Filming & Production in Santa Maria, CA (2026)
3 verified filming & production rules for Santa Maria, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Location Permits
Any filming activity within Santa Maria, from staging and shooting to videotaping or photographing motion pictures, TV or commercials, needs a film permit from the film development office, designated as the Recreation and Parks Department. Section 4-16.3 requires the permit for City property or streets and requires separate written owner consent for private locations.
Santa Maria Film Permit Required for Locations
Some RestrictionsSanta Maria Municipal Code § 4-16.3 (Chapter 4-16, Filming Activities)
(a) It is unlawful to conduct a filming activity within the City as defined in Section 4-16.2 without first obtaining a film permit from the film development office. The recreation and parks department is designated as the film development office. (b) A permit is issued by the film development office for the purpose of filming on City-owned, City-leased, or City-controlled real property includi...
Production Noise
Santa Maria doesn't set a blanket decibel limit for movie and TV shoots. Section 4-16.8 instead lets the film development office attach permit conditions restricting the daily hours a production may film and limiting firearms, explosives and other noise-creating, flammable or hazardous devices, tailored to each location and shoot.
Santa Maria Film Permit Noise Device Limits
Some RestrictionsSanta Maria Municipal Code § 4-16.8(l) and (p) (Chapter 4-16, Filming Activities, Permit Conditions)
The film development office may condition the issuance of a film permit by imposing reasonable requirements concerning the time, place, manner and duration of filming activities as referenced in Attachment D to the ordinance codified in this chapter, "Film Permit Terms and Conditions," attached to the film permit, including but not limited to the following: ... (l) Restrictions on the use of fi...
Street Closures
A film permit applicant who needs to close a Santa Maria street must request the closure on the film permit application itself. Section 4-16.14 lets the City Engineer require a traffic control plan at the applicant's expense, and routes the closure through a parade permit granted by the City Manager and coordinated with Public Works.
Santa Maria Film Permit Street Closure Rules
Some RestrictionsSanta Maria Municipal Code § 4-16.14 (Chapter 4-16, Filming Activities, Street Closures)
The applicant for a film permit may request that the City authorize a street closure on the film permit application. The City engineer may require a traffic control plan; the permittee shall pay for any preparation costs. A parade permit shall be granted by the City Manager or his designee. The film development office shall coordinate the granting of this permit with the Public Works Department.
Looking for Santa Barbara County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Santa Maria city rules.
Filming & Production in Santa Barbara County →