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

Student productions are not exempt from Hawthorne's film permit system entirely. 215 defines a "student film" as any film project by enrolled students or faculty of an accredited university, college, vocational school, high school or other educational institution, made so that no person profits from marketing, production or showing. That definition is what the business license division checks before waiving fees. 050, student and nonprofit films are exempt from the film permit fee and the still-photography fee set by council resolution, but they must still pay a reduced application fee, also set by resolution, and comply with every other provision of Title 5.

030(C)(5) requires the applicant to attach a letter from the educational institution or proof of nonprofit status to the film permit application, filed with the business license division at least ten working days before filming begins. The same section requires a scaled plan for right-of-way use, a permission-to-use-property form for private locations, signature forms from 51% of residents and businesses within a fifty-foot radius, and a notification letter to properties within a 200-foot or half-block radius. 070(B) requires filming permittees to maintain $1,000,000 general liability, $1,000,000 auto coverage, and statutory workers' compensation limits regardless of fee-exempt status.

, for excessive noise from generators or gunfire effects, for pyrotechnics or crashes, and for any filming on city-owned property. 070, can suspend an unpermitted or noncompliant shoot at any time, and the city reserves the right to revoke the permit entirely.