Bakersfield's Filming & Production: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles filming & production a little differently. In Bakersfield, California, there are 3 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Street Closures

Film productions that need to close, restrict, or use a Bakersfield city street must obtain the closure through the City of Bakersfield film permit — the Kern County Public Works road permit does not cover Bakersfield city streets. The closure is coordinated through Bakersfield Public Works and Police Traffic, included on the city film permit, and typically requires the production to pay for Bakersfield Police Department traffic-control standby at posted hourly rates.

Key details: Permitting Office: Bakersfield Special Events & Film Permits + Public Works. County Road Permit: Does NOT cover City of Bakersfield streets. Insurance Required: $2,000,000 general liability with endorsement. Police Standby: Required at posted hourly rates.

Closing or obstructing a city street without an approved permit is enforced under BMC Title 10 (Vehicles and Traffic) and the general administrative code. Productions can be stopped, cited, and required to pay full cost recovery for city services. Repeat or egregious violations can lead to denial of future film permits.

Production Noise

Film productions in Bakersfield are subject to the general noise ordinance at BMC Chapter 9.22 and the construction-hours rule at BMC 9.22.050. Loud production work — generators, equipment, amplified sound, exterior dialogue — that occurs between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. on weekdays (or 9 p.m. and 8 a.m. on weekends) generally requires a special exception granted as a condition of the city film permit.

Key details: Construction-Hours Rule: BMC 9.22.050: 6 a.m.-9 p.m. weekdays; 8 a.m.-9 p.m. weekends. Overnight Filming Permit: City manager may authorize 9 p.m.-6 a.m. up to 3 days (BMC 9.22.050). Nighttime Noise Standard: BMC 9.22.030 — 10 p.m.-7 a.m. residential impact rule. SFX/Pyro: Fire Department coordination required.

Production noise outside permitted hours without an after-hours condition is a violation of BMC 9.22.050 and BMC 9.22.030. Enforcement is by citation under the general penalty provisions (BMC 1.40) and can also lead to revocation of the film permit and refusal of future permits. Misdemeanor charges are available for willful or repeated violations under BMC 9.22.

Location Permits

The City of Bakersfield issues its own film permit for commercial productions on city property and city streets — Kern County's free film permit (issued by the Kern County Film Commission) does NOT cover the City of Bakersfield. The city permit costs $200 ($170 permit fee + $30 business license) and requires $2 million general liability insurance with an endorsement (a certificate alone is not accepted).

Key details: Film Permit Fee: $200 ($170 permit + $30 business license). Insurance Required: $2,000,000 general liability with endorsement (no cert-only). Permitting Office: City of Bakersfield Special Events & Film Permits. County Permit Coverage: Does NOT cover City of Bakersfield.

Filming on city property or city streets without a permit can result in a stop-work order, citation under the city's general administrative code, and cost recovery for city services consumed (police, fire, traffic control). Repeat violators may be denied future permits.

The Bottom Line

Bakersfield's filming & production rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Bakersfield is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Bakersfield can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.