City Guide Filming in Carson, CA
Production Permit Fees
- Film Permit Minimum Cost: $650 per week (Free for students)
- Film Permit Application Fee: $100
Minimum Insurance
- Commercial General Liability of at least $1,000,000;
- Statutory workers’ compensation
Additional Permits
- Police and Fire Requirements: The filmmaker is responsible for contacting the Fire and Sheriff’s Departments for permits and approvals.
Discounts
About Carson
The city of Carson is located in the County of Los Angeles, California. It lies about 15 miles south of downtown Los Angeles and is sometimes considered part of the greater Los Angeles Area. Carson is unique for recreation and entertainment because of the abundance of parks, outdoor areas, and green spaces that invite tourists and fun lovers. The views of Rancho Palos Verdes that folks here also enjoy add to why it is a great place to spend time.
For filmmakers, Carson is equally an attractive destination that has been on the film production map since the 1920s, a feat that is made possible by the beautiful locations in the city and its friendly residents who make the production cast and crew feel at home all through the period of their shoot. S Top films shot here include Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Beverly Hills 90210, Batman Forever, Armageddon, Jackie Brown, and Bruce Almighty. As a filmmaker, schedule your next shoot in this city and find your desired Carson filming location using Giggster.
Do I Need a Filming Permit in Carson?
According to Carson's filming laws, some filmmakers require permits, and those who do not require permits for production in the city. If you are in town to film solely for private reasons with family members, or you are part of a news media team carrying out spontaneous and unplanned filming, then you won’t need a permit from the city to do your filming.
On the other hand, anyone who is in Carson to make commercial films, be it on private property or public property, must apply for and obtain a film permit before filming in the city. Failure to do so will attract penalties as described in the filming regulations of the city.
Charitable film permit:
Non-profit organizations that wish to film in Carson may apply for charitable film permits and show evidence of current tax-exempt status;
Student film permit:
Students that can show evidence of being enrolled in an accredited educational institution may apply for student film permits, so long as it is for school work;
Fire Department film permit:
This is issued by the Los Angeles County Fire Department;
Sheriff’s Department film permit:
This is issued by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department;
Encroachment permit:
This permit is issued by the Public Works Engineering Services Division in Carson;
Animal use permit:
This permit is issued by the Los Angeles County Health Department and/or Humane Society.
Permit Management in Carson
City of Carson Revenue Division
The City’s Finance Director (or their designee) is empowered to issue permits to filmmakers in Carson. All production companies must submit their film permit application to the City’s Revenue Division at least five business days before filming for the application to be appropriately reviewed. As part of the requirements to get the film permit in Carson, an applicant may be required to obtain some additional permits or approvals from other city agencies or external bodies, and it is the sole responsibility of the filmmaker to contact these agencies.
A summary of the requirements for a City of Carson film permit is presented below:
A completed film permit application form;
The payment of the applicable permit fee;
A copy of the certificate of insurance that complies with the production insurance requirements of the city;
A signed hold harmless agreement;
A staging plan;
An encroachment permit, where applicable;
Proof of permission from a private property owner where filming is set to take place;
Evidence that the residents and businesses in the affected area have been duly notified;
Signature approval from the residents and businesses, where applicable;
Permission from the LA County Fire Department, where applicable;
Approval from the LA County Sheriff’s Department, where applicable;
Approval from the LA County Health Department, where applicable;
A refundable security deposit or performance bond as stated by the City.
Normal filming hours in Carson are from 7 am to 10 pm. Moreover, there may be the need for oversight during the filming whenever it is deemed necessary by the film permit agency or any other applicable city department.
What Insurance Do I Need in Carson?
Regarding the production insurance requirements that a filmmaker in Carson must comply with to obtain a film permit in the city, the filmmaker must provide a policy of insurance that names the City of Carson and its staff as additional insured against commercial general liability, which will cover personal injury, death, bodily injury, or property damage.
In addition, the filmmaker must provide evidence of compliance with Federal and State workers’ compensation insurance for all that will operate under the film permit.
If you can’t meet any of these requirements, you’ll need to explain in writing why you can’t meet the requirement to the Office. They will determine if the shoot can go ahead without the necessary insurance.
Note that these requirements are minimum requirements. Larger and more complex shoots may require additional insurance which will be determined by the Office.
What Kind of Filming Locations Are Available in Carson?
