Long Beach, CA Special Events & Permits: Commercial Filming on Public Right-of-Way (2026)
Key Facts
- Filming exemption
- § 5.60.030(A)(4): filming governed by Ch. 5.61 instead
- Filming permit lead time
- 3 working days, § 5.61.030(A)
- Interference penalty
- Up to $1,000/6 months or $250 infraction, § 5.61.095.5
- Governing chapter
- LBMC Chapter 5.61, Filming Activities
Summary
Commercial filming is carved out of Long Beach's special event permit scheme entirely. Long Beach Municipal Code § 5.60.030(A)(4) exempts "filming activities governed by Chapter 5.61" from the special event permit requirement, so a movie or TV shoot on city property follows the separate Filming Activities chapter instead.
A.The following activities are exempt from the special event permit requirement:1.Funeral processions by a licensed mortuary or funeral home;2.Activities conducted by a governmental agency acting within the scope of its authority;3.With the exception of organized fund raisers and block parties, events which take place on streets, sidewalks, or other public rights-of-way owned or controlled by the City including, but not limited to, lawful picketing wherein applicable traffic regulations, laws or controls are complied with;4.Filming activities governed by Chapter 5.61 of this Code;5.Expressive activities.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 52 Update 1 | City Charter: Supplement 5).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 5.60 lists five categories of activity exempt from the special event permit: funeral processions by a licensed mortuary, activities by a governmental agency acting within its authority, most street/sidewalk activities including lawful picketing, filming activities governed by Chapter 5.61, and expressive activities (with a request for four hours' informal notice to the Special Events Office). The filming carve-out in § 5.60.030(A)(4) matters because Chapter 5.61 imposes its own, filming-specific permit track through the City Manager rather than the special event track: a shorter three-working-day filing window (§ 5.61.030(A)) instead of the 60-day special event window, different required disclosures (personnel counts, animals, pyrotechnics, vehicles and equipment), and its own fee, hold-harmless, and appeal provisions that cross-reference back to Chapter 5.60's review criteria under §§ 5.60.040(I) and 5.60.060.
Interference protections apply to both tracks equally: § 5.61.095 makes it unlawful to block, disrupt, or impede participants, vehicles, or animals in either a permitted special event or a permitted film activity, with penalties under § 5.61.095.5 of up to $1,000 or six months in county jail, or an infraction fine of up to $250, per day of violation.
Violations & Fines
Treating a commercial film shoot as covered, or exempt from any permit, under Chapter 5.60 is a misdemeanor for intentional violation of that chapter under § 5.60.110; the correct filming permit is required separately under Chapter 5.61. Interfering with either a permitted special event or a permitted filming activity is punishable under § 5.61.095.5 by up to $1,000 or six months in jail, or a $250 infraction fine, per day.
Frequently Asked Questions
If my shoot qualifies as a special event, do I still need a Chapter 5.60 special event permit?
What review standards apply to a Long Beach filming permit if it isn't a special event permit?
Is interfering with a film shoot on a Long Beach street treated like interfering with a parade?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Long Beach
California rules heatmap·Compare Long Beach to another location·View the California special events & permits overview
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