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 Manhattan Beach, 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.
Permits processed in 5 business days:
Private Property: Permits where all filming activity (filming, parking, staging) is contained to private property AND with no exceptional activity (gunfire, special FX, aerial activity, etc.)
Permits processed in 7 business days:
Recreation and Parks Properties: 7 business days including the date of submission.
Filming on Public Properties: 7 business days including the date of submission.
Aerial activity (Drone, helicopter, etc.): 7 business days including the date of submission.
Posted No Parking (Posting): 7 business days including the date of submission.
Lane closures, full closures: 7 business days including the date of submission.
Permits processed in 14 business days:
All high impact or exceptional activity (example: stunts, special effects, gunfire, aerial activity, closures) will require additional lead time (14 business days before the first activity date which includes the prep date).
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 Manhattan Beach vary based on the day of the week. Any request for filming outside these hours requires 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 & Sunday: 9:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Insurance Requirements
Filmmakers seeking permits to film on-location in the City of Manhattan Beach must have insurance on file with City of Manhattan Beach 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):
$1,000,000 per Occurrence / $2,000,000 Aggregate - Still Photography
$1,000,000 per Occurrence / $,000,000 Aggregate - Motion Capture (filming)
Additional Insured:
The City of Manhattan Beach must be 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.
Manhattan Beach Insurance Guidelines / Sample
Business License Requirement
Manhattan Beach requires that all productions obtain a separate business license in addition to the film permit
Productions must complete the One Day Business License Application and Credit Card Authorization Form and then email that to revenue@manhattanbeach.gov
Once processed, an email copy of the receipt will be sent to the applicant (production)
The applicant must then upload the business license receipt to their permit application in MyFilmLA
Current license fees are listed on the business license application
Please note:
- The processes to obtain a temporary business license typically takes 1-2 business days.
- Productions should not us the online form. That form is only for obtaining a yearly business license.
One Day Business License Application
Credit Card Authorization Form
Private Property Consent Form
A private property consent form or location agreement is required for all productions. The agreement must include the property owner’s name and the filming date, and it must be signed with either a wet signature or an e-signature generated through DocuSign or Adobe Acrobat Sign.
If filming at a commercial location and using the property’s lot for parking, a separate property agreement is required from the property management company.
A production representative must upload the completed and signed form to their permit application in MyFilmLA
Waste Removal/Contractor
For general refuse (landfill, recycling and organics) production companies may use their own vendor, however, if material is disposed of inside city limits, the production company must use the city’s franchised hauler for disposal of material (landfill, recycling and organics).
The production company may choose to self-haul all their waste back to their company's refuse bins or self-haul their waste directly to a transfer station for disposal.
Construction material, such as constructed sets: Construction & Demolition waste is excluded from the franchise agreement; therefore, if the production company wishes to dispose of construction materials inside city limits, they may contact any hauler with a valid business license in the City of Manhattan Beach to remove the construction material.
Department Requirements
Manhattan Beach Police Department
Police officer(s) are typically required for the following activity:
- Intermittent traffic or pedestrian control
- Stunts/special effects/brandishing of weapons/simulated gunfire/fight scenes
- Scenes that depict emergency vehicles or personnel
- Street closures
- Driving scenes or grids
- Well known talent that could create a public safety issue or crowd control situation
- Filming on the sand areas immediately surrounding the Pier during peak season (May 16-September 15.)
- For any other reason as determined by the Manhattan Beach Police Department
POLICE OFFICER HIRES
Permits with activity requiring Police Officers must be submitted 14 business days in advance.
Manhattan Beach Fire Department
A Fire Safety Officer is typically required for gunfire, open flames, weapons or stunts involving pyro and special FX, tents over 400’ square feet.
Tent permits are required from the Fire Department for any tent greater than 400’ square feet or any canopy over 700’ square feet: (310) 802-5208
Any open-flame cooking/food preparation (BBQ grills, deep fat fryers, etc. requires a permit from the Fire Department: (310) 802-5208
FIRE SAFETY OFFICER HIRES
Permits with activity requiring Fire Safety Officers must be submitted 7 business days in advance.
Posting / Temporary "No Parking" Signs
To reserve any parking space on public streets or on public property (City owned lots) Production must obtain a "Reserved Parking Permit" directly from the city. This parking permit is separate from the film permit.
Parking permits may be applied for online through the Citizen Self Service System at the following link: Traffic Engineering and Parking, City of Manhattan Beach
Parking permits must be applied for at least 7 business days in advance.
Production is responsible for posting “No Parking” signs 72 hours prior to the posting start time. Sign templates are available on the City’s website for printing: Traffic Engineering and Parking, City of Manhattan Beach
Street Closures
Street or lane closures in Manhattan Beach require Production to obtain a separate "Right of Way Permit" directly from the city. This permit is separate from the film permit.
Right of Way Permits may be applied for online through the Citizen Self Service System at the following link: Traffic Engineering and Parking, City of Manhattan Beach
Right of Way Permits must be applied for at least 7 business days in advance of filming activity.
Filming in City Parks
Productions may call (310) 802-5448 or email reservations@manhattanbeach.gov to check availability.
To place a hold productions must submit a reservation form and pay a deposit online at the Manhattan Beach Parks and Recreation website here: Make a Reservation
Productions must add their Manhattan Beach Park locations to a FilmLA permit application at least 7 business days prior to their first filming activity on Parks and Recreation property.
A Park Monitor is required for productions with a cast/crew of 50 or more.
No filming is allowed at:
- Sand Dune Park
- Bruce’s Beach
- Marine Skate Park.
The following activities are not allowed in City Parks:
| Filming with animals | amplified sound | bounce houses | open fire |
| physical training equipment | consumption of alcoholic beverages | cycles | skates |
| skateboards | rollerblades | scooters or like equipment | roping/blocking off areas or walkways |
| use of any unusual equipment including but not limited to: dunk tanks, carnival rides/games, moon bounces, generators, etc. | |||
Fee Schedule
Common Fees, Manhattan Beach
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, Manhattan Beach
Please note that use fees are collected for all prep, film and strike days.
| Fee Type | Rate | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Motion Filming - Private Property | $850 | Day |
| Motion Filming - Parks / Public Property | $1050 | Day |
| Motion Filming - Beach / Strand / Downtown | $1350 | Day |
| Still Photo - Private Property | $150 | Day |
| Still Photo - Parks / Public Property | $100 | Day |
| Still Photo - Beach / Strand / Downtown | $200 | Day |
| Police Officer - 4 hour minimum + 1 hour travel | $220.68 | Hour |
| Police Sergeant - 4 hour minimum + 1 hour travel | $291.68 | Hour |
| Community Services Officer (CSO) | $138.61 | Hour |
| Fire Inspector | $196.33 | Hour |
| Building Inspector (Public Safety Structure Inspections) | $147.97 | Hour |
| Code Enforcement | $184.09 | Hour |
| Traffic Engineer | $230.53 | Hour |
| Public Works Inspector | $181.40 | Hour |
| Park Ranger | $179.56 | Hour |
| Park Monitor - Not collected by FilmLA | $52.55 | Hour |
Community Relations
Community Filming Surveys
The City of Manhattan Beach 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
- 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.