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

The film permit officer position sits in the department of planning and development under Sec. 14C-3, and reviews applications with input from affected agencies including the fire department or district, sheriff's department, parks department, public works, general services, and the California Highway Patrol under Sec. 14C-4. Applications must be filed at least three business days before filming, or seven business days ahead if the activity involves road closures, stunts, or electrical or pyrotechnic special effects, under Sec. 14C-7. Certain activity is exempt from the permit requirement altogether, including filming for news purposes, filming at fixed studios, filming solely for private or family use, and small-scale filming that avoids firearms, amplified sound, nighttime lighting, explosives or pyrotechnics if the operator first files a written declaration with the film permit officer, under Sec.

14C-6. A permit applicant must also carry general liability, automobile liability and property damage insurance of at least one million dollars, naming the county as additional insured, under Sec. 14C-13, and sign an indemnification agreement under Sec. 14C-14 before the permit issues. Fees include a nonrefundable application fee equal to fifty percent of the base permit fee, plus reimbursement for county employee time and property use, under Sec. 14C-11, though the film permit officer can waive the application fee for nonprofits.