Pismo Beach, CA Filming & Production: Location Permits (2026)

Chapter 5.44 of the Pismo Beach Municipal Code covers filming activities on location. Section 5.44.030 A makes it unlawful to conduct a filming activity as defined in Section 5.44.020 within the city without first obtaining a film permit from the film development office. That office is the community development department or the office the city council designates to coordinate filming and issue film permits. Filming activity is defined broadly: staging, shooting, filming, videotaping or photographing for still photographs, motion pictures, television programs, and commercial and non-theatrical film productions.

The permit itself is limited. Section 5.44.030 B says a permit is issued for filming on city-owned, leased or controlled real property or city streets, does not grant permission to use property the city does not own, lease or control, and must be in the permittee's possession at all times while on location in the city. Under subsection C, the applicant must obtain the private property owner's permission, consent, and/or lease for private property.

Section 5.44.040 exempts news filming, filming at studios, filming for a criminal investigation or court proceeding, non-commercial filming on private property solely for private or family use, filming by or for the city, and commercial still photography conducted to the exclusion of other filming when it is not on city property and does not require parking more than two motor vehicles on a public street. Every exemption is conditioned on the activity not requiring closure of a public street or substantially impeding pedestrian or vehicular traffic.

Applications go on a form from the film development office and must list the applicant, a twenty-four hour contact, locations, dates and call times, hazardous scenes, vehicles parked on public streets and evidence of insurance (Section 5.44.060). Fees follow the master fee schedule, and the applicant pays the cost of city employees present during filming (Section 5.44.090). A denial, revocation, suspension or condition can be appealed to the city administrator's office within five business days of written notice, with further appeal to the city council under Chapter 1.20 (Section 5.44.170).