Filmmakers coming to Carson for production are always ready to leverage the beautiful streets in the city, the amazing backdrops provided by the parks and green spaces, as well as the filming opportunities on offer at the municipal and residential areas and buildings. Here in the city, the Dr. Martin Luther King Library and Carson Regional Library are two structures that directors can adapt to what their script requires.
If you are looking for another setting within the city where you can take prime shots and set up your stage for production, any of the educational institutions within the city will adequately suffice, especially if you plan to shoot scenes in school environments. The major highways in the city and some of the urban settings are also desirable locations that filmmakers visit with their crew.
Special Requirements in Carson
Los Angeles Unified School District
Filmmakers who wish to film in any of the public schools in Carson must get approval from the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) because the schools are served by the LAUSD. To secure approval to film here, the film company must first contact the school liaison and be sure that they have the school’s support before submitting an LAUSD license application via email with other supporting documents.
As a minimum, every filmmaker must send in their LAUSD license application in time to give at least four business days for it to be processed. As for insurance, the requirement is a minimum of $2,000,000 each per occurrence for general liability, auto liability, and proof of workers’ compensation coverage. Furthermore, the filmmaker must list the LAUSD and FilmLA as additional insured in the insurance cover which must be valid for the entire period of the proposed filming activity. The insurance documents are to be submitted via email.
Film production fees as stipulated by the LAUSD are as follows:
A refundable deposit of $500 per day
Basic filming rate of $3,500 for every 15 hours
The basic rate for students is $350 for every 4 hours
Half-day filming rate of $1,750 for every 6 hours
Overtime rate of $140 per hour ($70 per hour for students)
Custodial rate of $40 per hour
California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH)
California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) is one of the top filming locations in the city of Carson as its facilities are convenient for multiple shoots, its buildings date back to the 1960s, and there is plenty of parking space available for the production team. Whether it’s a feature film, commercial, or television show you wish to shoot here, you’ll find that the lecture halls, University Theater, art museum, kitchens, and retail buildings, among others, are nothing short of perfect. Filmmakers can send their inquiries via email to CSUDH and also fill out a Visit Request Form prior to their production.
There are two types of locations within CSUDH – premium and general, and these have different filming costs. To film in any of the premium locations in the University, these rates apply:
Web/Video - $7,500 per day or $675 per hour
Commercials - $9,000 per day or $800 per hour
TV episodes - $11,000 per day or $965 per hour
Feature films/Streaming series - $13,000 per day or $1,130 per hour
Film production in the general locations in the University cost:
Web/Video - $3,375 per day or $330 per hour
Commercials - $4,050 per day or $385 per hour
TV episodes - $4,950 per day or $460 per hour
Feature films/Streaming series - $5,850 per day or $535 per hour
Other costs that are associated with film production services in CSUDH include the University Site Representative rate of $50/hour, the University Police rate of $120 per hour, the facilities fee of $200, and a $15 fee per parking space, to mention a few.
The insurance requirement from filmmakers in CSUDH is at least $2,000,000 aggregate liability insurance, as well as an endorsement that lists the CSUDH and the University Corporation as additional insured.
Dignity Health Sports Park
Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson is among the most fancied filming locations in the region, as it hosts feature films, commercials, and TV shows within its facilities which include locker rooms, restaurants, bars, training fields, parking lots, stadium, and courts, hallways and tunnels, etc.
Any filmmaker that is interested in filming in Dignity Health Sports Park is required to fill out this form and the Park management will respond to them. Such filmmakers should be prepared to pay applicable filing fees, sign filming agreements, and present a certificate of insurance which will be reviewed by the Park management before the approval to use the park’s facilities is given. The details of each requirement will be communicated to filmmakers on a case-by-case basis after they fill out the form.
County of Los Angeles Public Library
The Dr. Martin Luther King and Carson Regional Libraries in Carson are operated by the County of Los Angeles Public Library, hence filmmakers who are interested in filming in any of these county libraries in Carson have to complete this request form at least three weeks before the date of filming and await a response from the County Library’s Executive Office. In some cases, the Executive Office may accommodate requests that come in less than three weeks to the filming date, however, that is at their discretion. Only after the filmmaker gets the nod from the Executive Office can they apply for a film permit in the city and use any of these libraries for their project.
What Does it Cost to Film in Carson?
Additional Fees
Student filmmakers and charitable organizations are exempt from paying the permit fee.
Geographical Jurisdiction of Carson?
