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

Riverside County has waived all of its film permit fees in the unincorporated areas of the county and offers free use of County-owned properties for projects lasting 10 days or less, per the California Film Commission's directory of state film incentives. Permits are still required and are processed through the Riverside County Film Commission (RCFC), operated by Inland Empire Film Services under the auspices of the Riverside County Office of Economic Development, in cooperation with the County Film Ordinance (Ordinance No. 634). Productions may still incur ancillary costs for public-safety personnel (Sheriff and Fire), road-closure logistics, and indemnity insurance certificates naming the County as additional insured.

Projects exceeding 10 days on County-owned property fall outside the free-use offer and may require separate location agreements. State and federal land within the county (BLM desert lands, San Bernardino National Forest, Joshua Tree National Park) operates under separate permit jurisdictions. Filming on private property generally requires only owner consent plus advance notification if traffic, parking, or neighborhood quiet is affected.