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

Section 6940(A) defines "Motion Picture, Television, Still Photography" to include staging or shooting of commercial productions and expressly adds "student films produced to satisfy a post-secondary school course requirement at an educational institution," in any medium. Section 6941(B) lists only three exemptions from the permit requirement: news media covering spontaneous breaking news, recording solely for private personal use, and filming conducted at a licensed studio; a student film shot on a Lakewood street or in a private residence fits none of these. A student production must therefore follow the same process as any other applicant under Section 6943: naming the property owner and location, listing the exact dates and hours, describing the filming activity, providing a contact person, counting personnel, disclosing any activity that could cause public alarm such as animals, gunfire, pyrotechnics, or drones, and submitting a vehicle and parking plan.

Section 6943(C) sets fees by City Council resolution and waives them only for "charitable films" produced by a 501(c)(3) nonprofit as defined in Section 6940(B), a category that does not include a student course project absent separate nonprofit sponsorship. Section 6944 requires liability insurance naming the City as additional insured, workers' compensation coverage, a hold-harmless agreement, and a refundable security deposit for cleanup and site restoration before any permit issues.