The Orange City Council sent back a proposed amendment Tuesday night aimed at cracking down on so-called party houses for revision and possible passage at its Oct. 27 meeting.

“The mayor and the City Council are still working with the City Attorney’s Office and Chapman (University) — basically the stakeholders — to draft something that doesn’t necessarily attack the entire city on an ordinance,” said Councilman Jon Dumitru.

At issue is the number of people needing to be present in the home to constitute a party and notification and liability of landlords. Largely, the proposal is aimed at students living in neighborhoods around Chapman.

The law the council declined to vote on proposed that four people needed to be present in a home to constitute a party; the panel wants to explore a higher number.

Additionally, under the initial proposal, landlords would be held liable but would not need to be notified first. The council believes that landlords should be given a chance to fix the problems before being cited.

“I just want to make sure the landlords have an opportunity to respond,” said Mayor Carolyn Cavecche.

Orange Police Lt. Dave Hill said if passed, the amendment will help officers break up parties because it lists specific criteria defining a so-called party house.

“I think this is a good start,” Hill said. “The department supports this ordinance in it being another tool for us to us.”

Currently, a neighbor has to complain and a second complaint must be lodged within 12 hours for a partygoer to be cited, city officials said. Under the proposal, an officer can initiate contact; a citation could be issued on a second contact, made within 72 hours of the first.

To issue a misdemeanor citation, city officials said, an officer must conclude such violations took place as excessive noise, underage drinking, public drunkenness or public urination.

City Attorney David DeBerry said the Police Department has identified 28 off-campus homes in the city as “party houses,” based on more than 400 to them calls for service in the past three years.

DeBerry said the issue is not an issue solely with Chapman students, citing a problem in east Orange where a mansion owner was renting his property for parties and weddings.

DeBerry said the law is somewhat modeled after those in other college towns like Santa Barbara, San Diego and Fullerton.

In 2008, Mission Viejo and Laguna Hills each passed a law that holds adults responsible for alcohol consumption by underage drinkers on their premises.

Dumitru was cautious about saying if a revised amendment would pass in two weeks.

“There’s still a lot of work to do,” he said.

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Council considering cracking down on “party houses”

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