TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Talyn Mirzakhanian, City Manager
FROM:
Mark Leyman, Parks and Recreation Director
Linda Robb, Senior Management Analyst
Janeth Medina, Administrative Analyst
SUBJECT:Title
Consideration of a One-Year Pilot Program with FilmLA to Facilitate the City’s Film Permitting Process and Adoption of a New Film Permit Fee Structure (Budgeted) (Parks and Recreation Director Leyman).
(Estimated Time: 45 Mins.)
A) APPROVE
B) ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 25-0130
Body
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RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council approve a one-year pilot program with FilmLA to facilitate the City’s film permitting process and adopt a new film permit fee structure.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
FilmLA does not charge the City to facilitate film permits or for any of the additional services they provide under contract. Under the proposed model, FilmLA would collect the application fee directly from production companies, while the City will continue to collect daily filming rates and any required staffing fees.
As part of this one-year pilot program, the City’s daily filming rates are proposed to be reduced to align more closely with those of neighboring jurisdictions. In FY 2025, the City collected $43,700 in daily filming fees. If filming activity remains at the same level, revenue under the proposed rates is estimated to total approximately $24,210, a decrease of $19,530. If approved, an adjustment to anticipated revenues in FY 2026 will be included with the Mid-Year Budget report in February 2026.
FilmLA’s streamlined permitting process, industry partnerships, recent expansion of the State’s tax credit and our revised daily filming fees are expected to attract additional productions during the pilot program. Increased filming activity is expected to counteract the impact of reduced fees.
BACKGROUND:
FilmLA is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization that partners with local municipalities to facilitate and streamline the review, permitting, and oversight of filming activities in Los Angeles County, the City of Los Angeles, and surrounding areas. FilmLA brings over three decades of experience managing film permits across the Los Angeles region and currently serves 16 jurisdictions, including the County of Los Angeles, Culver City, Gardena, and Newport Beach. FilmLA also provides Production Planning services to filmmakers, Community Relations Liaisons, standard community notification, accounting and insurance handling and compilation, and reporting of production-related data. The model film ordinance (MFO), which is a template used by local governments to regulate commercial filming activity within their jurisdictions, was created by FilmLA, the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, and California Film Commission. The MFO provides a framework for creating “film-friendly” policies that balance the needs of production companies with the health, safety, and tranquility of the local community.
Currently, the film permitting process for the City of Manhattan Beach is facilitated by the Parks and Recreation Department. The Administrative Analyst is the main point of contact for film productions and serves as the liaison between the City and film applicants. This process includes coordinating with multiple applicants and departments, collecting documents, reviewing applications, and issuing permits. It should be noted that any film shoots taking place on the beach must be coordinated with LA County Beaches and Harbors, which uses FilmLA to process their film permits.
Each film permit is unique, with requirements that vary based on the specific activities proposed. As a result, the permit review process and timeline for issuance differ from one production to another. Smaller productions may require three to four hours of administrative time, while larger more complicated shoots might require 10-13 hours.
Student film productions typically require more staff time and coordination than commercial productions. Because student crews often have limited experience with permitting, logistics, and public space use, staff must provide additional guidance and oversight throughout the process. Despite this added workload, student film permits are issued at no cost, resulting in no offsetting revenue to cover staff time.
Currently the multi-step process for obtaining a film permit involves:
1. Primary Inquiry: The production company contacts the Administrative Analyst via call or email.
2. Availability Check: The Administrative Analyst checks availability and discusses community impacts.
3. Application Submission: The production company submits an application.
4. Initial Review: The Administrative Analyst reviews and distributes the application.
5. Departmental Review: Police, Fire, Code Enforcement, and Traffic review the application.
6. Address Concerns: Any concerns or conditions are addressed between departments and applicants.
7. LA County Coordination: Coordinate with LA County Beaches and Harbors if filming on the beach (permits issued through FilmLA)
8. Permit Logistics: The Administrative Analyst coordinates parking, insurance, and community outreach, fee calculation and billing.
9. Payment Process: Finance processes final payment.
10. Final Permit Issued: After review and approval, the permit is issued.
Current fees for FY 2026 are as follows:
Still Photography Film Production
Application Fee $372 $987
Current Film Permit Daily Rates:
Still Photography Film Production
Minor Impact $300 $1,500
Major Impact $500 $2,500
Major impact is generally defined as involving 15 or more people, located in a high traffic area, using large equipment and/or significant requests for parking.
Minor impact applies to smaller shoots with fewer than 15 people, minimal equipment, minimal parking requirements, and lower traffic areas.
Film Permit Volume (FY 2022-2025):
Year Still Photography Film Production Student Total
FY2022 7 26 5 38
FY2023 2 24 7 33
FY2024 8 34 6 48
FY2025 5 24 5 34
DISCUSSION:
Staff is seeking to implement a one-year pilot program to shift film permitting to FilmLA in order to streamline the process, enhance customer service and align with industry standards and save the City time and money.
FilmLA offers several services that could benefit the City and improve the film permitting process. The key benefits of utilizing FilmLA are as follows:
Benefits to the City:
• Streamlined Permitting Process: FilmLA centralizes all permit applications and supporting documents, simplifying the process for production companies and providing a single point of contact for filming activities.
