Residents of the neighborhoods bordering the Hollywood Sign have filed a legal complaint against the City of Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass, and Councilmember Nithya Raman, citing fears of fire hazards and unsanitary conditions exacerbated by excessive tourist crowds.
Approximately 100 residents from Hollywoodland, Lake Hollywood Estates, and Hollywood Knolls lodged the complaint on Monday, arguing that city officials are responsible for the influx of visitors that has turned their residential streets into congested tourist thoroughfares. The complaint points to a 2011 decision by a former council member to clear brush to create a viewing area, which locals believe inadvertently encouraged larger numbers of tourists.
The primary concern is the potential for a fire emergency. Residents fear that the heavy traffic generated by tourists could impede emergency services, similar to the chaotic scenes during the Palisades Fires in early 2025, where motorists abandoned vehicles due to gridlock. The complaint notes that tourists also pose a fire risk by disposing of cigarette butts in dry, high-fire-risk areas.
Residents describe feeling "trapped" in their homes due to the limited access roads, which they believe could lead to fatalities if a fire breaks out and evacuation is hindered by traffic. "If a fire breaks out, dozens if not hundreds may die due to their inability to escape via the crowded and narrow streets," the complaint states.
Beyond fire safety, residents are also dealing with significant sanitation issues. They report constant cleanups of trash, discarded cigarette butts, used diapers, and bottles filled with urine, attributing this to a lack of public restrooms in the area. The complaint characterizes the neighborhood as having become "a public toilet," with documented instances of public urination and defecation.
Attorney Ilan Wurman, representing the residents, stated that the lawsuit seeks an injunction to compel city officials to act, rather than financial compensation. Potential solutions suggested include limiting tourist access, similar to measures in Paris for the Eiffel Tower, or replanting vegetation in the cleared viewing area. Wurman argued that the current situation is a foreseeable consequence of managing large crowds in a neighborhood with narrow, winding streets.
Mayor Bass's office stated it had not yet reviewed the complaint but noted that the Los Angeles Police Department deploys additional units to manage congestion around the Hollywood Sign during peak times and has worked with the transportation department on traffic plans. Councilmember Raman's office acknowledged the safety risks and gridlock faced by residents. Her office reported funding increased LAPD and LADOT presence on weekends from July through Labor Day to improve ticketing and towing, and has secured funding for a pilot program aimed at improving traffic flow during peak visitation periods.
Residents are concerned about the cumulative effect of these issues, especially the potential for a catastrophic wildfire.
