Berkeley, CA Filming & Production: Location Permits (2026)
Film location permits in Berkeley, CA, sometimes called film shoot permits, production permits, or filming authorizations, cover commercial photography, video shoots, and motion picture production.
Key Facts
- Governs
- Commercial for-profit filming in parks/streets
- Permit issuer
- City Manager or designee
- Exempt
- News media, court use, private/family filming
- Appeal window
- 5 days to City Clerk
- Penalty basis
- BMC Chapter 1.20
Summary
Commercial for-profit filming in any Berkeley park or on any public street, sidewalk or alley that requires street closure or traffic control needs a permit from the City Manager before shooting begins. News, court and private/family filming are exempt.
No person shall conduct, cause to be conducted, participate in, engage in, hold, manage, employ, permit or allow another to conduct any commercial for profit filming in any park, or on any public street, sidewalk, alley or sidewalk within the City in a manner which requires either street closure or other traffic control measures or measures affecting pedestrian circulation, without first obtaining a permit from the City Manager or their designated representative, or, as hereinafter provided, from the City Council.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 8031-NS, passed July 28, 2026).
Full Breakdown
78 requires anyone who conducts, causes, or participates in commercial for-profit filming in a City park or on a public street, sidewalk or alley in a manner requiring street closure or other traffic control or measures affecting pedestrian circulation to first obtain a permit from the City Manager or a designee, or from the City Council on appeal. "Filming" is defined to cover staging or shooting of photographs, motion pictures, television programs, commercials or music videos for commercial purposes, but the definition expressly carves out news media coverage, use in a criminal investigation, civil or criminal court proceedings, and private or family use.
"Park" means any City-owned or managed park, picnic area, playground or open space, and the permit obligation is separate from any use permit the parks department otherwise requires. The City Manager must issue the permit unless the application is incomplete, contains materially false information, conflicts with a previously granted permit for the same time and place, would unduly interfere with a freeway, state highway, or major arterial, or would unreasonably interfere with fire or police protection or create a safety hazard. Permit holders must carry the permit on-site and show it on demand to any City department employee, and the permit may be revoked if its conditions are violated, with an appeal to the City Manager or City Council depending on who issued the decision.
Violations & Fines
Violating any provision of Chapter 9.78, including filming without a required permit or violating permit conditions, is punishable under BMC Chapter 1.20, and the City Manager may revoke the permit outright if conditions are not met. A revoked or denied applicant has five days from receipt of the written denial or revocation notice to file a notice of appeal with the City Clerk for review at the next Council meeting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every film shoot in Berkeley need a permit?
Who decides whether to grant a Berkeley filming permit?
Can a denied filming permit be appealed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Berkeley
California rules heatmap·Compare Berkeley to another location·View the California filming & production overview
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Location Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Alameda County handle location permits.