Contra Costa County, CA Filming & Production: Location Permits (2026)
Film location permits in Contra Costa County, CA, sometimes called film shoot permits, production permits, or filming authorizations, cover commercial photography, video shoots, and motion picture production.
Key Facts
- Permit required
- For filming on public property/needing county services
- Issuing office
- Director of General Services
- Insurance minimum
- $1,000,000 combined single limit
- Application
- Can start by phone; CA Film Commission form
- Copy on site
- Required at all times while filming
- Authority
- Ord. 96-39; Gov. Code §14999.21
Summary
Commercial motion picture production on public property, or any filming that requires county services, needs a filming permit from the Department of General Services first. Section 56-8.402 makes filming without one unlawful, and applicants must carry at least $1 million in liability insurance naming the county as an additional insured.
No person shall engage in commercial motion picture production on public property or requiring public services without obtaining a filming permit pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. ... The applicant shall, at no cost to county, furnish evidence of comprehensive liability insurance coverage, including coverage of owned and non-owned automobiles, with a minimum combined single limit coverage of at least one million dollars for all damages due to bodily injury, sickness or disease, or death to any person, and damage to property, including loss of use thereof, arising out of each accident or occurrence.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Ordinance Code: Supplement 103).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 56-8, adopted by Ordinance No. 21, requires anyone engaging in commercial motion picture production on county public property, or filming that needs public services, to get a permit before shooting. 206 directs that office to work with the film industry to coordinate reviews across county departments. 406. 408 requires comprehensive liability insurance, including coverage for owned and non-owned vehicles, with a minimum combined single limit of $1,000,000 for bodily injury and property damage per occurrence, naming the county and its officers and employees as additional insureds, with 30 days' written notice required before the policy can be cancelled or reduced.
412, the permit holder must indemnify and defend the county against claims arising from the filming activity. 418 has the director note any other local agencies with jurisdiction over the permitted activity. 602 must reasonably reflect the county's cost of providing services, including police and fire support, for the shoot.
Violations & Fines
Filming on public property, or filming anywhere that requires county services, without the Chapter 56-8 permit is unlawful under Section 56-8.402. The permit can be conditioned on the insurance and hold-harmless requirements of Sections 56-8.408 and 56-8.412, and cancelling after 3 p.m. on the last working day before the shoot forfeits the cancellation fee set under Section 56-8.604.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to film on public property in Contra Costa County?
How much insurance does a Contra Costa County filming permit require?
How do I start a filming permit application?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Contra Costa County
California rules heatmap·Compare Contra Costa County to another location·View the California filming & production overview
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