Introduction

Beginning on Monday, April 27, 2026 FilmLA will offer a Low Impact Permit Pilot Program in partnership with the City of Los Angeles.

The Low Impact Permit Pilot Program will allow filmmakers working on low impact film shoots to obtain City of Los Angeles film permits at a significantly reduced price. Aligned with Mayor Karen Bass’ Executive Directive 11, the program advances FilmLA’s goal to encourage on-location production in the region by making permits more accessible and affordable. The program leverages FilmLA’s permit coordination expertise and MyFilmLA technology to make participating seamless for qualifying permit applicants. 

Program Features

• Fully FilmLA Funded for a Six Month Pilot Period. FilmLA’s Low Impact Permit Pilot Program is a unique filming incentive created through public/private partnership. FilmLA’s Board of Directors has pledged to contribute funds from its operating reserve to cover the FilmLA staff and technology cost of the program for up to six months.

• Equitable Program Eligibility Criteria. The program is intended for use by filmmakers whose work on-location has demonstrably low impact on the surrounding community, regardless of project type. Projects that meet Low Impact eligibility rules require less government review and no direct on-set public safety supervision to carry out their work. These projects often operate with small production budgets.

• Data-Driven Decision Support. The City of Los Angeles and FilmLA will use this pilot program to gather data about its operational success: permit application volume, rates of customer satisfaction, and the workability of program criteria. The program will also inform the funding support required to deliver a sustainable system of tiered film permit pricing in the future.

Program Eligibility

Eligibility for this program is open to all projects that qualify. It does not matter what type of film project you are making or what your production budget is. If your impact on the community is small, your City and FilmLA review process should be simple and a City film permit with full legal protection should be available at the lowest possible cost.

To be eligible for Low Impact Tier pricing, your permit must:

• Involve three (3) or fewer Filming Locations, over three (3) consecutive Filming Days.
   
• Include no more than 30 total cast & crew physically on set during production.
   
• Avoid all Prohibited Activities & Locations, as determined by the City.
   
• Associated cast/crew Parking Location and Base Camp Locations are free.

Program Fees

During the life of the pilot program, FilmLA will establish a new Low Impact Tier for service pricing for City of Los Angeles film permits.

THE BOTTOM LINE:  A Low Impact Tier project filming for three (3) days at three (3) locations will see its out-the-door permit cost reduced by around 58 percent, compared to the cost of the same activity on a Standard Tier permit.  

Standard Tier vs. Low Impact Tier – Help Me Decide

Standard Tier Permits

Big ambitions? A Standard Tier Permit is flexible enough to cover all your filmmaking needs. From large-scale shoots to complex multi-location productions involving jurisdictions all over LA County, Standard Tier permits are the way to go.

Low Impact Tier Permits

Looking to keep costs down? Low Impact Tier Permits are designed for straightforward productions that don't need all the bells and whistles. Your project type is not as important as your minimal production footprint and use of City of Los Angeles locations. 

Standard vs. Low Impact Comparison

You will be asked to choose your permit tier when you start a new film permit application in MyFilmLA.  Once you make your selection, your application fee and the range activities you can add to your permit will change accordingly.  
 

If you still have questions after reading this guide, FilmLA's Solution Services team is here to assist you.  Please email your questions and details of your production to info@filmla.com for a fast reply back.  

Decision Tree

Need help deciding?  Answer a simple set of questions to determine whether a Standard Tier or Low Impact Tier permit is best for your needs.

Program Policies

• Single Jurisdiction. Film permits obtained at the Standard-Tier and Complex-Tier pricing levels are cross-jurisdictional, allowing access to all 15 jurisdictions served by FilmLA. In contrast, the Low Impact Tier permits are only available within the City of Los Angeles.

• Standard Hours.  Many common filming activities can be permitted on a Low Impact Tier permit, within Standard Filming Hours of M-F 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., Sat-Sun from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. The City will not extend these hours without an upgrade to Standard Tier and completion of a Community Filming Survey. The full range of possible filming permissions is restricted (see “Prohibited Activities & Locations” section for more information).

• Processing Time. A Low Impact Tier permit takes FilmLA and the City of Los Angeles a minimum of three (3) full business days to coordinate. Applications can be applied for up to a month in advance of your first activity date.  All film activity permitted through this pilot program must conclude by the program sunset date.  

