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Filming in El Cajon, CA

City Guide Filming in El Cajon, CA

Production Permit Fees

  • Film Permit Minimum Cost: To be determined by the Recreation Department
  • Film Permit Application Fee: To be determined by the Recreation Department

Minimum Insurance

  • General liability aggregate insurance of $1,000,000.
  • Name the city of El Cajon as an additional insured.

Additional Permits

  • Police and Fire Requirements: The Recreation Department also provides filmmakers with information about city agencies to contact for additional approvals before the start of production.

Discounts

About El Cajon

El Cajon is a city in San Diego County, California, within a box-shaped valley named after Rancho El Cajón. The city is nicknamed “The Valley of Opportunity” and indeed offers plenty of exciting recreational opportunities for residents, tourists, and filmmakers. El Cajon was incorporated in 1912, and filming commenced within the city around this time, with records showing that up to three silent films were shot in the area just after the first decade of the 20th century.

Access to El Cajon is easy as the city lies about 17 miles east of downtown San Diego and is linked via a network of highways and roads. This makes filmmakers love the city for its proximity to outdoor and natural areas such as the Cleveland National Forest, Mission Trails Regional Park, and Lake Murray. Within the city itself, there are numerous picturesque filming locations for documentaries, music videos, feature films, and TV shows. Find one that suits your production needs now on Giggster.

Some of the popular projects filmed in El Cajon include Bonita of El Cajon (1911), Play It Cool (2021), Satan's Blade (1984), Mighty Oak (2020), The Raw Ones (1965), Ghostline (2015), Lady Valor: The Kristin Beck Story (2014), Bullets, In the Cage (2013), and The Naked Peacock (1975).

Do I Need a Filming Permit in El Cajon?

You must get an El Cajon film permit for any commercial film production you intend to carry out in El Cajon if you will abide by El Cajon's filming laws. Otherwise, you will violate the filming ordinance. This requirement applies regardless of whether you intend to shoot on private property in the city, on city property, or public right-of-way.

If you intend to shoot non-commercial films in the city, you may not need a film permit for your production. However, you must be sure that your filming activities will not impact the community, cause any disturbance, or interfere with the regular activities of the city. For instance, if you are recording your adventure while on vacation in El Cajon, you may not need a film permit. Be that as it may, it is best to reach out to the Recreation Department to clarify whether you should get a permit or not so you do not end up breaking El Cajon's filming regulations.

Some filming activities may require additional approvals from city agencies or departments for your film shoot in El Cajon. This may be because of the nature of your proposed activity, such as if you plan to film with special effects and pyrotechnics or if you will need to close roads or streets during production. The Recreation Department will let you know when you contact their office.

Permit Management in El Cajon

The Recreation Department

The Recreation Department in the city of El Cajon is the unit that oversees the permitting process for special events and film productions in the city. So, if you wish to film in El Cajon, particularly on city property or in the public right-of-way. In that case, the Recreation Department is your first port of call for inquiries about the city’s filming requirements and what you need to do to obtain the El Cajon film permit. The Recreation Department also provides filmmakers with information about city agencies you may need to contact for additional approvals before you start filming.

When you are ready to begin your application, complete the Special Event Permit form and submit it via email or directly at the Recreation Department’s office in the city no later than 60 days before the date you intend to commence production. Once your application is received, it will be reviewed by all necessary city departments. Then, City staff will provide you with instructions about any additional information you need to provide or approvals you need for your project. Rest assured that you will be assisted by City staff through the approval process once you complete the application as required.

For a successful application, these are the general requirements for a permit to film in El Cajon:

A certificate of insurance that complies with the city’s production insurance requirements.

A description of your proposed project.

A Traffic control plan.

A Parking and shuttle plan.

A detailed site plan/route map.

A signed affidavit.

Fees and deposits (as required).

Notify residents and businesses near the filming location (if applicable).

What Insurance Do I Need in El Cajon?

Before you receive the permit for your commercial film production in El Cajon, you will be required to provide a certificate of liability insurance that aligns with the city’s requirements. You will also need to include an insured endorsement page that names the City of El Cajon as an additional insured.

As for the specific liabilities that will be covered by the insurance you are to provide, the City staff will provide you with that information after your permit application has been reviewed. However, expect to have the following coverages (depending on the nature and scale of your project): commercial general liability; automobile liability; aircraft liability; workers’ compensation insurance, and employer’s liability. Where required, you may need to provide more liability cover. Typical insurance coverage is about $1,000,000 per occurrence.

