Film/Photography Permit

Film Permit Requirements

A Film Permit is required for all commercial filming and still photography activities within the City of La Cañada Flintridge, including:

Motion picture, radio, and television productions (e.g., feature films, non-current news segments)
Commercial still photography (e.g., images for advertisements in magazines, catalogs, or online media)
Student film or photography projects

A separate permit application is required for each property used.

Permitted Hours

Monday – Saturday: 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Extended hours: Filming may begin at 6:00 a.m. and end by 11:59 p.m. with City approval
Prohibited: Filming is not allowed on Sundays, City holidays, or between 12:00 a.m. and 5:59 a.m.

Permit Fees

$200 – Non-refundable Application Fee
$100 – Permit Fee
$1 per notice – Notification fee for properties within a 300-foot radius
(Re-notification fee applies if changes are made after initial mailings.)
$175 – Traffic Engineer Review (if applicable)
$1,500/day – Right-of-Way/Public Facility Use Fee

View Full Fee Schedule

How to Apply

Complete the City’s Online Application no later than 12:00 p.m., five business days before the scheduled start date (excluding City holidays). A complete application includes:

Application form with all fields completed (enter “None” where applicable)
Signed Permission to Use Property form by property owner
Proof of insurance with “City of La Cañada Flintridge” listed as additional insured (PDF must be uploaded on final page of the application)

Insurance Requirements

General and Auto Liability:
$1,000,000 per occurrence for bodily injury and property damage
$2,000,000 aggregate total
High-risk activities (e.g., chase scenes, stunts, aircraft use):
$2,000,000 per occurrence

The City must be named as additional insured by endorsement on all policies, covering legal defense costs as well.

Only applications that include all required materials will be reviewed. Incomplete applications will not be accepted or processed.

Once a complete application is submitted, City staff will contact the applicant regarding fees and next steps to secure the permit.

Municipal Code 6.04

2. Do I Need a Permit?

A permit is required for all commercial filming or still photography activities on public or private property, unless exempt (see below).

Exemptions:

News reporting or live broadcasting of current events.
Filming by public agencies (e.g., government PSAs).
Personal one-day life event photography (e.g., birthdays) with no paid services.

3. General Restrictions (on the document it’s titled General Prohibition)

Hours of Operation: Filming allowed only between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. (Properties greater than 100 acres are exempt).
Extended hours require neighbor approval signatures. (51% of the signature approvals from property owners or tenants within 500 feet and 75% signature approvals from property owners or tenants of adjacent properties of the production location.)
No filming on Sundays or major holidays (Properties greater than 100 acres are exempt).
No filming between 12:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. (Properties greater than 100 acres are exempt).
Special effects must comply with the City's noise ordinance.
All parking must be off-street parking. Any use of on-street parking will require a comprehensive parking plan.
No full street closures permitted; only intermediate closures allowed with a Traffic Control Plan.

What is a Filming/Still Photography Activity?

(Leave as is from the current table.)

4. Permit Types and Time Limits

Zoning Type	Max Days/Quarter	Max Days/Year
Residential/Open Space/Public	6	24
Other Zones (e.g., Commercial)	15	60

Exceeding Limits Requires:

Permit application at least 10 business days before production start.
75% approval from property owners within 500 feet.
100% approval from adjacent properties with a structure.

5. Required Application Timeline

Step	Deadline
Application Submission	By 7:00 a.m., 5 business days before filming
Neighborhood Notification	4 business days before filming
Permit Approval Decision	By 5:00 p.m. the day before filming
Signature Submission (if applicable)	48 hours before filming

6. Application Checklist

Submit your application to the Processing Agency with the following:

Applicant and business details
Site address and detailed production plan
Site map (production setup and parking)
Property Owner’s Affidavit
Production details: hours, dates, crew size, equipment, special effects, drone use
Parking plan (if off-site)
Signature petitions (if required)

Note: Applications cannot be amended after neighbor notifications have been mailed.

7. Fees & Exemptions

Fees are set by the City Council and available as part of the master fee schedule.

Exempt from Fees:

Student projects (with school letter)
Charitable or nonprofit productions

Permits are still required, even if exempt from fees.

8. Production in the Public Right-of-Way

If filming on streets or sidewalks:

Submit a Traffic Control Plan
Will be required to provide and setup “No Parking” signage
Maintain ADA-compliant pedestrian access
Sheriff's Department presence required (cost borne by applicant)

9. Conditions of Approval

Permit approval may include conditions related to:

Off-street parking
Noise and lighting control
Temporary structures and equipment
Public health and safety
Insurance (minimum $1M–$2M coverage)
Indemnification of the City

A copy of the permit must be on-site at all times.