• Reduced Administrative Burden: By coordinating directly with FilmLA, City Parks and Recreation staff spend less time reviewing and processing film permits. This allows staff to focus on core responsibilities and priority community projects.
• Enhanced Community Relations: FilmLA will support the City’s ongoing efforts to keep residents informed by providing advance notification of filming activities to surrounding areas. Their trained staff will serve as the point of contact to assist in responding to community inquiries and coordinating with City staff to address any concerns that arise. FilmLA will also assign a designated Community Outreach Liaison.
• On-Location Monitoring: At the request of City staff and if available, FilmLA assigns a FilmLA monitor to sensitive filming locations to assist with any on-site concerns and ensure compliance with all regulations.
• Public Safety: FilmLA will continue to coordinate with the City’s Police, Fire, and other emergency services to ensure safe filming operations. Their standardized safety protocols and on-site coordination help streamline communication among all parties and maintain public safety standards.
Proposed Rate Adjustment:
As part of the pilot program, FilmLA has recommended that the City lower its daily filming rates to align more closely with neighboring jurisdictions. This adjustment is a required step for the pilot program to move forward under FilmLA’s permitting framework.
Following FilmLA’s recommendation, the proposed rate structure is expected to make the City more competitive within the region and attract additional filming activity. Increased production levels would generate both economic and promotional benefits for the community.
Current Film Permit Daily Rates:
Still Photography Film Production
Minor Impact $300 $1,500
Major Impact $500 $2,500
Proposed New Film Permit Daily Rates:
Location Still Photography Film Production
Private Property/Residential $150 $750
Parks $100 $950
Ocean/Strand/Downtown $200 $1,215
Film permit fees among Los Angeles-area cities (attached) vary widely, with no consistent pattern or standard, reflecting differences in local policy rather than a regional benchmark. Staff used rates from LA County, Hermosa Beach, El Segundo, Newport Beach, Santa Monica, and Seal Beach as references when developing the proposed daily rates in consultation with FilmLA.
Although the reduced daily rates will lower fee revenue if the amount of filming stays the same, the City anticipates increased filming if the permitting process is facilitated by FilmLA.
Industry Outlook:
FilmLA has reported that overall permitting activity across Los Angeles County has declined in recent months. However, with Governor Newsom’s expansion of the California Film and Television Tax Credit Program-from $330 million to $750 million annually-FilmLA anticipates a rebound in production activity. Under the new program (Version 4.0), the California Film Commission has awarded 22 television projects with tax credit funding, 18 of which are filming within Los Angeles County.
Under the proposed structure, FilmLA would accept and process applications for photography and film production through its online system (MyFilmLA), collect all necessary back up documents, coordinate with City departments as necessary to secure services, and collect appropriate City fees directly from the production company. City staff would then go online through the MyFilmLA portal to do a final review and approval before any permit is issued. The City retains the right to deny film permits. Staff will invoice FilmLA monthly for actual filming-related City Fees, which may include but are not limited to daily fees, staffing, and parking.
Beyond the coordination of film permit requests, FilmLA will provide Production Planning services, hand delivered advance community notification, monitoring services, community outreach, reporting of production data, insurance and fee collection, and 24-hour on-call services.
Partnering with FilmLA will reduce the administrative workload associated with film permit intake, review, and coordination-freeing approximately 160 staff hours annually for the Administrative Analyst (equivalent to $16,760 at the fully burdened rate). This regained capacity will allow the Analyst to take on a greater role in special event review and coordination, including developing a comprehensive applicant guide that consolidates requirements across City departments. In turn, the Senior Management Analyst will be able to devote additional time to core priorities such as budget development, trend analysis, and revenue enhancement.
Stakeholder Feedback:
Both the Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Manhattan Beach Business & Professionals Association expressed support for a one-year pilot program with FilmLA. The Chamber noted that some businesses have lost filming opportunities due to the length of the City’s current permit process and indicated that a more streamlined approach could benefit the local business community. The Downtown Manhattan Beach Business & Professionals Association raised concerns regarding potential filming impacts-such as parking and sidewalk access-but recognized the potential economic benefits if production companies patronize local vendors and utilize businesses as filming locations. Overall, both organizations support outsourcing film permitting to FilmLA based on the agency’s industry expertise and the anticipated operational improvements.
Staff recommends that the City Council approve a one-year pilot program with FilmLA to facilitate the City’s film permitting process and adopt a new film permit fee structure. If approved, the pilot program would go into effect on January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, unless terminated earlier per the contract.
PUBLIC OUTREACH:
Staff discussed the pilot program with Kelly Stroman representing the Downtown Manhattan Beach Business & Professionals Association and Jill Lamkin of the Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, this item was included on the November 18, 2025 City Council meeting agenda, which was posted in accordance with applicable law.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
The City has reviewed the proposed activity for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that it is not a “Project” under Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines. Therefore, pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3), the activity is not subject to CEQA, and no further environmental review is required.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has approved the agreement as to form.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. FilmLA Agreement
2. Resolution No. 25-0130
3. Daily Fee Comparison
4. PowerPoint Presentation