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 El Cajon?

El Cajon has many exciting filming locations — historic buildings, visitor attractions, picturesque indoor and outdoor areas, parks, residential and business settings, and more. Filmmakers may use these spots as backdrops, adapt them to look unique for their project or use them the way they are without any modifications. Giggster lists places you can check out in the city for your project.

One of the popular entertainment destinations in El Cajon and the greater San Diego area is the Magnolia. The performing arts facility has state-of-the-art amenities that attract music lovers, concert lovers, and filmmakers alike. Gillespie Field is another popular attraction in the city and remains the oldest and largest County airport, so there is a lot of history there for filmmakers to tap into.

Another top location in El Cajon for film production is the Knox Museum Center, the home of the El Cajon Historical Society. If you are a history buff, you will love this structure that dates to the late 19th century. The Olaf Wieghorst Museum and Western Heritage Center is another historic structure in the city that offers good production opportunities. As a designated Historic Landmark in the city, the Olaf Wieghorst Museum is home to beautiful portrayals of the 19th-century American West.

Filmmakers who want to explore the natural areas in El Cajon can visit any of the 14 parks in the city or the St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center and Garden. Those who fancy filming in school areas can engage the Cajon Valley Union School District and Grossmont Union High School District to find the perfect choice among the elementary, middle, and high schools.

Special Requirements in El Cajon

San Diego County Parks

You must first obtain a film permit if you wish to film in any San Diego County Park. For this, you must complete the Film Permit Form and submit it to the County Parks Reservation Desk at least 72 hours before the day you intend to start filming. If you intend to film with drones, submit an additional application and submit it no later than four business days before the date of filming. Applications are treated on a case-by-case basis. Most of the parks are available for production between 9:30 am and sunset. Therefore, any request to film outside these hours will attract additional charges and special requirements.

There is no fee for non-commercial film shoots within County parks. However, commercial film and drone applications attract a non-refundable $50 application fee. There is a security deposit of $300 required for every production as well – the fee may be increased based on the size of the production crew. Filming rates include $100 per hour, $300 per half day (four hours), and $600 per whole day of filming, and all payments are due before filming commences.

Every filmmaker must provide a certificate of liability insurance that names the County of San Diego as an additional insured, holds harmless and indemnify the County against any liabilities, and covers comprehensive general liability of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence and automobile liability of $1,000,000 per accident. If deemed necessary, more coverage may be requested, or in rare cases, less coverage.

The Magnolia Performing Arts Center

If you wish to shoot at the Magnolia, reach out to the Center’s Sales Team via phone or email to discuss your project and find out what you need to do. The earlier you contact the Sales Team, the better.

Gillespie Field

Reach out to Gillespie Field’s representative for film production inquiries at the airport.

St. Madeleine Sophie's Center & Garden

The St. Madeleine Sophie's Center & Garden welcomes filmmakers looking to film within its facility. Filmmakers are to contact the Center to discuss the proposed project and what will be required for the shoot within the Garden.

Wieghorst Museum

The Wieghorst Museum is open to production activities as a local event venue. If you are interested in using the Museum for your project, contact the Museum office by phone or email to get started.

Port of San Diego

Every filmmaker that wants to film within the Port of San Diego must first obtain a filming permit by completing an online application and submitting all the required documents. Contact the Port by phone or email for questions regarding the film permit.

Mission Trails Regional Park

Before a filmmaker can obtain permission for commercial film production in Mission Trails Regional Park (MTRP), the filmmaker must follow these steps:

Complete the necessary paperwork and apply for the permit with the Senior Park Ranger.

Application form.

Insurance documents.

Endorsement forms.

Indemnification Agreement.

The application is reviewed and forwarded to the MTRP Citizens Advisory Committee for a recommendation.

If approved, the filmmaker will pay the required fees and security deposits before the permit is issued.

What Does it Cost to Film in El Cajon?

The cost of filming in the city of El Cajon is determined on a case-by-case basis.

Additional Fees

When the Recreation Department receives the permit application from a filmmaker, it is forwarded to and reviewed by all applicable City departments. Then, City staff informs the filmmaker about the fees and deposits required for the permit to be granted. These may include application fees, location fees, fees for services or personnel, security or damage deposits, site cleanup fees, and other costs incurred because of the production activity.

