Signal Hill Municipal Code Ch. 5.14 Filming Activities

"Charitable purposes" as used in this chapter means filming activities conducted by a nonprofit organization which qualifies under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code as a charitable organization, or by a student pursuant to an assigned school project. No person, directly or indirectly, shall receive a profit from the making, producing or showing of any films, tapes, or photos made for charitable purposes.

"Equipment" as used in this chapter means any item related to the filming activities, including but not limited to mobile offices, generators, vehicles, dollies, storage facilities, and other items used in production.

"Filming activities" as used in this chapter means and includes all activities associated with making or producing for commercial purposes motion pictures, television shows, programs, or commercials, or still photographs, by videotape, film, electronic transmission, or other similar medium.

"News purposes" as used in this chapter means filming activities conducted by reporters, photographers, or cameramen in the employ of a newspaper, news service, television station, digital news outlet, or similar entity, for the purposes of preserving news events concerning those persons, scenes or occurrences which are in the news and are of general public interest.

"Private purposes" as used in this chapter means filming activities conducted by individuals with personally owned equipment for their own private noncommercial use, including but not limited to student filming activities.

(Ord. 2023-11-1545 § 2 (part), 2023; Ord. 98-09-1241 § 1 (part))

A. No person shall use any city street, alley, sidewalk, park, parkway or other public property, nor any privately owned residence, commercial or retail building or lot for the purposes of filming activities without first applying for and receiving a permit from the city.

B. This section of this chapter shall not apply to or be construed to affect filming activities conducted for charitable purposes, news purposes, or private purposes as defined in Section 5.14.010, filming activities conducted at or in an established motion picture, television or photography studio, or filming activities conducted for use in a criminal investigation or civil proceeding.

(Ord. 2023-11-1545 § 2 (part), 2023; Ord. 98-09-1241 § 1 (part))

A written application for filming activities under this chapter must be completed and filed, on a form prescribed and supplied by the parks, recreation and library services department, at least twenty business days prior to the first day of the proposed filming activities.

(Ord. 2023-11-1545 § 2 (part), 2023; Ord. 98-09-1241 § 1 (part))

A. All applications for a city film permit shall be submitted with a nonrefundable application deposit fee to cover the actual cost of processing the permit application, including any permitted extension of the permit. The application fee shall be set from time to time by a resolution of the city council.

B. An additional deposit shall be required to pay the estimated costs incurred by the city for the use, if any, of its personnel, equipment and facilities. The amount of this deposit shall be determined by the city manager or his designee, with overpayment to be reimbursed and underpayment to be billed for payment to the applicant thirty days after the final day of the filming activities.

C. This chapter shall not exempt applicant from obtaining any other permit or license as required by this code.

(Ord. 2023-11-1545 § 2 (part), 2023; Ord. 98-09-1241 § 1 (part))

A. The application for filming activities shall be approved after the city manager or his or her designee determines that the application is complete, and that all of the following provisions of this section have been complied with:

1. That the proposed filming activities described in the application do not pose a threat to the public health and safety, and provide for the protection of property. In addition to the general permit conditions imposed by Section 5.14.070, the city manager or his designee may impose such specific conditions to approval as are necessary to eliminate or lessen the negative safety, traffic, noise, or other elements that impact the community.

2. That, at the time of the proposed filming, the proposed location has not been used for filming activities during the previous three months.

3. That the applicant has procured public liability and property damage insurance as required by Section 5.14.100 of this chapter.

4. That the applicant has executed an agreement in a form approved by the city attorney, to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the city and its officers, employees, appointees, boards and committees from any and all claims and liability of any kind whatsoever resulting from or arising out of the proposed filming activities or issuance of the permit.

5. That the applicant has paid the appropriate fees and made all necessary deposits as required by Section 5.14.040 of this chapter.

B. Once issued, the city manager or his designee may suspend or revoke a permit without notice for failure to comply with fire or safety regulations, or for a violation of any of the conditions of approval, or for engaging in filming activities outside the scope of the permit.

(Ord. 2023-11-1545 § 2 (part), 2023; Ord. 98-09-1241 § 1 (part))

A. The term of the permit shall be for such period of time as is set forth in the application for the permit, subject to any conditions imposed for approval.

B. If the filming activities described in the application are not completed upon the expiration of the permit, the city manager may, upon good cause shown and upon advanced written request by the applicant, extend the term of the permit for a period of time necessary to complete the filming activities through an amendment to the permit. The request for the extension of the city film permit shall be submitted with a nonrefundable deposit to cover the actual cost of processing the extension request and any necessary additional deposit to pay the estimated costs incurred by the city for the use, if any, of its personnel, equipment and facilities in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.14.040.

(Ord. 2023-11-1545 § 2 (part), 2023; Ord. 98-09-1241 § 1 (part))

Any applicant granted a permit pursuant to this chapter shall comply with all of the following conditions:

A. The permittee shall conduct filming activities in an orderly fashion with continuous attention to the storage of equipment not in use and the cleanup of trash and debris. All filming activity locations shall be maintained in a safe and clean condition while in use and shall be returned to their original condition before leaving the location upon completion of the filming activities.

B. The permittee shall obtain and maintain the property owners' written consent for filming activities conducted on property not owned by the city as part of the application submittal. An application will be considered incomplete if not obtained.

C. Vehicles and equipment involved in filming activities, including the personal vehicles of cast and crew, may be parked on private property or on the property of a retail or business establishment, only with the written consent of the property or business owner.

D. Applicants shall obtain prior police department approval and comply with the twenty-four-hour special events posting requirements for vehicles and equipment which must be parked on city streets in violation of local regulations. Application filing should be adjusted to accommodate the above.

E. Filming activities that will impact traffic flow shall require police review and assistance. City rules and regulations concerning street closure, rerouting, and temporary halting of traffic, as established in Title 10, shall be followed.

F. All rules and regulations established by the city's fire protection service, currently the Long Beach fire department, shall be followed. Any use of pyrotechnics, explosives, lasers or helicopters will require additional insurance and a separate permit. To obtain these additional permits, contact the Long Beach fire department, fire prevention bureau, special events section.

G. Any other conditions of approval as determined by the city manager or his or her designee as necessary to eliminate or lessen the negative safety, traffic, noise, or other elements that impact the community as a result of the activities subject to the permit.

(Ord. 2023-11-1545 § 2 (part), 2023; Ord. 98-09-1241 § 1 (part))

A. The city is authorized to and shall promulgate certain rules and regulations governing the form, time and location of any filming activities governed by this chapter as are necessary to protect the community and to facilitate legitimate filming needs.

B. Copies of the current rules and regulations shall be furnished to the applicant along with filming activity application forms.

(Ord. 2023-11-1545 § 2 (part), 2023; Ord. 98-09-1241 § 1 (part))

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, the permittee shall reimburse the city for any and all costs incurred by the city which result from the issuance of the permit or the activities authorized therein. Costs may include but are not limited to costs for personnel and/or equipment from the city police, contracted fire service, or public works department, deemed necessary by the city to comply with the city's rules and regulations, as well as for any damage to or modification of city property.

(Ord. 2023-11-1545 § 2 (part), 2023; Ord. 98-09-1241 § 1 (part))

The applicant, at the applicant's own expense, shall procure and maintain for the entire term of the permit a policy of general liability insurance approved as to form by the city attorney and to the satisfaction of the city’s administrative services officer. The insurance policy shall name the city as additional insured for third party liabilities for any action arising out of the filming activities. A copy of the policy shall accompany the application for a city filming permit.

(Ord. 2023-11-1545 § 2 (part), 2023; Ord. 98-09-1241 § 1 (part))