Arcadia, CA Filming & Production: Student Filming (2026)

The City of Arcadia, California has no separate student filming ordinance. Student projects run through the same film permit process as every other production, and Section 6616.9 of the Arcadia Municipal Code adds a single fee break. Section 6616 requires a film permit for all types of filming except filming that is exclusively for private or family use, so student status alone does not excuse a class or school project from the permit. The applicant completes the City of Arcadia film permit application package (Section 6616.1), and the permit covers only the location and dates listed on it (Section 6616.2). A separate permit and fee applies to each location and each set of filming dates (Section 6616.3). Under Section 6616.8 the fee is $250.00 for the first day and $75.00 for each additional day per location, and Section 6616.9 is the provision that lets the License Officer waive that fee for a student or a local charitable organization.

Three points on how the waiver reads. First, it is discretionary: the License Officer or designee holds the authority to waive, and the section does not promise a waiver. Second, it requires documented proof of student or charitable status, and the section does not list which documents count, so the applicant supplies proof directly to the License Officer. Third, it names the film permit fee only. Section 6616.6 separately says the applicant pays directly for all services the City provides at the cost the City incurs, and the City can require a deposit. Section 6616.4 requires a certificate of insurance of not less than $1,000,000.00 before issuance. Section 6616.7 still requires written notice to every property immediately adjacent to the filming location. The revocation grounds in Section 6616.10 apply to every permit holder, including a hazard to persons or property, filming beyond the permitted hours, and a lapse in insurance.