Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup

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

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing section
§ 5.36.010(b)
Permitting agency
Marin County Public Works Director
Fee
Set by board of supervisors resolution
Traffic condition
Must not unreasonably impede traffic flow
Insurance
Required, county as additional insured

Summary

Marin County bars using county-maintained roads and right-of-ways for commercial motion-picture or television filming unless the public works director first issues a permit under Section 5.36.010(b), separate from any location permit the community development agency issues for other county property.

City-specific rules exist: San Rafael has its own street closures rules that differ from Marin County's county-level regulations. If you live in San Rafael, check the city-specific page instead.

(b)County maintained roads and right-of-ways shall not be used for filming motion pictures or television for commercial purposes unless a permit has been first obtained from the Public Works Director in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 2026 Update 1).

Full Breakdown

010(c). 020 sets the fee for a public-works-issued filming permit at the amount established by resolution of the board of supervisors, rather than the per-eight-hour fee that applies to community development agency permits, and can include a deposit for extra regulation costs. 040 requires the applicant to comply with whatever conditions the public works director deems necessary to ensure filming does not unreasonably impede the flow of vehicular traffic or restrict public access to and from the roadway, which functions as the county's road-use control for film production: rather than a blanket road-closure ordinance, the county conditions the encroachment permit on maintaining traffic flow and access unless the director's conditions authorize a temporary closure.

060 still requires the crew to keep the road right-of-way clean and orderly and to pay for cleanup if it fails to do so. 36 does not set a separate application deadline or design standard for road use, all road-use filming permits are processed and conditioned individually by the public works director on a case-by-case basis.

Violations & Fines

Using a county road or right-of-way for commercial filming without the Section 5.36.010(b) public works permit is unlawful. A production that impedes traffic flow or blocks public access to a roadway in violation of the director's conditions under § 5.36.040 is subject to permit-condition enforcement and billing for any resulting county costs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a separate permit to film on a Marin County road?
Yes. Section 5.36.010(b) requires a permit from the public works director before filming on any county-maintained road or right-of-way, distinct from the location permit issued for other county property.
Can Marin County close a road for a film shoot?
The code does not authorize a blanket road closure; instead, § 5.36.040 lets the public works director impose conditions on the filming permit to prevent unreasonable impediment to vehicular traffic and public access.
Who sets the fee for filming on a Marin County road?
Section 5.36.020 leaves public-works-issued filming permit fees to the amount established by resolution of the board of supervisors, rather than the flat per-eight-hour fee used for other county property permits.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Marin County

All Marin County rules

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

Get notified when Street Closures in Marin County, CA changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

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

Street Closures in Cities Across Marin County