Pismo Beach, CA Filming & Production: Street Closures (2026)

Street closures for filming in the City of Pismo Beach run through Chapter 5.44 of the Municipal Code. Section 5.44.050 A sets the filing deadline: applications for a film permit must be filed with the film development office a minimum of fourteen (14) days before filming begins, except that applications including street closures, major stunts or pyrotechnics must be filed a minimum of thirty (30) days in advance of the first day of filming. Late applications are not processed unless the film development office finds special circumstances, and the office considers a late filing on a showing of good cause if there is time to investigate and for city staff to prepare (Section 5.44.050 B and D).

Section 5.44.140 lets the applicant request a street closure on the film permit application. A short-term encroachment permit is granted by the city administrator, his designee or the chief of police. The permit decision comes within two business days of receipt unless the filming needs extensive review by other city departments or agencies for public health or welfare concerns or fire or traffic safety (Section 5.44.070 A).

The film development office approves the permit unless it finds a listed ground for denial. The first ground is that the filming will substantially disrupt the use of a public right-of-way or 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. Another ground is substantial interference with right-of-way or street maintenance work or a previously authorized excavation permit. Where a ground can be corrected, the office can impose reasonable conditions instead of denying the permit (Section 5.44.070 B).

Conditions under Section 5.44.080 include no-parking signs, traffic control devices and traffic and crowd control monitors at the applicant's expense, posting the outer boundaries of the filming activity, advance notice to affected property owners, businesses and tenants, and cleanup and restoration of public streets. The permittee must follow instructions from the police and fire department officers assigned to the site (Section 5.44.130 E). Every permit exemption in Section 5.44.040 disappears when a public street is closed.