Lake Havasu City, AZ Filming & Production: Location Permits (2026)

Section 9.20.020(B) folds commercial filming into the city's special event permit system: any filming, including photo, motion picture, video recording, or spoken statements, for a commercial purpose requires a special event permit when it uses city-owned land, buildings, or parks, or public streets, roads, alleys, or rights-of-way. The section defines commercial purpose to include, but not limit to, motion pictures, features, television shows, commercials, and music or entertainment videos. Two exceptions let a shoot skip the permit: filming for news gathering, for use in a law-enforcement criminal investigation, or for use in a judicial proceeding, and filming that is limited to a hand-held camera or a camera on a tripod and does not assert exclusive use of city property.

Applicants must submit a special event application at least 60 calendar days before the proposed date under section 9.20.050, though the city may consider late applications at its discretion, and the application must include full, complete, and detailed information along with all supporting documentation the city's form specifies. A denied applicant has an appeal procedure available under section 9.20.070. Conducting a special event, including permit-triggering commercial filming, without first obtaining the permit is independently unlawful under section 9.20.020(A), and the same permit office that reviews parades and festivals reviews filming requests.