Huntington Beach, CA Filming & Production: Location Permits (2026)
Film location permits in Huntington Beach, CA, sometimes called film shoot permits, production permits, or filming authorizations, cover commercial photography, video shoots, and motion picture production.
Key Facts
- Issuing authority
- City Manager or authorized representative
- Insurance required
- Public liability, property damage, workers' comp
- Rescheduling notice
- 5 working days before scheduled start
- Unpermitted filming penalty
- Misdemeanor, up to $500 fine/6 months jail
- Exempt filmers
- Government employees, bona fide news media, aerial mapping
- Fee type
- Nonrefundable processing fee plus cleanup deposit
Summary
Filming a commercial photo or video shoot on Huntington Beach public property, from streets to parks and the pier, requires a City Manager-issued permit under Municipal Code Section 5.54.020 before a single frame is shot, with insurance, cleanup obligations and a nonrefundable processing fee spelled out in the same chapter.
§ 5.54.020. Permit Required. No person shall engage in any commercial or professional photography which uses public property in this City as a location site without first applying to and obtaining from the City Manager, or his or her authorized representative, a permit therefor. ... § 5.54.090. Penalty. The failure of any person to comply with the provisions of this chapter shall constitute unlawful trespass on public property and shall be a misdemeanor. Upon conviction thereof, any person, firm or corporation shall be punished for each offense by a fine not to exceed $500.00 or six months in the county jail, or both such fine and conviction, and a separate offense shall be deemed committed on each day during which a violation occurs or continues.
Full Breakdown
010 defines commercial or professional photography as using film or electronic equipment outside a studio, for profit, to record or transmit images of people or objects. 020 requires a permit from the City Manager or a designee before anyone uses Huntington Beach public property as a location site for that kind of shoot. 030 must name the applicant and its agent, describe the activity and location, list the requested dates and times, and include an agreement to reimburse the City for any City personnel or equipment used and to restore the site afterward.
040 requires the applicant to carry public liability and property damage insurance, plus workers' compensation coverage where applicable, naming the City as additionally protected, in a form the City Attorney approves. 050 requires a nonrefundable processing fee before the permit issues and lets the City Manager require a cleanup deposit, refundable only if the site is properly restored. 070 requires the Police Chief, Fire Chief and Public Works Director to evaluate the closure's effect on traffic, emergency access and neighboring institutions before it is approved, and the permittee must supply barricades and warning lights. 080 exempts government employees, news photographers and videographers from major networks or bona fide publications, and aerial photography or mapping.
Violations & Fines
Shooting commercial photography or video on Huntington Beach public property without the Section 5.54.020 permit is treated as unlawful trespass on public property and is a misdemeanor under Section 5.54.090, punishable by a fine of up to $500.00, up to six months in county jail, or both, with each day of continued unpermitted filming charged as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to film a commercial in Huntington Beach?
What insurance does Huntington Beach require for a filming permit?
Is news photography exempt from Huntington Beach's filming permit?
What happens if I film commercially in Huntington Beach without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Huntington Beach
California rules heatmap·Compare Huntington Beach to another location·View the California filming & production overview
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Location Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Orange County handle location permits.