10. Insurance Requirements

General and Auto Liability: Minimum $1M per occurrence; $2M aggregate
Special Effects/Stunts/Aircraft: $2M per occurrence
Workers’ Compensation per CA Labor Code
City named as additional insured
Proof of insurance filed with City prior to production

11. Permit Decision & Appeals

Permits are issued or denied by 5:00 p.m. the day before filming begins.
Permit may be denied if:
- Application is incomplete or inaccurate
- 60% of neighbors object (when no signature approval is required)
- Past permit violations
- Public health or safety is at risk

Appeals:

Must be submitted in writing 24 hours prior to production start
Only those notified or the applicant may appeal
Decision made by the City Manager within 24 hours; decision is final

12. Violations & Revocation

The City may revoke a permit immediately for:

Fraudulent applications
Permit condition violations
Law violations or unsafe practices
Nuisance creation

Consequence: Permittee may be banned from filming for up to one year.

Violations are punishable as:

Misdemeanor, or
Administrative citation

13. Business License Exemption

A film permit holder is not required to obtain a separate business license for production activities.

14. Contact Information

Processing Agency Contact:
Administrative Services Department
City of La Cañada Flintridge
📞 (818) 790-8880
📧 Filmpermit@lcf.ca.gov

Municipal Code 6.04

I have read the above statement and reviewed all the applicable fees.(Required)

Acknowledged

Production Company Name(Required)

Production Company Address(Required)

Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country

Production Title(Required)

Permit Contact Person(Required)

First Last

Phone(Required)

Email(Required)

Location Manager(Required)

First Last

Location Manager Phone Number(Required)

Emergency Phone Number(Required)

Property Address(Required)

Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country

Property Owner Name(Required)

First Last

Property Owner Phone Number(Required)

Type of Production(Required)

Video

Still Photography

Purpose(Required)

Permit Fees:

Application Fee: $200.00 (NON-REFUNDABLE)

Neighborhood Notification Fee: $1 per notice

Permit fee: $100.00

Public Right of Way/City Property Use* Fee: $1,500.00 per day (if applicable)

*Use includes but not limited to any film related activity within the public right of way, including staging, parking, filming and etc.

Traffic Engineer Review (if applicable): $175 per hour

LA County Fire Permit (fee determined/paid to LA County not the City).

If changes are made to the production activities after submission, the review of new information will require additional fees.

Activity Mitigation Plan(Required)

If the production is expected to have any impacts on the surrounding neighborhood, please describe any mitigation impacts.

Files Upload

Please upload the following required documents:

Permission to Use the Property

Proof of Insurance

Permission to Use the Property (uploaded blank forms will result in automatic reject of the application)(Required)

Accepted file types: pdf, Max. file size: 50 MB.

Please upload the completed and signed Permission to Use the Property by the property owner.

Proof of Insurance (permit will not be issued without proof of insurance)

Accepted file types: pdf, Max. file size: 50 MB.

Please upload the applicant's proof of insurance as required by §6.04.040(o) of the Municipal Code.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

I, hereby agree to remit payment of the $200.00 invoiced application fee within one (1) business day of submitting this application. I acknowledge failure to do so will result in automatic denial of the application.

I acknowledge that all information I have provided is true. Further, I acknowledge that filming activities must comply with all conditions of the approved permit. These conditions are intended to mitigate production impacts to the surrounding neighborhood, and may include, but are not limited to;

• Filming activities may only occur during hours approved by the Director

• Temporary posting of “no parking” signs in front of or near subject property

• Approval of Traffic Control Plan by City’s Traffic Engineer

• Approval and issuance of a permit by Los Angeles County Fire Department

• Presence of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department

• Survey of residents/collection of requisite amount of resident signatures

• Off-site parking requirements

• Other conditions determined to be necessary by the Director

I have read the rules and regulations as stated in the Municipal Code Chapter 6.04 and hereby agree to abide by them. In addition, I have also read the above questions, and certify that my answers are correct. I further agree and understand that violation of the rules and regulations set forth could result in a denial/suspension of the use of the film permit(s).

Please sign your name below for acknowledgment(Required)

Phone

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Film Permit Requirements

Permitted Hours

Permit Fees

How to Apply

Insurance Requirements

2. Do I Need a Permit?

3. General Restrictions (on the document it’s titled General Prohibition)

What is a Filming/Still Photography Activity?

4. Permit Types and Time Limits

5. Required Application Timeline

6. Application Checklist

7. Fees & Exemptions

8. Production in the Public Right-of-Way

9. Conditions of Approval

10. Insurance Requirements

11. Permit Decision & Appeals

12. Violations & Revocation

13. Business License Exemption

14. Contact Information

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Files Upload