Simi Valley, CA Filming & Production: Location Permits (2026)

Chapter 32 of Title 5 requires anyone using "any public or private property, facility, or residence for the purpose of taking motion pictures, television, or commercial still photography" to first apply for and receive a permit "from the officer designated by the City," per § 5-32.03(a). The chapter's stated purpose, set out in § 5-32.01, is to keep filming activity "consistent with considerations of public health and safety and the protection of property" while still promoting location filming in the City.

Four categories are exempt under § 5-32.03(b): spontaneous news coverage by reporters and photographers covering events of public interest; personal or family video shot solely for private, noncommercial use; filming that happens at a certified studio; and still photography for a business's own advertisements, shot on that business's private property without blocking the public right-of-way.

The City Manager, under § 5-32.04, writes the actual rules governing the form, timing, and location of filming, subject to Council approval by resolution, weighing health and safety, disruption to nearby residents, property safety, and traffic congestion. Applications under § 5-32.05 go to the City Manager and must disclose the filming location, dates and hours, the number of personnel and vehicles, a parking plan, and any activity likely to cause public alarm, such as gunfire, pyrotechnics, or low-flying helicopters. Permit fees are waived for charitable films and student productions, though the production must still reimburse the City for any police, fire, or traffic personnel it assigns. Before filming, § 5-32.06 requires a certificate of insurance of up to $1,000,000 naming the City as a coinsured, a hold-harmless agreement, and often a refundable cleanup deposit.