• Production Footprint.  Low Impact Tier permits offer a multiple-location (limit 3) option within the City of Los Angeles only, over multiple Shoot Days (limit 3), to any applicant whose project meets program eligibility criteria. Production budget and production type play no role in determining eligibility.      

• Insurance Requirement.  Low Impact permit holders are required to furnish proof of liability and workers compensation insurance through the standard process established by the City of Los Angeles.    

• Location Protection. Low Impact Tier permits offer true right of access for permit holders, that is to say, FilmLA will conflict check your locations for you and you cannot be “bumped” from your location should a Standard or Complex Tier permit holder apply to film in the vicinity. 

Prohibited Activities & Locations

At the direction of City authorities, in order to qualify for streamlined processing and Low Impact Tier pricing, your production cannot include any Prohibited Activities or Prohibited Locations.  These limits are outlined below. 

FilmLA has made the MyFilmLA application process simpler for Low Impact Tier permits. For any film activity disallowed on a Low Impact Tier permit (for example, simulated gunfire or street closures), the option to add it to your application is removed in MyFilmLA.

Prohibited Activities

No exceptional activity that will require City personnel supervision, additional City or County permitting or complex insurance processing.

Limits Applying to All City Locations

No exceptional activity that will require City personnel supervision, additional City or County permitting or complex insurance processing, including but not limited to:

• No special effects requiring LAFD permit.
• No gunfire or brandishing of weapons.
• No impersonating officers or emergency personnel.
• No lane or sidewalk closures.
• No traffic control or interference with the public right of way.
• No driving shots.
• No aerial activity including UAS/drones, helicopters or planes.
• No animal activity.
• No amplified music performance or playback.
• No large lighting set ups or cranes.
• No use of generators.
• No open flames.
• No use of propane heaters.
• No smoke machines.
• No causing building alarm systems to be in test mode or bypassed.
• No smoking.
• No use of a practical stove, fireplace, grill, or any appliance requiring a LAFD 315 special permit.
• No grilling or food prep requiring heat sources.
• No stunts.

Limits Applying to Recreation & Parks Locations

• Film permits do not provide exclusive use of a park, parking lot, or recreation area.
• Filming is encouraged in accessible areas currently used by the public where infrastructure is established to minimize disturbance to habitats and wildlife.
• Production companies should limit the number of trucks and equipment on interior roads; only essential production vehicles may remain at the location.
• Production companies should avoid sensitive habitats and restoration areas and limit production and picture vehicles in these areas.
• Production companies must provide their own restroom facilities, handwashing stations, and hand sanitizing stations.
• Production companies and student productions must provide their own trash receptacles. City dumpsters and trash cans may not be used.
• All self-generated trash must be removed and disposed of off-site.
• Use of City utilities (water and electricity) is $75 per use, per day, invoiced by the Park Film Office.
• Smoking is prohibited on all Department properties.
• No alterations may be made to the landscape.
• No removal or replacement of signs, park benches, or fencing on property.
• No digging, staking, or drilling into turf, rocks, trees, or asphalt.
• No nailing or bolting into buildings, structures, or trees.
• No vehicles or heavy equipment is allowed on the grass.
• No use of condors, cranes, or jib arms is permitted.
• No simulated sex or nudity allowed on Park property.
• All lighting requests (e.g., Bebee, 10k, Musco) in sensitive areas will be reviewed by the Park Film Office on a case-by-case basis.
• Between January 1 and July 31, all filming areas near trees must be evaluated for nesting activity by qualified persons per California Fish and Wildlife code. If nesting is present, production must follow professional recommendations. Permittees are solely responsible for compliance with all laws governing birds and nests, including the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 and California Fish and Game Code Sections 3500, et seq.
   

Prohibited Locations

Areas that are not specifically indicated but present a public safety risk, such as hazardous materials locations, non-compliant Title 19 high-rise buildings, and assemblies exceeding the building occupancy load, are prohibited from use under this program. Other locations that cannot be used include: 

• No schools, colleges, universities, churches, hospitals or other institutions that require LAFD walkthroughs.
• No City-owned buildings and structures, except Recreation & Parks property.
• No locations in areas covered by Neighborhood Special Filming Conditions. 
• No rooftop filming locations.
• No hotel filming locations.
• No interior business “open to the public” locations.
• No airport filming locations.
• No basements
• No multistory apartments (four stories or more).
• No high rises (75ft or more).
• No brush.
• No harbor locations.
• No helipads/helicopter landings