WELCOME FilmLA Knowledge Base

Area Requirements: Glendale

Last published at: November 11th, 2025

Standard Disclaimer

FilmLA has gathered the location filming information in this article as a service to the entertainment industry. It is updated regularly, but also subject to change. FilmLA cannot and does not guarantee that the information contained here is at any time complete and without error. By using this site, you acknowledge these limitations and agree that neither FilmLA, nor its predecessors, successors, partners, affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents or representatives shall be liable for any reason for damages of any nature (including special, incidental, compensatory, consequential or punitive) to any individual or entity who uses or relies on the information contained here for any purpose. Factual errors may be reported to FilmLA using the links provided at the bottom of the article.  

 

 

Standard Requirements

Permit Requirement

In Glendale, a temporary use (filming) permit is required for all on-location filming on both public and private property.

 

Application Deadline

10 AM DEADLINE

Application / location submission is due in MyFilmLA by 10 a.m. Late applications are ineligible for processing.

Below are the minimum processing times for permit applications. Holidays may affect deadlines. Changes due to holidays will be posted on our website (www.filmla.com) and sent to registered subscribers via Production Alert, prior to the holiday. 

  • Processing for on-location filming requires a minimum four to six full business days prior to the first activity date (not including Fridays). This does not include the date of submission.
  • All high impact or exceptional activity (example: stunts, special effects, gunfire, aerial activity, closures) will require additional lead time.

For clarification on deadlines please contract FilmLA's Solution Services department at (213) 977-8600 or info@filmla.com.

 

Standard Filming Hours

Standard filming hours are from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on weekdays and 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on weekends. Any request for filming outside these hours may require a filming survey showing significant support for the requested activity from the affected residents.

 

Insurance Requirements

Filmmakers seeking permits to film on-location in the City of Glendale must have insurance on file with FilmLA. If you do not have insurance on file, please provide us with mandatory insurance as per the insurance requirements below.

Insurance coverage limits may vary based on activity and location. We do not advise you to purchase insurance without first discussing your filming plans with a FilmLA insurance specialist.

Please forward all insurance requirements for this jurisdiction to your broker for processing.

Final permits will not be released until all insurance has been reviewed and approved by FilmLA, so please submit your insurance certificates as soon as possible.  

Required Insurance Coverage

  • Commercial General Liability
  • Auto Liability
  • Proof of Workers’ Compensation
     

Minimum Limits (per occurrence)

  • $1,000,000 - Filming / Still Photography
  • $5,000,000 - Aircraft Use
     

Additional Insured

  • The City of Glendale added as additional insured; see link below for specific wording and sample.
  • FilmLA must also be added as additional insured; see link below for specific wording and sample.


Insurance Submission

You may submit insurance documentation via MyFilmLA using the file upload link. This upload link can be found in the request email sent to you from the Insurance Department.

If you have any questions about our requirements, please contact our office at 213.977.8600 and ask to speak with an insurance specialist.

Glendale Insurance Sample

FilmLA Insurance Sample

 

Special Requirements

Police Officer Assignments

Police officer(s) are typically required for the following activity:

  • Intermittent traffic or pedestrian control
  • Stunts/special effects/brandishing of weapons/simulated gunfire
  • Scenes that depict emergency vehicles or personnel
  • Filming with more than ten cast/crew in the public right of way
  • Street closures
  • Driving scenes or grids
  • Staging or filming activity in the public right of way
  • For any other reason as determined by the Glendale Police Department

 

Special Effects Permit

Filming involving the use of fire, pyrotechnics, or other special effects will be required to obtain a special effects permit using the City’s online portal. Productions may apply at Glendale Fire Permit Portal. Productions having questions or difficulties with applying online should try calling Glendale’s Permit Services – Fire Engineering Unit at 818-548-3207.

 

Filming in City Parks

Production must verify the availability of Parks Department properties as well as the feasibility of filming requests with the Parks department (818) 937-7426.

A separate Glendale Parks Department application and plot plan must be submitted to the Parks Department directly, this is in addition to the MyFilmLA permit application that must be submitted for filming within the City of Glendale.

