How Long Beach Handles Filming & Production: A Practical Guide
Long Beach maintains 185 local ordinances across all categories, and 2 of those deal specifically with filming & production. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Long Beach falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.
Street Closures
Filming that would impair traffic flow in Long Beach must use City law enforcement personnel and comply with Caltrans traffic control standards under § 5.61.070(E). Traffic and street closures can be restricted to a single twelve-foot lane and stopped intermittently, with emergency road work always taking priority over the shoot.
Key details: Lane restriction: One 12-foot lane, may be stopped intermittently. Traffic control standard: Caltrans manual of traffic controls. Priority: Emergency road work over filming activity, always. Never blocked: Beach access roads serving as emergency routes.
Closing or restricting a Long Beach street for filming without following the § 5.61.070(E) traffic control conditions, or blocking a beach access road that serves as an emergency route, violates the general permit conditions of Chapter 5.61 and is a misdemeanor under § 5.61.095.5, punishable by up to $1,000 or six months in jail, or a $250 infraction, per day.
Location Permits
A filming activity permit application in Long Beach must be filed with the City Manager at least three working days before the first day of shooting, per Long Beach Municipal Code § 5.61.030(A), and must disclose the exact location, dates, personnel count, animals or pyrotechnics, and vehicles or equipment involved.
Key details: Filing deadline: 3 working days before first day of filming. Required disclosures: Location, dates, personnel, animals/pyrotechnics, equipment. Date changes: 24 hours' notice, good cause, § 5.61.050(A). Cost reimbursement: Permittee pays for City security/assistance, § 5.61.060.
Filming on a Long Beach street, sidewalk, park, or other city property without an approved location permit under § 5.61.030, or providing incomplete or false application information, is grounds for denial or revocation and is a misdemeanor under § 5.61.095.5, punishable by up to $1,000 or six months in jail, or a $250 infraction fine, per day.
The Bottom Line
Long Beach'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 Long Beach is broadly strict or permissive.
This guide is based on Long Beach's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.