sidewalks. Requests for this type of block party must be approved by the City Council through the City Manager's Office. (517) 319-6863.
Group Awareness Presentations
The ELPD offers presentations to neighborhood organizations, student organizations, residence hall floors or any other interested group to provide information about the following topics:
1) The kinds of ongoing neighborhood conflict in East Lansing.
2) The Noise and Nuisance Ordinances.
3) Liquor laws and related violations.
4) Crimes that often accompany large, uncontrolled parties.
5) Presentations on drunk driving.
6) Advice on how to host a non-disruptive party.
7) Information regarding the new zero tolerance alcohol laws for those under 21 years of age. Each presentation allows time for question and answer periods. If you are interested in learning contact (517) 319-6812.
Rental Owner Notification
Property owners or their legal agents will be notified by the Code Enforcement and Neigborhood Conservation of violations resulting in the issuance of police citations for nuisance parties. Owners and agents of rental properties will be expected to increase their superintending control or be subject to rental licensing sanctions.