Legal Definitions - disorderly house

A disorderly house refers to a property where repeated activities occur that significantly disturb the peace, safety, or well-being of the surrounding community. While historically often associated with specific illegal activities, the core concept involves any dwelling that becomes a persistent source of nuisance or danger due to the conduct regularly taking place within it. The key element is the repetitive nature of the disruptive or unlawful behavior.

• Example 1: The "Chronic Party House"

  Imagine a rental property where the tenants host extremely loud parties every Friday and Saturday night, often extending into the early morning hours. These gatherings involve large crowds, excessive noise, public intoxication, and littering on neighboring properties, preventing residents from sleeping and enjoying their own homes.

  This illustrates a disorderly house because the repetitive loud parties create a significant nuisance for the surrounding neighborhood, disturbing the peace and quiet and impacting the residents' quality of life.

• Example 2: The "Illegal Auto Chop Shop"

  Consider a residential garage and driveway that are consistently used as an illegal "chop shop," where stolen vehicles are dismantled for parts. This activity involves loud grinding noises at odd hours, suspicious vehicles frequently entering and leaving, and the accumulation of discarded car parts, creating an eyesore and raising safety concerns for the community.

  This demonstrates a disorderly house because the property is being used for repetitive illegal activities (dismantling stolen cars) that generate noise, attract suspicious traffic, and create an unsafe and unsightly nuisance for the neighbors.

• Example 3: The "Counterfeit Goods Operation"

  Picture a seemingly ordinary house that is discovered to be the base for a large-scale, ongoing operation manufacturing and distributing counterfeit designer goods. This involves frequent deliveries of raw materials, constant foot and vehicle traffic from buyers at all hours, and the disposal of manufacturing waste in a way that attracts pests and creates an unpleasant odor for nearby homes.

  This example fits the definition as the house is being used for repetitive illegal commercial activity (producing and selling counterfeit goods) that generates significant, disruptive traffic and environmental nuisance for the surrounding residential area.