Oxnard, CA Filming & Production: Street Closures (2026)

Under Article VII of Chapter 11, no one may film, videotape, broadcast or photograph a person, event or activity for commercial use on public or private property in Oxnard without first getting a filming permit from the city's designated liaison, and a business tax certificate is required before that permit issues unless the applicant is exempt under Section 11-9 or Section 11-208(B). Section 11-205 sets tiered maximum processing times based on what the shoot needs: two business days for a standard permit, four business days if the request involves traffic control on any public street, stunts, or special effects, and a full ten business days if the permit involves closing a public street or right-of-way.

That ten-day window reflects the added coordination a street closure requires: the liaison must route the application through concurrent city program reviews, and Section 11-207 requires the liaison to notify the permittee in writing if another public agency also has jurisdiction over the closure. Before any permit tied to a street closure is issued, Section 11-209 requires the applicant to submit the standardized California Film Commission liability insurance form, evidence of the specific coverage levels the liaison sets, proof of workers' compensation insurance, and a signed indemnity agreement approved by the city attorney; the liaison can also require a faithful performance bond, refunded after the site is inspected and restored.

Location-use fees for filming on public property, including closed streets, run $300 for a single day or $200 per day for two or more days, and the liaison does not also collect business tax fees when those location fees are charged. Permit riders for minor changes are unlimited and free, but the liaison cannot amend a permit by rider once the activity is over.