Geographical Jurisdiction of El Cajon?

required to inform those that will be impacted by the planned filming activities within the city before the project begins. Ideally, the filmmaker should mail or hand-deliver a notice of the planned production activities to residents and businesses within a certain radius of the filming location during the outreach. The notice should contain your production company's name and contacThe city of El Cajon is bordered on the west by the cities of La Mesa and San Diego, while it is bordered to the east by unincorporated communities of San Diego County (Fletcher Hills, Rancho San Diego, and Bostonia). Spring Valley lies south, while Santee lies north. San Diego The San Diego Film Office is the agency that coordinates film permitting within the city of San Diego and the San Diego region. The Film Office also provides additional services that help filmmakers connect with production resources and contacts, location services, and other tools. The application process is highlighted below: Filmmakers must register online on the San Diego film portal and submit all the required documentation at least three full business days before the first day of filming. If the production involves the use of any kind of special effects, water contact, intermittent traffic control, or closure of public right-of-way, the filmmaker must apply no later than two weeks before the start date. Production that will take place solely on private property without affecting any public property does not require online registration. To film in a city park, recreation center, beach, or park facility, submit your film registration form to the Recreation Department Developed Regional Parks Permit Center. Productions with the following components are reviewed by the Fire Rescue Department and Police Department: Traffic Control. Pyrotechnics. Gunfire and weapons. Crime scenes within public areas. Public safety risks. As for the city’s insurance requirement, all filmmakers must provide a certificate of liability insurance and endorsement that names the city of San Diego as additional insured and covers $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate. There is no application fee for a film permit in San Diego. However, there are other costs associated with filming, the use of public safety services, the use of park facilities, and the use of special effects and pyrotechnics. La Mesa The Community Services Department in the city of La Mesa coordinates the process of issuing film permits to filmmakers that intend to carry out commercial production on city property or public right-of-way. The first thing to do is notify the city about the intended production date(s) of production at least 20 working days before you start. Then you complete the application form and submit it by email to the Community Services Department ten working days before the start of filming. A complete application for a film permit in La Mesa is made up of the following: The application form. An application fee of $50. A traffic control plan. Parking and signage areas must be approved by the city’s public safety and engineering personnel. A certificate of general liability insurance that covers the minimum liability of $2,000,000 and names the city of La Mesa as an additional insured. A letter of notification is to be distributed to the residents and businesses in the vicinity of the filming location no later than 48 hours before the start of filming. A request for appropriate city services such as the Police Department or Fire Department. There may be additional requirements for your film production in La Mesa, and this is determined by the nature of your production. For instance, production with special effects, stunts, or street closures, often requires additional permits too. If you have questions or inquiries about filming in the city, reach out to Community Services via phone or email. Santee Film production is welcome within the parks in the city of Santee. To shoot here, every filmmaker must complete and submit the park event application to the Special Events Supervisor at least 30 days before the date of filming. The general requirements for the film permit include the following: The application form. A certificate of insurance and endorsement page that names the city of Santee as additional insured. General liability insurance of $2,000,000 per occurrence and $4,000,000 general aggregate. A business license from the city. A site map, layout, or route map. Payment of the applicable fees and security deposits. The production fees in the city of Santee are determined on a case-by-case basis, and each filmmaker is notified about the costs after the application is received and reviewed by the city.

Outreach in El Cajon

According to El Cajon's filming regulations, filmmakers are to give information on the filming dates and times, the nature of the production, and any other applicable details relevant to the project.

Community Management in El Cajon

One thing that is certain about filming in El Cajon is that residents and businesses within the neighborhoods where the production is scheduled will cooperate with your film cast and crew. However, you also owe them a duty to ensure your actions do not jeopardize their well-being or safety. So, ensure you manage noise, adhere to the city's filming guidelines, actively participate in public meetings and forums, acknowledge feedback, and keep the production area clean.

Conclusion

El Cajon has been going strong and welcoming filmmakers and top players in the film industry since the early 20th century when silent films were produced in the city. You will have access to breathtaking backdrops and locations, a supportive host community, and production resources if you decide to bring your cast and crew to El Cajon to film. The city’s Recreation Department manages the film permitting process, which requires filmmakers to send in the complete paperwork 60 days before the filming date. Other requirements include insurance, fees, and neighborhood notification.