Upland, CA Filming & Production: Location Permits (2026)
Film location permits in Upland, CA, sometimes called film shoot permits, production permits, or filming authorizations, cover commercial photography, video shoots, and motion picture production.
Key Facts
- Governing section
- 17.41.090 Film Permit
- Permit type
- ministerial action
- Issuing authority
- Development Services Director
- Exemptions
- private/family filming, studio, accredited news crews
- Enforcement
- permit revocation for violations
Summary
Filming a motion picture, TV production, or commercial anywhere in Upland, on public or private property, requires a Film Permit under Zoning Ordinance Section 17.41.090. The Development Services Director issues it as a ministerial action after finding the shoot won't unduly disrupt traffic, city operations, or police staffing, and the City can revoke the permit for any violation of its conditions.
A Film Permit is a ministerial action that enables the City to allow and assist filming of motion pictures, television productions, and commercials in the City, while protecting the safety, property, and convenience of the City's residents, businesses, and visitors. ... That the conduct of such activity will not unduly interfere with traffic or pedestrian movement or be detrimental to the public peace, health, safety, or general welfare. ... The City reserves the right to revoke film permits and filming privileges if the provisions of this chapter, or any other applicable laws or ordinances are violated.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4480959; v4 updated 2025-09-22).
Full Breakdown
Section 17.41.090(A) defines the Film Permit as 'a ministerial action that enables the City to allow and assist filming of motion pictures, television productions, and commercials in the City, while protecting the safety, property, and convenience of the City's residents, businesses, and visitors.' Applications are filed with the Development Services Department under Chapter 17.43, and Section 17.41.090(C) requires findings that the activity 'will not unduly interfere with traffic or pedestrian movement,' will not 'interfere with normal governmental or city operations' or leave the City with unreimbursed costs, 'will not constitute a fire hazard,' and will not require diverting 'such large numbers of police officers... so as to interfere with the normal level of police protection in all areas of the City.' Section 17.41.090(D) lets the Director approve or conditionally approve a location shoot 'under such conditions as he or she may deem reasonable and necessary to safeguard the public health, safety, or general welfare.' Filming is exempt under Section 17.41.030(B) if it is noncommercial, solely for private or family use, occurs on the premises of a permitted studio, or is news-gathering by employed reporters or camera crews covering events of general public interest.
Violations & Fines
Section 17.41.090(D) states 'The City reserves the right to revoke film permits and filming privileges if the provisions of this chapter, or any other applicable laws or ordinances are violated.' Revocations, permit expirations, and changed-plan requests follow the post-decision procedures of Chapter 17.45, and notice-of-decision requirements run through Chapter 17.46, giving a production company a defined appeal path before losing location access.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an Upland film permit discretionary or automatic?
Can Upland revoke a film permit mid-shoot?
Does a student or hobbyist filming in Upland need a location permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Upland
California rules heatmap·Compare Upland to another location·View the California filming & production overview
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Location Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Bernardino County handle location permits.