Westlake Village Municipal Code Ch. 6.9 Motion Picture and Television Production

This chapter shall be known as the Motion Picture and Television Productions Ordinance of the City of Westlake Village.

(Ord. No. 33, Enacted, 1/12/83)

For purposes of this Chapter, the following definitions shall apply:

A. "Motion picture or television productions" means all activity attendant to staging or shooting, [video taping] commercial motion pictures, television shows, programs or commercials.

(Ord. No. 33, Enacted, 1/12/83)

No person shall use any public or private property, facility or residence for the purpose of producing, taking or making any motion picture or television production without a permit issued pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter.

(Ord. No. 33, Enacted, 1/12/83)

The provisions of this Chapter shall not apply to the following:

A. Current news which includes reporters, photographers or cameramen in the employment of a newspaper, news service, broadcasting station or similar entity engaged in the broadcasting of news events.

B. Charitable purposes which include productions which are conducted or carried on wholly for a charitable purpose or from which no profit is derived, either directly or indirectly; provided, however, that such charitable production shall be exempt only from the provisions of Section 6.9.050.

C. Productions which are conducted by a cable television company operating under a franchise granted by the City and which are not conducted on public property and which involve less than two (2) motor vehicles.

(Ord. No. 33, Enacted, 1/12/83)

Any person desiring a permit under the provisions of this Chapter shall make an application for the permit on the appropriate form provided by the City Manager. Except as otherwise provided in this Section, the application shall be submitted at least three (3) working days before the date on which the applicant desires to conduct an activity for which a permit is required. However, if any portion of the activity will occur on public property, then the application shall be submitted at least five (5) working days before the date on which the applicant desires to conduct the activity. Furthermore, if the activity will interfere with traffic, or involve outdoor filming in a residential area, outdoor lights in a residential area, pyrotechnics, or parking of vehicles on a public street in a residential area (other than for loading or unloading), the application shall be submitted at least ten (10) working days before the date on which the applicant desires to conduct the activity.

(Ord. No. 33, Enacted, 1/12/83; Ord. No. 163-99, Amended, 1/12/00)

Each application shall be accompanied by a fee as established by resolution of the City Council.

(Ord. No. 33, Enacted, 1/12/83)

The City Manager shall issue a permit as provided for in this Chapter when, from a consideration of the application and from such other information as may be otherwise obtained, he/she finds that:

A. The conduct of such activity will not unduly interfere with traffic or pedestrian movement or endanger public safety and that no residential streets will be completely closed to traffic.

B. The conduct of such activity will not unduly interfere with normal governmental or city operations, threaten to result in damage or detriment to private or public property, or result in the city incurring costs or expenditures in either money or personnel not reimbursed in advance by the applicant.

C. The conduct of such activity will not constitute a fire hazard or any other type of hazard and all proper safety precautions will be taken.

The decision of the City Manager to issue, conditionally issue, or not issue a permit shall be final unless appealed in writing within five (5) working days of the decision by requesting a hearing of the City Council at the next available meeting.

(Ord. No. 33, Enacted, 1/12/83)

If deemed necessary by the City Manager, additional sheriff, fire and other city services shall be provided for the purpose of protecting, assisting and regulating the proposed activity. The cost of providing such additional services shall be paid to the city by the applicant. Any additional city services will be provided/coordinated through the City Manager or his/her designee.

(Ord. No. 33, Enacted, 1/12/83)

The city shall require, as a condition of issuing such a permit, that the applicant furnish insurance in an amount of one million dollars ($1,000,000) to protect the city against claims of third persons for personal injury, wrongful death and property damage and to indemnify the city for damage to the city property arising out of the permittees' activities. A copy of the policy will remain on file with the application. The city and its officers and employees shall be names as additional insureds under the policy which shall not be subject to cancellation until after thirty (30) days written notice to the city. Applicant shall also submit verification that adequate Worker's Compensation insurance coverage is maintained.

(Ord. No. 33, Enacted, 1/12/83)

The applicant shall execute a hold harmless agreement as provided by the city prior to the issuance of any permit.

(Ord. No. 33, Enacted, 1/12/83)

A. The applicant shall comply with any conditions or restrictions the City may impose as a condition to issuing a permit. No changes shall be made without first obtaining the city's approval.

B. No later than one business day after filing a permit application pursuant to this Chapter, the applicant shall deliver notices to all residences and businesses within three hundred (300) feet of the property boundaries of the filming location. The notice shall advise readers of the proposed dates, times and location of the filming as well as any other information required by the City Manager to be included in the notice. The City Manager may require that the permit holder notify businesses and residences within a larger area if the City Manager determines that a larger area may be impacted by the filming activity.

C. No person engaged in a permitted activity may park any vehicle on a residential street unless the permit holder has received written approval from the City Manager for residential street parking.

(Ord. No. 33, Enacted, 1/12/83; Ord. No. 163-99, Amended, 1/12/00)

The applicant shall conduct operations in an orderly fashion with continuous attention to the storage of equipment not in use and the cleanup of trash and debris. The area used shall be cleaned of trash and debris within two (2) hours of the completion of the activity and meet approval. Applicant shall be responsible for restoring any area damaged or disrupted before leaving the site. If the site is not repaired or restored to city's satisfaction, the City Manager shall have the necessary restoration and/or repairs performed and shall pay for such work from the bond posted with the city for faithful performance. Such faithful performance bond shall be filed at the time of the application in an amount of five hundred dollars ($500).

(Ord. No. 33, Enacted, 1/12/83)

All motion picture or television productions or similar filming activity in a residential area are subject to the following restrictions:

A. The motion picture or television production or similar filming activity may only be conducted during the hours between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., unless the permit applicant obtains written approval from a representative of each household within three hundred (300) feet of the property boundaries of the filming location. The City Manager may require that the applicant obtain approval from each household within a larger area if the City Manager determines that impacts from the filming may exceed the three hundred (300) foot distance.

B. Motion picture or television productions and similar filming activity shall not be permitted more than once during any one-year period on any property within a residential zone or within three hundred (300) feet of a residential zone. Additionally, the duration of the activity shall be limited to three (3) consecutive days unless the permit applicant obtains written approval of a longer duration from a representative of each household within three hundred (300) feet of the property boundaries of the filming location. The City Manager may require that the applicant obtain approval from each household within a larger area if the City Manager determined that impacts from the production may exceed the three hundred (300) foot distance.

(Ord. No. 163-99, Enacted, 1/12/00)

Violation of the provisions of this Chapter is determined to be a misdemeanor and may be punishable by a fine of five hundred dollars ($500), or imprisonment for six (6) months in the county jail, or by both fine and imprisonment.

(Ord. No. 33, Enacted, 1/12/83; Ord. No. 163-99, Amended, 1/12/00)