Filming Code

Current City Code for Filming

SEC. 11-200.  PERMIT REQUIRED; BUSINESS TAX CERTIFICATE REQUIRED.

   (A)   No person shall use any public or private property, facility or residence for filming, videotaping, broadcasting or photographing a person, event or activity for commercial use without first applying for and receiving a filming permit from the designated liaison, as defined herein.

   (B)   A business tax certificate shall be obtained pursuant to Article I of Chapter 11 of this code before a filming permit is issued unless the person, organization, or entity applying for the filming permit is exempt from paying business tax fees pursuant to section 11-9 or section 11-208(B) of this code.

SEC. 11-201.  EXEMPTIONS FROM PERMIT REQUIREMENTS.

   (A)   The provisions of this article shall not apply to or affect:

      (1)   Reporters, photographers or camera operators in the employ of a newspaper, news service, television station or similar entity engaged in broadcasting news events concerning persons, events or activities that are in the news and of general public interest;

      (2)   Persons filming, videotaping or photographing events or activities solely for personal noncommercial use; and

      (3)   Persons filming; videotaping, broadcasting or photographing, or the products thereof, that are exempt from taxation under the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code relating to charities.

   (B)   A permittee shall keep a copy of the filming permit on the site of the event or activity at all times.

SEC. 11-202.  DESIGNATED LIAISON.

   The city manager shall appoint, in writing, a designated liaison and alternate designated liaison (“designated liaison”) to work with applicants for filming permits, process and issue filming permits and collect applicable fees relative thereto.

SEC. 11-203.  STANDARDIZED PERMIT APPLICATION FORM.

   (A)   The filming permit application form shall be the standardized form approved by the California Film Commission.

   (B)   The permit application form information may be provided to the designated liaison by the applicant by telephone, unless the applicant prefers to file the application in person.

SEC. 11-204.  EXPEDITED PROCESS.

   The designated liaison shall expedite the filming permit process by coordinating all city program reviews and approvals of the application.

SEC. 11-205.  MAXIMUM TIME REQUIREMENTS FOR ISSUANCE.

   The designated liaison shall issue filming permits within the following maximum time requirements:

   (A)   Two business days for approval and issuance of a standard permit;

   (B)   Four business days for approval of a permit involving:

      (1)   Traffic control on any public street;

      (2)   Stunts; or

      (3)   Special effects.

   (C)   Ten business days for approval of a permit involving closures of a public street or right-of-way.

SEC. 11-206.  PERMIT RIDERS.

   (A)   The designated liaison shall allow unlimited written riders to a filming permit that accommodate minor changes.

   (B)   The designated liaison shall not amend a filming permit by permit rider after completion of the event or activity.

SEC. 11-207.  CONCURRENT JURISDICTION.

   If other public agencies have concurrent jurisdiction as to a particular filming permit application, the designated liaison shall inform the permittee in writing on the permit.

SEC. 11-208.  FEES.

   (A)   Filming permit application fees and filming permit fees, other than location fees, shall not exceed the actual cost of processing the application and issuing the permit.  Such fees shall be established by resolution of the city council.

   (B)   Location use fees for public property shall be $300 for one day’s use or $200 per day for two or more days’ use.  The designated liaison shall not collect business tax fees when location use fees for public property are collected.

   (C)   Before a filming permit is issued, the applicant shall pay all city fees associated with the subject event or activity. (Ord. No. 2386, 2838)

SEC. 11-209.  INSURANCE, INDEMNITY AND BOND.

   (A)   Before the designated liaison issues a filming permit, the applicant shall complete and submit all of the following:

      (1)   The standardized liability insurance form approved by the California Film Commission;

      (2)   Evidence of the liability insurance coverages established by the designated liaison;

      (3)   Evidence of workers’ compensation insurance meeting all applicable State and federal requirements; and

      (4)   An executed indemnity agreement in a form provided by the designated liaison and approved by the city attorney.

   (B)   To ensure cleanup and restoration of the activity site, the designated liaison may require the applicant to post a faithful performance bond, in an amount to be determined by the designated liaison, at the time of application.  On completion of the activity and inspection of the site by the designated liaison, the bond shall be returned to the applicant if all conditions of cleanup and restoration have been completed.

SEC. 11-210.  REVOCATION.

   (A)   If an applicant violates any provision of this article or a filming permit issued pursuant hereto, the designated liaison may revoke the permit.  In such event, the permittee shall not be entitled to a refund of any fees.

   (B)   If an applicant cancels a filming permit or permit application after 3:00 p.m. of the last business day before the scheduled activity, the designated liaison shall charge the applicant a cancellation fee in an amount equal to half of the permit fee.  If the permit fee has been paid, the designated liaison shall deduct the cancellation fee from the permit fee and return the remaining half of the permit fee to the applicant.