City Guide Filming in Lancaster, CA
Production Permit Fees
- Film Permit Application Fee: $795 (non-refundable)
Minimum Insurance
- Commercial General Liability of at least $1 million per incident and $2,000,000 aggregate
- o Protection for equipment of at least $1 million for photographic equipment and other devices used.
- o Product Liability Insurance of at least $1 million if you plan on serving food.
- o Workers’ Compensation that complies with the California Labor Code.
- o Automobile Liability of at least $1 million covering any automobile used for the shoot. A waiver may be granted if no automobiles are used.
- o Aircraft Liability insurance of at least $5 million for any aircraft used.
- o Firework and pyrotechnics limited insurance of at least $5 million for any firework and pyrotechnics used.
Additional Permits
Discounts
About Lancaster
The City of Lancaster may not be Hollywood, but this amazing county has been a film production destination for decades. Whether you are an avid filmgoer, hardcore movie buff, or filmmaker, Lancaster is a great place to satisfy every cinematic craving. Lancaster has a lot of beautiful landscapes and famous landmarks, making it a great location to film movies.
Some parts of films like Kill Bill, The Devil’s Rejects, Eye Of The Storm, Seven, Lethal Weapon 3, From Dusk Till Dawn, The Little Things, and Straight Time were shot in the City of Lancaster. For instance, the scene in Lethal Weapon 3 where the block under construction catches fire was shot in the City of Lancaster. Popular TV reality shows which filmed in the county include Top Gear, Extreme Makeover Weightloss Edition, Barter Kings, Storage Wars Taboo, and Operation Repo. The Mentalist and Lost Angels are also some of the popular TV drama productions shot here.
In recent years, filmmakers of various specialties and other production companies have helped promote enough of an ecosystem in Lancaster that filmmakers and production companies won’t have to go to other cities. However, if you are exploring options to film here, there are certain filming guidelines in Lancaster you must follow before you can shoot. Whether you’re a veteran producer or planning your first production, this article can make it easy for you to understand what filming regulations and guidelines in Lancaster entail.
Location is everything when it comes to finding the perfect fit for your film, these filming locations in the City of Lancaster can be the missing piece to your shoot.
Do I Need a Filming Permit in Lancaster?
Yes! In the City of Lancaster, commercial filming without permission is unlawful. Without a permit, you risk having your operation shut down by the police. Besides, if you're shooting with a Lancaster film permit, FilmLA has a wealth of information to help you succeed.
A permit is essential whether the film is a little chamber piece or a Hollywood blockbuster. A modest, two-location film, on the other hand, will require far less elaborate permitting than a summer tentpole with a car crash and lane closures.
A temporary use filming permit is necessary for Lancaster for all on-location filming on both public and private property. News teams, family filming, and videography that takes place fully on a certified sound stage are exceptions.
Students Filming
Most of the time, a student film permit is required. Luckily, they are eligible for special rates for film permits. Also, students can ask for permit waivers due to the size of their project. However, while exemption requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, it is quite difficult to obtain exemptions for all.
Non-profit Filming
Non-profit organizations may be exempt from permit fees. Proof of non-profit status is required. That said, if the filming activity or sites are more complex or influential, or if FilmLA requires a more considerable work effort, the entire permit application price may be levied regardless of non-profit status.
Pyrotechnics Permit
If you’re going to use combustible materials or explosive devices, you’ll need an additional permit from the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
Permit Management in Lancaster
FilmLA
The City of Lancaster is one of the jurisdictions that contract with FilmLA for expedited film permitting and community relations. The agreement allows FilmLA to manage on-location film permits for the county, as well as combine Lancaster locations with others throughout the county on a single multi-jurisdictional permit.
FilmLA is Los Angeles' official film office, as well as an ever-expanding network of nearby municipalities. FilmLA issues film permits and works with local departments to ensure that your production has all it needs to succeed. FilmLA achieves a balance between improving production companies' on-set experiences and the local populations that live and work there. In addition to issuing film licenses, FilmLA offers a variety of other services necessary for shooting in Lancaster, including LocoScout, Logistical Collaboration, Notifications, Film Monitors and Outreach Program.
