Los Angeles County, CA Filming & Production: Street Closures (2026)
Key Facts
- Filming right-of-way fee
- $468 per day (encroachment inspection)
- Lane closure/detour fee
- $354 per day
- Traffic control plan review
- Actual cost, $350 minimum
- Permit required before
- any street impediment or encroachment
- Issuing agency
- Public Works Road Commissioner, Title 16
Summary
Filming that uses the public road right-of-way in unincorporated Los Angeles County, including lane or street closures, needs a Public Works highway permit; the county charges a $468 daily inspection fee just for filming in the right-of-way.
Subject to Section 16.10.070, each applicant for a highway permit shall pay applicable inspection fees to the commissioner, according to the following schedule: ... 3. Encroachment Inspection Lane closure/detour (per day) $354 each day ... Filming in road right-of-way $468 each day
Full Breakdown
Los Angeles County Code Title 16 requires a highway permit before anyone places an encroachment or 'impediment to travel' on a county road (§16.06.010): that covers film crews closing lanes or streets in unincorporated areas. Public Works' fee schedule lists filming in the road right-of-way as its own encroachment-inspection line item: $468 per day (§16.10.090.A.3), on top of a $354/day lane-closure or detour inspection fee and a $350 minimum traffic-control-plan review charge (§16.10.155.A). The Filming Permit Coordination Office (Title 2, Ch. 2.118) routes applications to Public Works, which actually issues and inspects the right-of-way permit. Filming without one is a misdemeanor.
Violations & Fines
Working without the required highway permit is a misdemeanor under §16.06.010.B; Public Works can also revoke the permit and bill restoration or standby costs to the permittee under §16.10.160.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Filming Permit Coordination Office issue the street closure permit itself?
Does this fee schedule apply inside the City of Los Angeles?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Los Angeles County
California rules heatmap·Compare Los Angeles County to another location·View the California filming & production overview
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