Kern County, CA Filming & Production: Street Closures (2026)
Key Facts
- Covered activity
- Motion picture, TV, video, still-photo production
- Governing section
- Kern County Code § 12.12.010(A), § 12.12.020
- News exemption
- Current-news crews excluded from permit
- Family-use exemption
- Private family filming excluded
- Insurance
- $1,000,000 combined liability, county as insured
- Total closure notice
- 5 working days plus detour plan
Summary
Kern County treats a commercial film, TV, video or still-photo shoot that closes a public street the same as any other special event: Chapter 12.12 defines "event" to include such productions and requires a temporary road closure permit from the roads department before filming begins.
"Event" means any non-parade activity, including but not limited to, any celebration; sporting activity; entertainment or theatrical activity; fundraising; political, fraternal or benevolent rally or gathering; short-term construction or repairs within the right-of-way; or commercial, motion picture, television, videotape or still photography production. However, "event" does not include the filming, videotaping or production of current news which includes reporters, photographers or cameramen employed by a newspaper, news service, broadcasting station or similar entity engaged in news events, nor the filming or videotaping of motion pictures solely for private family use.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 59 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
010(A) defines a covered "event" to expressly include "commercial, motion picture, television, videotape or still photography production," putting shoots that need to close a county road in the same permitting category as parades and celebrations. 030: production name, address and phone number; the time, place and duration of the shoot including the affected portion of the road; the estimated crew and vehicle count; a description of the production; and any county services requested. Producers sign the same hold-harmless statement and must carry the same one-million-dollar combined liability policy naming the county as an additional insured, filed at least three working days ahead.
040 requires the application at least five working days in advance along with an acceptable traffic detour plan, and warning signs must be posted at least twenty-four hours before the closure begins. Permit conditions imposed by the director may be appealed to the board of supervisors, whose decision is final.
Violations & Fines
Filming on a closed county road without this permit is unlawful under Section 12.12.020, the same provision that covers parades and celebrations. With no separate fine written into Chapter 12.12, the violation falls to Section 1.12.030's general misdemeanor penalty: up to a one-thousand-dollar fine, up to six months in jail, or both.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a film crew need a permit to close a road in unincorporated Kern County?
Are news crews exempt from the filming permit?
What if I'm just filming my family on a county road?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kern County
California rules heatmap·Compare Kern County to another location·View the California filming & production overview
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