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

080, the city manager must deny or condition a film permit application if the filming activity will substantially disrupt the use of a street at a time when it is usually subject to traffic congestion, or interfere with the operation of emergency vehicles in the proposed permit area, or if the location will substantially interfere with street maintenance work or a previously authorized excavation permit. Where those grounds for denial can be corrected by imposing reasonable permit conditions, the city manager must impose the conditions instead of denying the permit outright.

090 lists what those conditions can include: requiring the presence of police, fire or public works employees at the applicant's expense when needed for the shoot, and requirements concerning the posting of no-parking signs and placement of other traffic control devices, also at the applicant's expense. The city manager can further restrict the hours of filming and require notice to affected property owners as permit conditions. 060, the vehicles to be parked on city streets during filming and a parking plan, information the city manager uses to evaluate traffic impact before setting street-closure conditions.

Permit denials or conditions can be appealed to the city clerk within five days of the decision for a hearing at the city council's next regular meeting.