San Dimas Municipal Code Ch. 5.120 Film Permit Requirements

The purpose of this chapter is to facilitate filming, videotaping, photographing, and other visual recording activities within the city, whether on public or private property, in a manner that does not unreasonably interfere with the public peace, quiet enjoyment, health, and safety, including traffic, parking, and pedestrian circulation, and the use of or access to public property and facilities, or unreasonably endanger any property.

(Ord. 1323, 5/27/2025)

The following definitions shall apply in this chapter:

"Filming activities"

means and includes all activity attendant to staging or shooting commercial motion pictures, television shows or programs, commercials, digital media, or still photography, in any medium including film, tape or digital format.

"News media"

means filming activities conducted by agents or employees of any organization whose main purpose is the dissemination of news, current or recent events or happenings, including, but not limited to, newspapers, news services, television or cable news shows or similar forums. This definition also includes the photographing, filming or videotaping for the purpose of spontaneous, unplanned television news broadcasts (breaking news) or reporting for print media by reporters, photographers or camerapersons. This definition does not include news magazine shows (such as Dateline, 20/20, etc.) where filming is for air at a much later date.

"Student filming activity"

means and includes all activity attendant to staging or shooting student films produced to satisfy a school course requirement at an educational institution. In order to qualify as a student filming activity, each person participating in the filming activity must be listed on a letter from their school, on school letterhead, stating: (1) they are a student in good standing; (2) this filming is being conducted to satisfy a school course requirement; and (3) the resulting film is not for commercial use.

"Studio"

means a fixed place of business certified as such by a local fire authority having jurisdiction, where filming activities (motion or still photography) are regularly conducted upon the premises.

(Ord. 1323, 5/27/2025)

A. No person shall conduct any filming activity in the city without first obtaining a permit issued by the city.

B. No firm permit shall be required for the following filming activities:

1. Filming conducted solely for non-commercial purposes, including, but not limited to, personal, private or family use, or student filming activity, which does not require the placement of equipment, parking of vehicles, or other use or control of public property to the exclusion of others, and is not intended for posting or streaming online to an account intended to passively or actively receive compensation in any way shape or form.

2. Filming for news media, including, but not limited to, newspapers, magazines, news services, broadcast stations, television or cable news shows, internet news programs, and similar news media, for the primary purpose of disseminating news, recent events, and other current, public affairs.

3. Filming activities (motion or still photography) conducted at a studio entirely on or within private property, which does not require the placement of equipment on, parking of vehicles on, or other use or control of public property to the exclusion of others.

(Ord. 1323, 5/27/2025)

A. Each film permit application shall be completed in full on the form provided by the city or third party designee and must be filed with the city manager or designee.

B. The city manager or designee may issue a film permit in accordance with this chapter upon determining the applicant has demonstrated in the application that the following criteria are met:

1. The proposed filming activity will not unduly interfere with traffic or pedestrian movement; close any public street, sidewalk, parkway or other rights-of-way for an unreasonable period of time, or unduly interfere with nearby residents' or business owners' quiet, peaceful enjoyment of their property.

2. The proposed filming activity will not endanger public safety or property, including, but not limited to, the following:

a. The proposed filming activity will not unduly impede, obstruct or interfere with the operation of emergency vehicles or equipment in or through the permitted area.

b. The proposed filming activity will not constitute a fire hazard or any other type of hazard and all proper safety precautions will be taken as necessary to protect the public health, safety, and general welfare.

3. The proposed filming activity will not endanger or threaten damage to public property.

4. The proposed filming activity will not unduly interfere with normal governmental functions or city services and operations, or conflict with previously scheduled events.

5. The proposed filming activity will not otherwise be detrimental to the public health or safety.

C. The city may require the permittee to comply with the following point of contact requirements for coordinating unusual occurrences, managing public relations, schedule modifications, and receiving and addressing complaints associated with filming activities:

1. The permittee shall designate, and ensure the availability of, a point of contact for the coordination of unusual occurrences and large-scale emergencies when a state of emergency has been declared, managing public relations associated with filming activities, and managing filming activity schedule modifications including cancelling, delaying, rescheduling, and relocating.

2. The permittee shall designate a point of contact to receive complaints on a 24 hour/7 day a week basis and ensure that complaints are addressed in a timely manner, including when appropriate, referral of complaints to appropriate city personnel or designee.

D. Following issuance of a permit by the city, the permittee shall comply with the following requirements prior to and during filming activity:

1. The permittee shall post temporary no parking signage and lane, street and road closure requests as directed by the city or designee.

2. The permittee shall maintain the film permit in hard copy form at the filming location at all times for the duration of the filming activity.

3. The permittee shall ensure reasonable advance notification of upcoming filming activity is provided to residents and businesses who may be impacted by the filming activity. Notice shall include a description of the filming activity, in particular any filming activity that is likely to generate public concern such as special effects, gunfire, or explosions.

4. The permittee shall receive complaints at all times and respond to and address complaints in a timely manner, on an initial basis in no less than one calendar day.

(Ord. 1323, 5/27/2025)

A. The city manager or designee may deny issuance of a film permit if the requirements of this chapter and all applicable laws and regulations have not been met, or if the application contains incomplete, false or misleading information.

B. The city manager or designee may immediately suspend or revoke a film permit if the requirements of this chapter and all applicable laws and regulations are not met; the information supplied by the permittee becomes, or is determined to be, false or incomplete; or any substantial change in circumstances renders the filming detrimental to the public health, safety or general welfare.

(Ord. 1323, 5/27/2025)

A. Prior to issuance of a film permit, the applicant shall furnish general liability insurance in amounts as determined by the city's city manager but in no event less than one million dollars and name the city of San Dimas, its city council, officers, agents, employees, and volunteers as additional insureds. A certificate of insurance and a letter of endorsement shall be furnished to the city manager or designee.

B. Prior to issuance of a film permit, the applicant shall execute an agreement, on a form approved by the city attorney, to indemnify, defend, and hold the city harmless from all claims and liability arising out of the issuance of the film permit and its use for filming activities.

(Ord. 1323, 5/27/2025)

A. Each permit application shall be accompanied by payment of a non-refundable application fee to reimburse the city for costs incurred to review the application, in the amount established by resolution of the city council.

B. The permittee shall be required to reimburse the city for any personnel provided to the permittee for the purpose of assisting the filming activities, and may be required to provide a deposit, in an amount determined by the city manager, to be applied to the costs to the city of assisting the filming activities.

(Ord. 1323, 5/27/2025)

The city manager or designee is hereby authorized to promulgate reasonable rules and regulations consistent with the purposes of this chapter. Violations of the administrative regulations adopted pursuant to this Section shall constitute violations of this chapter, and shall subject the violator to the penalties set forth in this chapter.

(Ord. 1323, 5/27/2025)

A. Violation of any provision of this chapter shall be either an infraction or a misdemeanor, at the discretion of the city attorney. Where the violation is of a continuing nature, each day that the violation continues constitutes a separate and distinct violation.

B. Any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall be subject to administrative penalties pursuant to Chapter 1.06 of this code and the penalties established in Chapter 1.12 of this code.

C. The remedies provided in this chapter are not exclusive, and nothing in this chapter shall preclude the city from seeking other remedies, penalties or procedures provided by law.

(Ord. 1323, 5/27/2025)