El Monte, CA Special Events & Permits: Commercial Filming on Public Right-of-Way (2026)

El Monte Municipal Code Section 5.64.030, in Chapter 5.64 (Motion Picture and Television Productions), makes it unlawful to engage in the business of filming, videotaping or producing motion pictures for public exhibition anywhere in the city, outside an established motion picture or television studio, without a permit from the Chief of Police. Section 5.64.040 exempts private or family use filming, filming for a criminal investigation or civil proceeding, news-purpose filming, and noncommercial filming; everything else, meaning essentially all commercial production, needs the permit.

Applications go to the Chief of Police at least five business days before shooting starts, per Section 5.64.060, and must include the applicant's name and business information, the filming location and dates, a $1,000 security/cleaning bond, a description of the scenes to be shot, and the name of the person in charge on location, per Section 5.64.050. Each application carries a nonrefundable $100 filing and investigation fee under Section 5.64.070. Before granting a permit, the Chief of Police must find under Section 5.64.100 that the shoot won't unreasonably interfere with public health and safety or endanger property, weighing noise, traffic hazards and fire hazards. If the Chief determines police or fire presence is needed to eliminate a potential danger, Section 5.64.110 lets the city require the permittee to pay those costs in advance, and city policy is to staff at least one officer on any filming day. Section 5.64.120 requires the permittee to carry at least $1,000,000 in general liability insurance naming the city as an additional insured. If filming uses the city's own court building at 11301 Valley Boulevard, Section 5.64.080 sets a minimum rental of $500 per shooting day, waived for qualifying nonprofits.

This permit is separate from the park reservation permit in Section 12.48.060: a production filming inside an El Monte park still needs the Chapter 5.64 filming permit for the production activity itself, and, if it wants exclusive or semi-exclusive use of the park site, a separate facility-use permit under Chapter 12.48.