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

Chapter 9.32 (Filming) requires anyone producing a commercial motion picture or television production on public or private property in Woodland to first obtain a City filming permit from the City Filming Permit Coordinator (the City Manager or designee) under § 9.32.010(C). Subsection D carves out five categories that fall outside the chapter entirely: current news crews, cable-access productions using fewer than two vehicles, private-use filming, studio productions at a Woodland-based studio, and, at § 9.32.010(D)(2)(c), student and educational filming. The student exemption has two conditions: the filmmaker must submit a written certificate from their school confirming current enrollment, and the resulting film must be limited to classroom viewing (or the filmmaker must otherwise be an enrolled student).

This is a full exemption from the permit process, unlike the separate non-profit exemption in § 9.32.010(D)(1), which only waives the application fee while leaving every other permit requirement, including the hold-harmless agreement and insurance, in place. For comparison, a standard commercial permit applicant must apply at least three working days ahead (five if traffic or safety is affected), pay a non-refundable fee set by Council resolution, post a $500 refundable cleaning deposit, carry $1,000,000 in liability insurance, and keep filming between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. None of that applies once the student exemption is properly documented.