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
Finding a School
Photos of school properties are available on LocoScout, FilmLA’s web-based location scouting tool, or contact us and speak with a schools specialist for location recommendations. After identifying a potential location, filmmakers should contact the filming liaison assigned to school location to check availability of site, feasibility of the request, and to arrange a scout.
Licensing Information
A license agreement for the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) is required for use of any property owned by the District. After your request receives initial support from the school liaison, begin the permit / license process by entering your project information via my.filmla.com. License applications must be submitted with a minimum of four business days for processing.
PLEASE NOTE:
A monitor will be assigned during all filming at LAUSD school locations.
Filming activity is secondary to and must not disrupt any school instructional program.
Apply for a LAUSD Filming / Production License in MyFilmLA
LAUSD Sample License Agreement
Film Permit Requirement
A film permit with the City of Los Angeles is required in addition to your LAUSD license. Film permits for the City of Los Angeles are also coordinated by FilmLA. Applications for the film permit can be submitted at My.Filmla.com. Filming, base camping, or crew parking at all LAUSD properties require an advance fire department walk‐through. The LAFD Pre‐Approval form is available below. Filmmakers are responsible for arranging their own walk‐throughs with the LAFD.
Application Submission
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 a school license / permit requires a minimum of four (4) full business days prior to the first activity date.
- This does not include the date of submission.
- Please be advised certain activities may require more advance notice.
Payments and Distribution
All LAUSD fees are collected by FilmLA. When the license agreement is ready, we will notify you of acceptable forms of payment for your company. Licenses cancelled with less than 24-hour notice will be assessed a $150 fee. Full fees will be collected for cancellations after 10am the day prior to activity.
An authorized production company representative must sign and return the completed license agreement using the MyFilmLA system. Please note that LAUSD policy prohibits third parties from signing on filmmakers’ behalf.
Your finalized LAUSD License and City film permit must be kept on-site at all times during the production activity.
Insurance Requirements
Filmmakers seeking to use school district facilities must have insurance on file for LAUSD and 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 schools specialist.
Please forward all insurance requirements for this district to your broker for processing.
The final license agreement will not be released until all insurance has been reviewed and approved by our office, 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)
- $2,000,000 - Per Occurrence
- $3,000,000 - Aggregate
Additional Insured
- Los Angeles Unified School District 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
Please submit certificates to FilmLA by email to insurance@filmla.com.
If you have any questions about our requirements, please contact our office at 213.977.8600 and ask to speak with our schools department.
Los Angeles Unified School District Insurance Sample
Restricted and Prohibited Activities
LAUSD has made changes to the activities that are permitted during filming, and additional requirements and/or documentation may be necessary. Please see the guide below for your reference on those activities:
LAUSD Restricted and Prohibited Activities
Fee Schedule
LAUSD Production Fees
When you request a film permit from FilmLA, you agree to pay all FilmLA required fees and charges, including, but not limited to: permit application fees, notification fees and monitoring fees. Total fees applied to your permit will vary depending on the location(s) used, type of production, and the impact and duration of your proposed filming activity.
When you request to film at a school facility you may also be charged filming license fees as described below. Please note that FilmLA does not set or control the filming-related fees charged by its government partners.
| Fee Type | Amount | Unit |
| Deposit | $500.00 | Per Day (returned, if conditions met) |
| Basic Filming Rate | $3,500.00 | For 15 Hours |
| Overtime Rate | $140.00 | Per Hour |
| Custodial Rate | $40.00 | Per Hour |
| Half-Day Filming Rate | $1,750.00 | For 6 Hours |
| Student Filming - Basic Rate | $350.00 | For 4 Hours |
| Student Filming - Overtime Rate | $70.00 | Per Hour |
| Still Photography - Basic Rate | $525.00 | For 4 Hours |
| Still Photography - Overtime Rate | $74.00 | Per Hour |
| Overnight Parking / Storage Charge | $1,000.00 | Per Day |
LAUSD Parking Fees
For PARKING ONLY, use the following rates. Crew and base camp parking are included in filming fees during filming, prep and strike.
Base Camp: $1,000.00 per day for base camp and/or catering, plus parking rates.
| School Type | Half Day (8 HRS.) | Full Day (16 HRS.) | Additional Hour |
| Elementary | $950.00 | $1,445.00 | $155.00 |
| Middle | $950.00 | $1,445.00 | $155.00 |
| Senior High | $1,015.00 | $1,648.00 | $155.00 |
LAUSD Additional Facility Rates
Rate for additional facilities (auditoriums, multipurpose rooms, lunch areas, gyms, playground, cafeteria, etc.) while filming or parking at a school will be provided upon request.
LAUSD Exceptional Rates
All LAUSD properties are subject to the same basic filming, still photo and parking use rates, with the exception of two schools: Ramon C. Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts, and Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools Complex.
| Ramon C. Cortines - Fee Type | Amount | Unit |
| Deposit for Filming | $10,000.00 | Per Film Production |
| Basic Filming Rate | $8,000.00 | For 15 Hours |
| Overtime Rate | $500.00 | Per Hour |
| Custodial Rate | $40.00 | Per Hour |
| Half-Day Filming Rate | $6,000.00 | For 6 Hours |
| Deposit for Still Photography | $5,000.00 | Per Still Photo Production |
| Still Photography Rate | $2,300 | For 8 Hours |
| Still Photography Overtime Rate | $250 | Per Hour |
| Robert F. Kennedy Complex - Fee Type | Amount | Unit |
| Deposit for Filming and/or Still Photo | $500 | Per Day |
| Basic Filming Rate | $5,000 | Per Day |
| Still Photography Rate | $835 | For 4 Hours |
| Still Photography Overtime Rate | $70 | Per Hour |