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 Culver City, 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 three full business days prior to first activity date. 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 (5 -7 days before the first activity date which includes the prep date).
- Culver City is closed every Friday. The application submission deadline does not include Fridays when the City is closed.
For clarification on deadlines please contact FilmLA's Solution Services department at (213) 977-8600 or info@filmla.com.
Standard Filming Hours
Standard filming hours in Culver City vary based on the day of the week. Any request for filming outside these hours may require a community filming survey, designed to demonstrate that affected residents and businesses have been individually contacted and to elicit individual concerns (if any) regarding the requested activity.
- Monday - Friday: 7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
- Saturday: 8:00 AM - 10:00 PM
- Sunday: 9:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Insurance Requirements
Filmmakers seeking permits to film on-location in Culver City must have insurance on file with Culver City and 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)
- $3,000,000 per Occurrence / $6,000,000 Aggregate - Still Photography
- $3,000,000 per Occurrence / $6,000,000 Aggregate - Motion Capture (filming)
Additional Insured
- Culver City 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.
Culver City Insurance Guidelines / Sample
Department Requirements
Culver City Police Department
Police personnel must be present at all times when filming activity takes place on public property, and/or accesses or impacts the public right of way. Per the Culver City Municipal Code, filming activity includes, still photography, or activity associated with the production of a film, video, television show, commercial advertisement or public service announcement, and also includes the setup and dismantling of all equipment.
Culver City Fire Department
A Fire Safety Officer (FSO) is almost always required for interior film shoots regardless of whether the filming takes place on public or private property. Accordingly, a Culver City Fire Department Spot Check Form may also need to be filled out. Download here:
Culver City Fire Department Spot Check Form
Posting / Temporary "No Parking" Signs
Culver City requires that a Community Filming Survey be conducted from all business and residential properties adjacent to or directly impacted by planned use of street parking for vehicles and production equipment.
The Culver City Police Department no longer conducts the posting of No Parking signs; it is now the responsibility of the film permit applicant / production company to post for No Parking (upon properly securing the parking via the film permit). Subsequently, the City does not provide the ‘No Parking’ signs.
Culver City Temporary No Parking Sign Posting Guidelines
Fee Schedule
Common Fees, Culver City
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, Culver City
| Fee Type | Rate | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Culver City Film / Still Photo Application Fee | $600 | Permit |
| Culver City Filming Daily Use Fee | $350 | Day |
| Culver City Still Photography Daily Use Fee | $350 | Day |
| Culver City Change Fee | $105 | Request |
| Culver City Cancellation Fee | $1,459.23 | Request |
| Culver City Fire Department Spot Check Fee | $353.46 | Involved Location |
|
Culver City Police Officer Daily Fee Weekday Rate, Per Shift |
$2,569.95 | Day |
|
Culver City Police Officer Daily Fee Weekends, Holidays, Per Shift |
$2,918.47 | Day |
|
Culver City Fire Officer Daily Fee Weekday Rate |
$201.97 | Hour (8hr Min) |
|
Culver City Fire Officer Daily Fee Weekends, Holidays |
$235.10 | Hour (8hr Min) |
| Culver City Posting - Metered Spaces | $20.62 | Day, Per Space |
| Culver City Posting - Non-Metered Spaces | $10.31 | Day, Per 20 Feet |
| Culver City Posting - Downtown Metered Spaces | $30.93 | Day, Per 20 Feet |
| Culver City Posting - Downtown Non-Metered Spaces | $15.46 | Day, Per Space |
| Culver City Civic Center (City Hall) - Exterior | $500 | Day |
| Culver City Civic Center (City Hall) - Interior | $750 | Day |
| Culver City Town Plaza | $500 | Day |
| Culver City Main Street (3800 Block) | $400 | Day |
Community Relations
Community Filming Surveys
Culver City 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.
Surveys are required for extended hours, from each residential property in a 300’ radius from the filming activity, and 70% approval is required from each of the dwelling units. For parking and equipment placement, surveys are required per the Municipal Code from everyone parked “adjacent” to or “directly impacted” by parking or equipment placement.
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.
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.