Pasadena Film Office

You would need to apply for a Temporary Filming Conditional Use Permit. The process (due to required public hearings) takes about three months. At the end of this time period, you will have a definitive answer as to whether or not your permit can be issued.

4. Can a Pasadena property owner carry over their unused filming days from quarter to quarter?

No, if the owner doesn’t use their quarterly allocation of filming days, they lose it.

5. Does Pasadena allow filming on the weekend?

In most Pasadena neighborhoods, “yes.” The Hudson Avenue and South San Rafael Special Filming Districts do not permit filming on weekends, and filming in Old Pasadena is generally prohibited on Thursday evenings, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays due to the volume of activity. Other peak business areas may have similar restrictions on a case-by-case basis.

6. Does Pasadena have a scouting library? If so, how do I access it?

Pasadena has an online scouting library. To access it, visit www.filmpasadena.com and click on the orange button that says “Location Library.”

Click on “Enter our brand new Location Library,” then Agree to the Terms and Conditions.

CATEGORY SEARCH

1) Click on Location Library link and search
by general categories.

2) Then Click on any photo that interests you to
see more photos of that location.

-or-

KEYWORD SEARCH
1) In addition to our category search,
you can use the Search Locations box
by typing in any keyword of your choice.
(Typical keywords: kitchen, study, swimming pool, living room,
auditorium, office, backyard, dormer, lake, etc.) The generic keyword search is even more effective than the Residential Features
category search.

2) Then follow step 2 from above.

IMPORTANT: If you would like total access to our database to view the contact info for residential properties, you need to register. Click on “Sign Up” and then “VisionScout.” Register and you will get a notice when your account has been reviewed and activated by the Film Office.

7. When/how should I submit my film permit application?

No less than five business days in advance of your first shoot day. During slower volume times, we may be able to accommodate you in a shorter time frame. Check with the Film Office to see if that is possible.

You can submit your permit by faxing it into the Film Office at 626-744-4785. The permit will be assigned to a coordinator and they will be calling you to follow up. A copy of the film permit application is available online at www.filmpasadena.com. Click on the orange button that says “Film Permit Application.”

At time of your initial submittal, you should send the Film Office the cover sheet of your permit and a copy of your neighbor notification letter for approval by the Film Office staff. You should not canvas the neighborhood for signatures until your letter is approved by the Film Office. A parking plan/signature map should also be included during the initial submittal. We understand that signatures, insurance and the permission to use property form may follow after this initial submittal.

8. Who needs to be notified once my neighborhood notification letter is approved?

Whether you are filming in a commercial or residential zone, everyone within 300 feet of your film location on both sides of the street needs to be notified. The notification area may be longer if your filming and/or parking extends beyond this 300 foot area. Your assigned Film Office coordinator will give you guidance in this area. Signatures are not necessarily required from everyone you notify.

9. What are the signature requirements?

TIMES	RESIDENTIAL	COMMERCIAL
7a – 7p	Signatures required from all property owners or tenants That filming company parks or conducts activities in front of.	Signatures required from all property owners or tenants that filming company parks or conducts activities in front of as well as any additional owners/tenants who are impacted by filming activity occurring in front of their properties (i.e. carts rolled in front of their stores, film personnel in front of their stores, etc.)
7a – 8, 9, 10p	Signatures required from all property owners or tenants That filming company parks or conducts activities in front of. Plus additional signatures are required to bring the company up to 51% of the neighborhood signed within 300 feet of the location. (Note: Staff has also been requesting 51% signatures from companies conducting traffic control anytime during the 7a to 10p time period because at least half of a block is impacted by this type of activity).	Same as 7a to 7p requirements.
Before 7a or after 10p (Sunday-Thursday)	Signatures are required from 90% of the property owners or tenants within 300 feet of the location (both sides of the street), except for the areas listed in the Filming Guidelines which remain at 100% or those areas that fall under the Frequently Filmed Guidelines.	Same as 7a to 7 p requirements. However if a commercial area is closed for the night, the Film Office has used administrative discretion to waive signatures for this time period, since closed businesses will not be impacted by filming activities.
Before 7a or after 10p (Friday and Saturday)	Signatures are required from 75% of the property owners or tenants within 300 feet of the location (both sides of the street),	Same as 7a to 7 p requirements. However, certain business districts such as Old Pasadena are open late on Fridays and Saturdays and all filming activities may be denied due to business impacts.

10. What can I park on the street?

Essential production vehicles only may park on City streets and a few limited crew cars. The rest of the production vehicles and crew vehicles need to be parked at an offsite base camp. Pasadena neighborhoods host a lot of filming. If every company was to park every single vehicle on the street that they bring with them, a neighborhood revolt would ensue, making filming difficult if not impossible in the future.

11. How do I find a good base camp?

We will have a new parking resource list posted on our website www.filmpasadena.com after the first of the year. Or you can use our “secret” weapon: Google Maps. Type in your location address, then click “Search Nearby.” Then type in “Churches.” Instantly a whole map and list with addresses and phone numbers of churches will appear. Pasadena has many churches and just about all have huge open air parking lots available during the week and on the weekend for non-Sunday parking.

12. What is the film permit turn around time? When will I receive my approved permit after I submit it?

Your permit will be released to you the day prior to your first prep or shoot day as long as we receive all final documents (i.e. insurance, signatures, permission to use property form).

13. Will police and fire be assigned to my shoot?

A police officer is usually assigned to all commercial shoots. A fire officer is assigned on a case by case basis depending on if you are filming a property that is open to the general public during filming or if the building has a sprinkler system or is on the historic registry.

Student shoots confined to interiors do not usually require a police officer.

