Key Facts Ordinance Text Full Breakdown Violations FAQ Sources More in El Dorado County

El Dorado County, CA Filming & Production: Street Closures (2026)

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Closure requires: full permit under §5.58.020(A)
Reimbursable staff: Sheriff, Dept. of Transportation
Exemption lost when: road/facility closure needed
Fee schedule: set by Board resolution (§5.58.040(C))
Security deposit: refundable, for site cleanup

Summary

Filming productions that need a public road or facility closed in El Dorado County must obtain the Section 5.58.020 permit, and Section 5.58.040(D) requires the production company to reimburse the county for any Sheriff or Department of Transportation personnel assigned to assist. A closure or personnel request is exactly what disqualifies a shoot from the code's narrow portrait-photography exemption.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of El Dorado County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

D.Reimbursement for personnel. The production company shall reimburse the County for any personnel provided to the company (e.g., Sheriff, Department of Transportation) for the purpose of assisting the production. ... 4.Portrait photography. Still photography of individuals, students, or families not requiring road or facility closure, reimbursement for personnel, or use of drones.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 13 Update 4).

Full Breakdown

020(A) and treats county-personnel support as a cost the production must cover. 020(B)(4) draws the line for exemptions: portrait photography of individuals, students, or families is exempt only if it does not require road or facility closure, reimbursement for personnel, or use of drones. 040(B), which asks for the exact dates and hours, the specific location, personnel counts, and a parking plan for vehicles and equipment. 040(D) then makes the financial consequence explicit: the production company shall reimburse the County for any personnel provided to the company, such as Sheriff or Department of Transportation staff, for the purpose of assisting the production.

040(C). 050 layers on liability insurance naming the county as additional insured and a refundable security deposit for site cleanup, both of which apply with extra weight when a closure affects public rights-of-way.

Violations & Fines

Closing a road or using county personnel without the Section 5.58.020 permit is an unpermitted filming violation. Failing to reimburse the county for the Sheriff or Department of Transportation staff assigned under Section 5.58.040(D) breaches the permit's conditions, and Section 5.58.060 lets the county revoke the permit and halt filming until the violation is corrected.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a film shoot need a separate permit to close a road?

No separate permit exists; a road or facility closure is handled inside the standard Section 5.58.020 filming permit application. Requesting a closure is also what disqualifies an otherwise-exempt portrait shoot from Section 5.58.020(B)(4), pushing it into the full permit process under Section 5.58.040.

Who pays for the Sheriff's deputies at a filming road closure?

The production company does. Section 5.58.040(D) requires the production to reimburse the county for any personnel it provides, naming the Sheriff and Department of Transportation specifically, to assist with a filming activity such as a road closure.

What happens if a production doesn't pay for the county personnel it used?

That is a breach of the permit conditions under Section 5.58.040(D), and Section 5.58.060 authorizes the county to issue notice and, if uncorrected, revoke the filming permit and stop all activity on the site.

Sources & Official References

[1]El Dorado County Code §§ 5.58.020, 5.58.040 (Municode)

Other rules in El Dorado County

Fence Regulations: Height LimitsSome Restrictions Student FilmingSome Restrictions Location PermitsSignificant Restrictions Noise Ordinances: Decibel LimitsSome Restrictions Parking Rules: EV ChargingSome Restrictions Fence Regulations: Fence Permit RequirementsSome Restrictions Fence Regulations: Material RestrictionsSignificant Restrictions Fence Regulations: Retaining WallsSome Restrictions

All El Dorado County rules

California rules heatmap·Compare El Dorado County to another location·View the California filming & production overview

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.