Redondo Beach, CA Filming & Production: Location Permits (2026)
Film location permits in Redondo Beach, CA, sometimes called film shoot permits, production permits, or filming authorizations, cover commercial photography, video shoots, and motion picture production.
Key Facts
- Permit required for
- All filming on public/private property
- Application lead time
- 5 business days minimum
- Reviewing office
- Chief of the Fire Department or designee
- Exempt
- News media, personal use, licensed studios, government
- Violation penalty
- Misdemeanor, separate offense per day
Summary
Redondo Beach requires a Film Permit before any commercial or crew-based filming on public or private property, applied for through the Fire Department at least five business days ahead with the exact filming location and dates named.
§ 6-5.03. Permit required. ... (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), no person shall conduct any filming in the City without a permit issued by the City. § ... 6-5.05. ... Permit application and processing. (a) Every application for a Film Permit shall be made in the form provided by the City or designee and submitted to the Chief of the Fire Department or designee not less than five business days prior to the date upon which filming is proposed to begin. (b) All applications of a Film Permit shall include, but not be limited to, the following information: ... (2) The exact location of the desired filming and the date and times therefor;
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4889554; v14 updated 2026-05-12).
Full Breakdown
03(a) states plainly that "no person shall conduct any filming in the City without a permit issued by the City," covering still photography, video, motion pictures, television, commercials, and student films alike. 03(b) exempts news media covering an on-the-spot story, purely personal or family filming that doesn't require equipment placement or vehicle parking, filming entirely inside a licensed production studio, and government filming. 05(a) to the Chief of the Fire Department or designee at least five business days before filming begins. 05(b) must name the exact location of the desired filming and the date and times, describe the nature of the activity, list the personnel involved down to cast and crowd participants, disclose any activity that could cause public alarm such as gunfire or low-flying helicopters, and detail the vehicles and equipment along with a parking plan.
05(d) will issue the permit only if the proposed location and use won't unduly interfere with traffic, disrupt residents' quiet enjoyment, endanger public health or safety, or block emergency vehicle access. The permittee must keep the Film Permit at the filming location for the entire duration of filming.
Violations & Fines
Filming without a permit, or misrepresenting a material fact to obtain one, is a misdemeanor under § 6-5.11(a), with each continuing day of the violation counted as a separate offense. The Chief of the Fire Department can also deny, suspend, or revoke a permit outright under § 6-5.10 if the application contained false information or if filming becomes detrimental to public health, safety, or welfare.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every film shoot in Redondo Beach need a permit?
How far in advance do I need to apply?
What does the application have to include?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Redondo Beach
California rules heatmap·Compare Redondo Beach to another location·View the California filming & production overview
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Location Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle location permits.