Los Angeles Simplifies Film Production Permits
The Los Angeles City Council has approved new measures to simplify the permitting process for film production. The move is designed to cut bureaucratic red tape and attract more film and television projects back to the city.
The unanimous vote follows a significant downturn in on-location filming, with shoot days in Los Angeles County plummeting from 9,220 in the first quarter of 2022 to 4,380 in the third quarter of 2025. This decline is attributed to the 2023 industry strikes, the 2025 wildfires, and increased competition from other states and countries offering aggressive financial incentives. This legislative package is part of a broader "Keep Hollywood Home" initiative championed by Councilmember Adrin Nazarian. The initiative builds on a 2025 executive order from Mayor Karen Bass aimed at making iconic city locations more accessible and affordable for filming. The reforms were developed after extensive consultation, including 13 meetings with labor organizations like IATSE and SAG-AFTRA, and 10 meetings with city departments. A key component of the new measures is the creation of a free "micro-shoot permit." This permit is designed for small crews of less than ten people using handheld cameras, without the need for generators or special effects, aiming to reduce barriers for smaller-scale and independent productions. The reforms also tackle costs by eliminating city fees on productions filming on private-public property when public personnel are not required for safety. Additionally, the plan aims to fast-track the certification of new soundstages to bolster production infrastructure within the city. This effort directly confronts the issue of "runaway production," which has cost California an estimated $7.7 billion in economic activity and 28,000 jobs between 2015 and 2020 due to projects moving to other locations. To ensure accountability and further refinement, the City Controller, Kenneth Mejia, has been tasked with performing an independent audit of the entire film permitting system, including its contract with the city's film office, FilmLA. Looking ahead, the city attorney's office will draft the new micro-shoot permit ordinance while other departments will begin standardizing requirements and developing partnerships with neighboring jurisdictions to enhance regional competitiveness. This is considered the first phase of the "Keep Hollywood Home" project, with more reforms anticipated.