14. How do I figure out my fees in advance of my permit being released?

You should visit our website: www.filmpasadena.com. Click on the orange button that says “Film Permit Application.” Download the application and review page three. It lists all fees. Assume that one police officer will be automatically assigned for the hours listed on your permit. A film permit fee will be charged per day based on whether you are on public or private property. If you plan to conduct a street closure, you will be charged a street closure fee for the number of hours the street is closed, even if intermittently. Review the rest of the fee list closely to determine what would apply to your shoot and assist you with your initial calculations.

15. If I cancel my permit, will I have to pay a cancellation fee?

You will have to submit a rider to cancel and the rider fee is $109.20. If you don’t cancel by noon prior to the day of your shoot, you will owe police and fire minimums for any shifts of officers scheduled. Police is a 6 hour minimum per shift, fire a 4 hour minimum per shift.

16. What are the insurance requirements for the City of Pasadena?

A certificate needs to be issued naming the City of Pasadena as additional insured and the following address should be listed for the certificate holder: City of Pasadena, 100 North Garfield Avenue Room S116, Pasadena, CA 91109.

All policy numbers and effective dates of policy(ies) need to be listed for each form of insurance along with company.

The City requires one million dollars in General Liability coverage, $100,000 in auto coverage and whatever is statutory for worker’s comp. For worker’s comp, submitting your proof of coverage from your payroll company is acceptable.

Insurance certs should be faxed to 626-744-4785.

17. I don’t have any employees who would be subject to workers comp and I don’t have a payroll company. How do I meet the City’s workers comp requirement?

You need to fill out the form in the Pasadena Film Permit Application packet called “Worker’s Comp Waiver.” Sign and fax this in to the Film Office at 626-744-4785.

18. What does it cost to film if I’m an independent filmmaker or extremely low budget?

For consideration of a waiver of basic permit fees – film location fees, including City property (sidewalks, alleys, etc.) and personnel fees cannot be waived but also may not apply depending on the filming location and activity.

19. Do student filmmakers have to apply for a filming permit? What is required?

Students have to follow the same process as other filmmakers, except students also need to submit a letter verifying they are a student conducting the filming for a class project. Insurance is usually provided by the school. The school may require that the student’s name be added to the school’s insurance certificate or they may not. The student should check with their production office. The quarterly limits on the numbers of days per filming property is waived for students.

Frequently students are on a budget and want to know the best way to avoid running up their costs. One is to confine most filming activity to the interior of a property. Once you start conducting activity in the street or City right of way, police officers are required to control traffic. Same with smoke effects. Smoke effects of any kind usually require assignment of a fire safety officer. Police and fire officers are paid over $50.00 an hour.

Closing of alleys can also be quite costly as merchants depending on the alleys for deliveries may want compensation for the affect of rerouting deliveries. Many receive deliveries in the middle of the night or odd hours.

20. What is the fee to film if I’m a student?

There is no charge to film if you are a student. With the exception of locations fees (i.e. City Hall or on a City sidewalk) and personnel costs if required (police and fire).

21. Is the Film Office open on weekends?

No. Although if you have an emergency in the field while filming here during a weekend, the police officer assigned will be able to reach any of the film office staff via cell phone.

22. How do I register my property for filming?

By visiting our website, www.filmpasadena.com, click on the orange button that says “Register Your Property” and follow the instructions.

23. Who do I contact to film a Pasadena school?

The contact for the Pasadena Unified School District is Gina Curry. Her phone number is (626) 798-9171 ext. 200.

24. Can I close a street or traffic lane? What is the process?

We don’t know if you can close a traffic lane or street until you submit a closure detour plan prepared by a professional traffic management company showing all State required detour signage and closure barricades. This plan will be submitted to the Transportation Engineer for review and he/she will determine if traffic volumes in the area would allow for the closure without creating major traffic disruptions. They will also consult with Public Works to determine if there are any Public Works issues that would affect the closure. They will then provide a go ahead or denial to the Film Office who will contact you with the final details.

25. What is the turn around time to film a Pasadena Park?

It takes three weeks to obtain a parks permit for filming. This timeline is strict due to the advance prep work that goes into the scheduling around other parks users, required pre-inspections with Parks and Natural Resources staff, diagram rental submittals to the Parks Reservation Desk and the filing of the filming paperwork on top of these requirements.

26. What is a frequently filmed neighborhood?

A frequently filmed neighborhood is a neighborhood where 6 days of filming have occurred in the previous 90 days prior to your first shoot day. If a permit in a frequently filmed area is approved, tighter parking restrictions and fewer hours of operation may be required. The Film Office also reserves the right to deny the filming all together in a frequently filmed neighborhood.

27. What is the film-friendliest neighborhood in Pasadena?

There are a number of film friendly areas in Pasadena. But generally, any commercial property with its own self-contained parking lot that can host all of your parking needs is film-friendly. No signatures would be required in this instance. And there would be no time restrictions for your filming activity. A residentially zoned property with its own onsite parking and far from its nearest neighbor would also be considered a film-friendly area and signatures could even be waived in this case.

28. What are the posting requirements for “no parking” signs?

No parking signs must be posted 24 hours in advance of your parking activity. These signs will reserve space for your production trucks and vehicles. The permit number must be written on each sign as well as the date and time of your parking activity. Signs may not be stapled, nailed, taped or affixed with any other abrasive materials. It’s recommended that signs be affixed with cotton string or plastic coated wire or with Saran wrap. Signs may never be posted on trees. Stapling the signs to traffic cones is an option if there are no meters or poles in the area. Signs can be picked up from the Film Office at 100 North Garfield, S116 (call 626-744-3964) prior to picking them up.