Ventura Municipal Code Art. 3 Action on Permit Applications

A. After a film permit application is filed, the administrator shall immediately forward the application to directors, or designees (collectively “reviewing officers”), whose departments are affected by the proposed event for their recommendations. The reviewing officers may include, without limitation:

1. The fire chief;

2. The police chief;

3. The parks director; and/or

4. The public works director.

B. Upon receiving an application, the reviewing officers shall consider the application, conduct any necessary investigation, and provide the administrator with written recommendations regarding:

1. Any special conditions for a permit;

2. Whether, based on the scope of the proposed filming, a prefilming operational meeting is required. Should such a meeting be necessary, the administrator shall notify the applicant of the time and place of the meeting within a reasonable time before filming; and

3. Any additional recommendations.

C. The reviewing officers must complete their review before the administrator must make a decision on the application. (Code 1971, § 612140)

A. Except as provided in this chapter, completed applications for a film permit shall be filed in the administrator’s office at least:

1. Two business days before the filming date for a permit that does not require city services; or

2. Four business days before the filming date for filming involving stunts or traffic control; or

3. Ten business days before the filming date for filming involving closure of public streets or rights-of-way, or use of pyrotechnics, fire, or explosives for special effects, except that an application may be filed pursuant to subsection (A)(1) of this section if special effects are limited to the use of “squibs” as defined in Title 19, Section 980 of the California Code of Regulations, or any successor regulation, and the fire department determined the pyrotechnic operator’s license to be in good standing within the previous 12 months.

B. Applicants wishing to preserve their right to administrative review must add an additional 15 days to the applicable time periods established in subsections (A)(1) through (A)(3) of this section.

C. Except as provided in this chapter, completed applications for a film permit shall be denied, approved, or conditionally approved by the administrator within the applicable time periods established by subsections (A)(1) through (A)(3) of this section. Following their decision, the administrator shall promptly attempt to notify the applicant orally and in writing.

D. Unless otherwise provided, the applicant’s acceptance of the approval or conditional approval must be received by the administrator before the filming date. Failure to accept the decision or failure to file a request for administrative review shall be deemed a withdrawal of the application. (Code 1971, § 612150)

A. If, due to inclement weather or other similar unforeseen circumstances, it is necessary to change the filming date and/or time, the administrator may, upon permittee’s request, issue a film permit addendum authorizing filming at the same location for new times and dates. Permittee must comply with all applicable provisions of this chapter, including notification, and shall pay any reasonable administrative fee that permit reissuance may cost.

B. If there is any substantial change in the filming from that described in the permit application, an applicant must pay the permit issuance fee and obtain an amended permit before the filming date. (Code 1971, § 612160)

A. The administrator shall issue a permit if:

1. The application was complete in accordance with this chapter;

2. There are no grounds for denying the permit; and

3. Applicant accepts the permit approval or conditional approval in writing.

B. Use of any permit issued pursuant to this chapter shall conform to the general permit conditions of this chapter and, if applicable, special permit conditions reasonably deemed necessary by the administrator to protect public safety and/or welfare. Such special conditions may include, without limitation, conditions for controlling pedestrian and/or vehicle traffic, for protecting public and/or private property, and/or for protecting public health and safety. (Code 1971, § 612170)

A. A permit may be denied for the following reasons:

1. The application is incomplete;

2. The applicant failed to provide reasonable supplemental application information requested by the administrator;

3. Information submitted by the applicant is materially false;

4. Applicant seeks approval for filming that is so close in time and location to another event scheduled for the same date as to cause unreasonable traffic congestion and/or to overextend public safety and/or emergency services;

5. Filming time and/or methodology will unreasonably interrupt the safe and orderly movement of traffic contiguous to the site or route of the event;

6. The concentration of persons, animals, and/or vehicles at the filming prevents public safety and/or emergency services from reaching areas at or contiguous to the event;

7. The size of filming will overextend public safety and/or emergency services to the extent that the safety of filming participants, attendees, and/or the remainder of the city will be seriously jeopardized; provided, however, that nothing herein authorizes the denial of a permit because of the need to protect participants from the conduct of others if reasonable permit conditions can be imposed;

8. The filming location will substantially interfere with construction or maintenance work previously scheduled to take on or along the city street, parking facility, sidewalks or other public right-of-way to be occupied by the event;

9. The filming will occur along a route or location adjacent to a hospital or extended care facility, and the noise created by the event would substantially disrupt the operation of the hospital or extended care facility or disturb the patients within;

10. The filming will occur at a time when a school is in session and along a route or at a location adjacent to the school or a class thereof, and the noise created by the filming activities will substantially disrupt the educational activity of such school or class;

11. The application is not timely submitted and there is insufficient time to investigate and process the application pursuant to the timelines herein.

B. The administrator shall consult with the city attorney before denying a filming permit. (Code 1971, § 612180)

If the administrator denies a film permit that would be acceptable by changing filming time, place, or manner, then the administrator may inform the applicant of such alternatives. Should the applicant accept the alternative time, place, or manner then the administrator shall issue a permit in accordance with this chapter. (Code 1971, § 612190)