The city of Carson is bordered to the west by Torrance, and to the north by West Rancho Dominguez. To the southeast of the city are Long Beach and Rancho Dominguez while Compton is located northeast. Some other localities that border Carson to the southwest are West Carson and Rolling Hills Estates. The Bixby Marshland, a wetland habitat, lies within the city. Harbor Freeway acts as the western boundary of the city, while San Diego Freeway passes through the city from Torrance in the west to Signal Hill in the east.
Compton
The Business and Licensing Unit of the City Manager’s Office in Compton is responsible for managing film permits. All applicants for a film permit must submit their film application at least two working weeks before the date of filming on public property, bearing in mind that the Unit does not open on Fridays. Film applications for private property filming can be submitted not less than five days prior to filming. The application can either be submitted via email or US mail.
The City Manager reviews and approves the application and may determine that other agencies or departments in the City need to also review the application because of the scale or scope of the production. It is the responsibility of the filmmaker to contact respective City agencies (like the Fire and Sheriff’s Departments) to obtain approval for the project, and the filmmaker must cover the cost of their services if required.
A permit application to film for up to three days costs $300, while for four to six days’ filming costs $1,000. To film for more than seven days, the permittee must pay an application fee of $1,500. Regardless of the length of filming, all film permits expire every two weeks and must be renewed thereafter. Fire permits cost $513.
A summary of the other requirements for a film permit in Compton are as follows:
The complete script is submitted for review at least two weeks before filming
Insurance (General liability of $2,000,000 for public property and $1,000,000 for private property), as well as endorsement and waiver
Letter of permission from the property owner
Torrance
The Special Events and Filming Office manages the film permitting process in the City of Torrance and mandates all filmmakers to obtain a permit for all types of filming be it movies, TV, commercials, videos, or student films. When a filmmaker wishes to make use of a park in the city, they must obtain approval from the Community Services Department in the City.
When the film permit application is received, the application is forwarded to the Fire Chief, Chief of Police, Risk Manager, and Director of Transportation for them to review and make recommendations to the City Manager for approval if suitable. Required documents include:
A certificate of insurance and endorsement with general liability, auto liability, and workers’ compensation minimums of $1,000,000 each
Authorization to use the location, facility, or park, where applicable
After the application has been reviewed, the permittee will be notified of the required fees for payment to be made so that the permit can be issued.
Long Beach
The Special Events & Film Office in Long Beach is the agency that handles and issues film permits in the city of Long Beach. Every filmmaker must submit their film permit application at least three business days before the proposed filming date and also bear in mind that the process may take longer depending on how much the production will impact the area. The Film Office will also determine, based on the scope of the production, whether it is essential to do a walk-through before production starts.
Some of the things that filmmakers need to consider for the film permit are highlighted below: The filmmaker must provide evidence of insurance that complies with Long Beach City requirements Community surveys with signatures and notifications letters are required
Student filmmakers must provide evidence of studentship and appropriate documentation and insurance letters from the school
The filmmaker may require a Pyrotechnics and/or Animal Control Permit depending on the scale of the production
All fees must be paid before the permit is issued
The permit must be picked up at the Special Events & Film Office by the filmmaker After the filming is completed, the filmmaker will receive a bill from the city for any services rendered
Outreach in Carson
According to Carson's filming guidelines, all filmmakers must send out a notice of filming to every resident and business that is within a 300 ft radius of the filming area to comply with outreach requirements in the city. Moreover, the filmmaker must send out this notice at least 48 hours before the filming date. Where the filming company intends to film outside the normal hours of 7 am to 10 pm, they must, in addition to the filming notice, also secure approval of 80 percent of the residents and businesses within the 300 ft radius for the request to be granted.
Community Management in Carson
In order to win the hearts of the members of the community where the filming is ongoing, filmmakers can take steps to ensure that the crew comports themselves by speaking and behaving respectfully when off-camera, while also conducting all filming operations in a neat and orderly fashion. In addition, the production team should ensure they do their very best to minimize interference with the normal activities of the area where the filming is taking place.
Conclusion
Filming in Carson dates back to the '20s, and the city remains a hub for film production, hosting numerous top actors and directors who have shot feature films, TV series, commercials, and many other projects.
The Revenue Division manages the film permit process, and the City’s Finance Director issues each permit. Non-profit and student filming is welcome here, and plenty of attractive locations cater to diverse filming needs.
To film here, the production company should complete the permit application form, pay the stipulated fees, present the insurance documents and necessary approvals, and notify the affected community members. Thereafter, a memorable filming adventure awaits!