Marin County, CA Filming & Production: Location Permits (2026)

36, Commercial Filming Permit, requires a permit before county property is used for filming motion pictures or television for commercial purposes. 010(a) states the requirement and carves out one exception: no permit is needed for filming that occurs solely within the Marin Veterans' Memorial Building. Depending on the location, the permit comes from the community development agency director for general county property, from the public works director for county-maintained roads and right-of-ways, or from the Parks, Open Space and Cultural Services director for county parks.

020 requires an application on county forms accompanied by a nonrefundable fee, set by the board of supervisors for each eight-hour period of use, plus a deposit covering the actual cost of required regulation such as hiring guards; if county expenses exceed the deposit, the applicant must pay the balance when billed by the auditor-controller. 040 requires the applicant to comply with whatever conditions the responsible director deems necessary so filming does not unreasonably impede vehicular traffic, restrict public access to county property, or damage county property.

050 requires the applicant to furnish, at its own expense, a liability insurance policy in an amount the board of supervisors sets by resolution, naming the county as an additional insured, with proof filed before any use of the permitted premises. 060 obligates the permittee to keep the site orderly, store unused equipment properly, and leave the premises clean; if the applicant fails to do so, the county can charge the cost of cleanup back to the permittee.