A copy of the Parks Department permit application can be found here:

Parks Department Permit Application

 

Filming in Montrose Shopping Park

Filming in the Montrose Shopping Park requires approval from the Montrose Shopping Park Association (MSPA) and typically requires two weeks to process. Here is a link to the MSPA website: https://shopmontrose.com/

 

Posting / Temporary "No Parking" Signs

Temporary “No Parking” signs may be posted by the Production Company. Signs must be installed 30 hours prior to the start of the "no parking" period. Signs must be posted in accordance with City of Glendale guidelines for installation of temporary "no parking" signs.

Glendale Temporary No Parking Sign Guidelines

Sample No Parking Sign

 

Fee Schedule

 

Common Fees, Glendale

FilmLA Basic Fees List

 

Below are the most common fees assessed by this jurisdiction. Additional application, use, or personnel fees may apply based on location or scope of activity for this jurisdiction. Any fees not directly collected by FilmLA on behalf of the municipality through the film permit must be paid directly to the service provider. FilmLA makes every effort to publish the most up to date fees for these municipal service providers, however fees are subject to change at their discretion.

 

 

FilmLA Basic Fees List

Fee Type Rate Per

Permit Application Fee

Up to 5 Locations, 7 Consecutive Days

$931 Permit

Permit Rider Fee

During Business Hours

$148.75 Rider

Permit Rider Fee

After Business Hours

$208 Rider

Still Photo Application Fee*

Cast/Crew of 16+ Requires Motion Rate

$104 Permit
Still Photo Rider Fee $31 Rider
Student Permit Fee (simple) $52 Permit
Student Permit Fee (complex) $134 Permit
Non-Profit (PSA) Permit App Fee $73 Permit
Non-Profit (PSA) Permit Rider Fee $36 Permit

Notification Fee

Base Radius

$232 Radius
Lane Closure Administration Fee $78 Involved Location
Gunfire Administration Fee $78 Involved Location
Special FX - Explosion & Smoke Administration Fee $78 Involved Location
Drone Administration Fee $78 Involved Location
Helicopter Administration Fee $78 Involved Location

FilmLA Monitor Fee**

Minimum Applies. Subject to OT and DT.  Standard Arrival: 1 Hour Prior to Permit Start Time.

$44.50 Hour

* Still photo productions with a cast / crew size of 16 or more people will incur the Motion application fee. Any B-roll or motion filming in conjunction with a still photo shoot will also incur the Motion rate. Additionally, for crews of this size or larger, a LAFD Spot Check Surcharge will also be assessed.

** The FilmLA monitor service is charged in hourly increments based on time at location. For example, if monitor service is required from 6am-10pm, the breakdown of service hours would be 8 Regular hours, 4 overtime hours, and 4 double time hours to cover the service, whether completed by one or multiple monitors.

 

Common Fees, Glendale

Fee Type Rate Per
Glendale Police Application Review Fee $316 Permit
Glendale Police Personnel Fee $289 Hour (4hr Minimum)
Glendale Fire Application Review Fee $335 Permit
Glendale Fire Inspection Fee $203 Hour
Glendale Fire Safety Officer $173 Hour (4hr Minimum)
Glendale Valet / Reserved Parking Application Fee $121 Permit

Glendale Use of City Property

Includes Sidewalks / Streets

$526 Day

 

 

Community Relations

Community Filming Surveys

The City of Glendale may require a Community Filming Survey, designed to demonstrate that affected residents/businesses have been individually contacted and to solicit individual concerns (if any) regarding the requested activity. FilmLA will provide a survey form, guidelines, sample letter, and a sample map, but the production company is responsible for surveying affected residents and businesses.  Here are some reasons surveys are typically required:

  • Filming outside of standard filming hours
  • Frequency of filming
  • Filming that exceeds 5 days in a row in a residential area
  • Excessive posting requests
  • Full street closure requests

Community Survey Guidelines and Forms

 

Neighborhood Notification

FilmLA's standard notification service satisfies all neighborhood notification requirements for this jurisdiction. Processing notification for on-location filming requires a three day lead time before the first activity. This does not include the date of submission. Please be advised exceptional activity may require more advanced notice. ???? [this is the standard language but for some reason glendale has its own see next paragraph]

Notification is required for all permits. There is a 500 ft. radius minimum for shoots. A larger radius will be determined based on proposed activity and requested parking, including lane or full closures of streets.

 

Special Monitors

When necessary, a FilmLA Monitor will be assigned to an individual production which includes filming that occurs on City-owned property, complicated filming activity and frequently filmed areas, etc. The cost of a Monitor will be billed to the production company.