When you request a film permit from FilmLA, you agree to pay all required FilmLA service fees and charges, including, but not limited to: permit application fees, notification fees and monitoring fees. The total cost of your FilmLA-coordinated permit will vary depending on the location(s) you select, the type of production, and the impact and duration of your proposed filming activity.

For example, a still photography permit is $104, which covers 15 cast and crew members combined and up to 5 locations within a seven-day period. However, if the activity includes 16 or more cast and crew, B-Roll, special effects, or street or sidewalk closures, the full motion permit fee of $931 will apply.

Government-required fees must also be paid when you retrieve your permit. Please note that FilmLA does not set or control the filming-related fees charged by its client jurisdiction partners. For example, some jurisdictions collect additional fees for use of city properties like parks, beaches, streets and sidewalks. They may also assign personnel for safety or compliance oversight, which incurs fees.  .

We recognize that all filmmakers work within a limited production budget. Reviewing your filming plans with a FilmLA staff member can help you avoid use of specific locations and/or activities that will increase your permit cost.

Contact our Solution Services team at (213) 977-8600 or info@filmla.com anytime during business hours for help reviewing your permitting options.  If you have an application already in progress, cost advice can be obtained from your assigned FilmLA Production Coordinator.     
 

FilmLA Application Fees

With the payment of one application fee, FilmLA customers can request to film up to five (5) production locations within seven (7) consecutive days. FilmLA will process the application to receive the necessary government permissions for permit release. Your choice of Production Locations can span all of the jurisdictions currently served by FilmLA.

There are two exceptions to the 7-day limit. Reality Show projects requiring filming flexibility over a longer period of time are allotted 14 consecutive days. Single location applications for filming on a (non-certified) sound stage are allotted 30 consecutive days.  

Permit Application Deadlines

 
Before applying for a permit, please be sure you meet the minimum time required for application processing. Minimum permit processing time varies by jurisdiction and activity requested and will be affected by observed holidays and/or availability of government approvers. Permit deadlines can be researched in the Area Requirements articles in the FilmLA Knowledge Base or by contacting FilmLA. It's highly recommended that you contact FilmLA to be clear of your application's deadline. 

For standard permits in the City of Los Angeles (example: no high-impact activities, stunts or drones) we require three (3) business days (does not include day of submittion) to process an application without client jurisdiction approvers. More complex permits permits (example: street closures, gunfire, special effects, etc.) and those with locations in other jurisdictions that we serve may need 4 to 7 business days – or more. Please plan carefully; late applications will be rejected, and the application fee will not be refunded.

Prior to application submission in the MyFilmLA online permit system, you can draft your location(s), add or update activities, as well as view a full draft of your project. FilmLA cannot access your application while it is in draft status. Once you have submitted your first location in the MyFilmLA permit system you will be prompted to pay the application fee before being allowed to submit any additional locations. Afterward you will be able to enter your other locations without an additional application fee charge, provided your application meet the following criteria:

• Additional Production Locations must fit within seven consecutive days of the first activity date. Additional locations that do not fit within the seven-day window of your permit will incur a new application fee.
• Base Camp and Crew Parking locations can be added to your application as needed. These do not count towards the five-location limit, but they must fall within the seven-day window.
• Once your first Production Location is approved and made ready for payment in the system, you will no longer be able to add new Production Locations to your application.
• Changes made to a Distributed film permit will incur a rider fee.  
• Your finalized locations must be paid for in full to access and download your valid film permit. You must make payment if by 6PM on the business day prior to your first activity day. The law requires to you keep a physical copy of your permit onsite to avoid production shutdown. 
   

Your FilmLA Invoice

As a convenience to filmmakers, all fees payable to FilmLA and most estimated city and county fees related to your film permit can be processed within MyFilmLA.  All fees charged to process your application are individually itemized on your invoice for maximum price transparency.

FilmLA's Application Fee is due when your application is submitted for processing. The application fee is non-refundable, even if you later elect to withdraw your permit application. Additionally, cancelled or withdrawn permit applications will be assessed fees for services that have been incurred such as notification or monitoring (if applicable) as well as any government fees as required by our partner jurisdictions.

Should changes be made to your permit requiring payment of additional fees for FilmLA or government services (aka “final charges”), a new invoice will be generated reflecting these charges.

Your finalized permit must be paid for in full before release. You must make payment by 6PM on the business day prior to your first activity day. The law requires you to keep a physical copy of your permit onsite to avoid production shutdown.
 

Payment Options

Payment options for all transactions include credit card, debit card, or FilmLA Business Account. Cash, cashier’s checks, money orders, and business checks are not accepted.

Credit Card / Debit Cards

FilmLA accepts electronic payment via major credit card and debit card. All card transactions are subject to a non-refundable processing fee, assessed by our payment processor. This fee (typically falling between 3% and 4%) will vary with the total cost of your permit or license.

Use of a credit card issued by a non-US bank will result in an additional 1% transaction fee, billed and collected by FilmLA as a separate final charge.

Electronic payment eliminates the need for office visits to submit payments and pick up documents. Payment of the finalized filming permit must occur by close of business, the day prior to 1st permitted activity. Once payment has been made, customers will be able to download and print finalized permit documents.   
 

FilmLA Business Account

Established companies may also apply for a business credit account with FilmLA. Acceptance to the “Permits on Account” program is based on creditworthiness and not guaranteed. There are no fees associated with use of this service.

Applying for credit is simple. Complete and e-mail the Business Credit Application and Authorization to Verify Credit (see forms below) to AR@filmla.com. You will receive an email confirming receipt. Our Accounting Department may follow up to request additional information. You should expect to receive a final decision regarding your application by both email and mail within 30 days.

Business Credit Application

Authorization to Verify Credit
 

Security Deposits

If your film permit or license required payment of a security deposit and you are entitled to a refund of the deposit, FilmLA will automatically return the deposit to you within 30 days of the time we have received all of the final charges from the government agency. There is no need for any additional action on your part.

Refunds and Final Charges

A portion of the fees FilmLA collects at the time of permit release are based on various government agencies’ estimates of their fees, based on the information you provide on your film permit application. Once filming is complete, each government agency sends FilmLA a bill for final charges for facility use, personnel, and other charges, based on the actual work the agency performed at your request.

If the final charges billed by all agencies are less than the estimated charges you paid, you may be entitled to a refund of the difference. If you believe you might be entitled to a refund, you should provide FilmLA with a completed Refund Request Form within 90 days of the completion of the permitted filming activities. Requests received after 90 days will not be considered.

Refund Request Form

FilmLA will process the refund request once we have received the final charges from all of the agencies listed on the original permit and associated riders.
Please note that this process can take some time; receipt of final charges from government agencies can take up to 60-90 days. Your permit application, permit rider and other processing fees assessed by FilmLA are non-refundable.
 

Helpful Forms

For your billing convenience, you may need a W-9 form filled out by FilmLA, which is provided below:

FilmLA W-9 Form - 2025

Additionally, we can provide a California Form 590 Withholding Exemption Certificate to certify an exemption from nonresident withholding, below:

California Form 590 - 2025 Withholding Exemption Certificate