L.A. Council Slashes Film Permit Fees to Boost Local Shoots

Los Angeles filmmakers will face lower costs for location permits and city property access after the City Council approved two new measures on Wednesday. The changes target small production teams and reduce expenses for using public spaces for staging and parking.

City Councilmember Adrin Nazarian introduced both proposals. The first motion creates a free microshoot permit for productions with ten or fewer personnel. This applies to student filmmakers, documentary crews, and ultra-low-budget projects filming on location in the city.

The second motion lowers the daily rate for city-owned parking lots, yards, civic properties, and staging areas to one dollar. These spaces are typically used by film and television crews for base camp operations and low-impact activities.

FilmLA reported that shoot days for film and television in Los Angeles continued to decline from June through September. The total dropped nearly five percent compared to the same period in 2025. The decline was 11 percent when compared to the previous quarter.

The approval comes less than a week after the city film office released its latest data. The figures show a continued downward trend in production activity despite previous local and state initiatives aimed at attracting more work to the city.

Nazarian stated that the actions mark a major milestone for the Keep Hollywood Home campaign. He noted that all Phase 1 motions have now been approved by the City. The Councilmember said this progress demonstrates the impact of the Ad Hoc Committee and the group's commitment to pushing for real reforms.

California increased funding for its film and television tax credit program in 2025. The annual budget rose from $330 million to $750 million. Mayor Karen Bass also issued an executive order in 2025 to streamline the city's permitting process. Seven initial motions from Nazarian to improve filming practices passed the full Council earlier this year.