Most permits take at least three business days to process and more for complex filming events. As a result, it is to your best advantage to begin the permitting procedure as soon as possible so that you can budget time and money correctly. Representatives from FilmLA, as well as your local insurance broker, can assist you in obtaining a FilmLA permit.
What Insurance Do I Need in Lancaster?
Production companies and filmmakers who want to film on location in Lancaster must be able to meet certain film production insurance requirements. The insurance coverage limits may differ depending on the activity and location. We do not recommend purchasing insurance without first speaking with a FilmLA insurance consultant about your filming intentions.
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 Lancaster?
While CGI technology and closed sound stage shows have advanced dramatically, there is simply no alternative for real locations. Filmmakers spend a significant amount of time seeking the perfect location that best represents and enhance the script and interprets their story. When it comes to amazing shooting locations, the City of Lancaster offers some of the most incredible settings in the country.
With its diverse urban and rural environments, as well as remarkable historic and contemporary architecture, Lancaster is an ideal location for film and TV projects. Lancaster County has a plethora of wonderful shooting locations. The county has plenty of wonderful outdoor sites that will be visible in your project. The City of Lancaster is a microcosm of the United States. It is similar to the Midwest, while the inner city is similar to cities around the country while remaining unique. It's really a unique area, alive with innovation and art, and it's changing quickly.
Locations to consider are the county's historic landmarks and magnificent architecture. eSolar, Antelope Valley Fairgrounds, William J. Fox Airfield, Mira Loma Detention Center, Elks Lodge, White House Café, and Lancaster City Park are all amazing locations that can be perfect for your shoot. From the Sierra Highway "motel row" of the 1950s and 1960s to the architecturally pleasing Lancaster Municipal Stadium, filmmakers found and used a variety of City locales. The Lancaster House has also served as a popular stand-in for Buckingham Palace in cinema and television several times.
Special Requirements in Lancaster
Special Effects
A special effect is any filming operation requiring combustible materials, open flames, or explosive devices. Every request for a permit must be sent through FilmLA to the film desk of the Los Angeles County Fire Department for approval of every special effect.
Special effects may necessitate further warning to residences and local businesses beyond the typical 500 ft to ensure that all individuals affected by the activity are notified.
If the Film Office deems it essential, a signature survey demonstrating considerable support for the requested activity from impacted neighbors may be required.
Special Monitors
When required, a monitor will be appointed to a production at a cost that will be billed to the filmmaker, which includes filming on city-owned property, complex filming activities, and regularly filmed places, among other things.
Gunfire / Firearms
The use of firearms or the discharge of firearms must be specified in the permit application. This action necessitates the presence of a Sheriff to ensure safety and the right notification to appropriate law enforcement offices. To guarantee that all persons affected by the filming activities are aware, additional notification beyond the customary 500 ft is required.
If the county deems it essential, your company must conduct a Filming Survey to ensure that affected community members are adequately informed of the filming activity and that any concerns are well addressed.
Traffic Control
You may require a traffic control strategy if your filming impacts traffic flow or requires intermittent traffic control (ITC). ITC is permitted on most highways but is limited to two minutes per trip. For any filming requiring ITC within the county, you must seek the help of the Los Angeles County Sheriff.
If the filming location is in both Lancaster and separate Los Angeles County, the California Highway Patrol may be called. The production firm is in charge of ordering and paying the necessary officers.
Long Park
You must request a permit to shoot your film from the City of Lancaster Office of Promotion.
The city may require proof of liability insurance with a limit of one million dollars for personal injury and property damage.
Fire
Production businesses must contact and hire Fire Safety Advisors/Officers in accordance with their permit. All permits will be submitted directly to the film desk of the Los Angeles County Fire Department for assessment and determination of the necessity for water trucks and Fire Safety Officers on-site during filming.
Standard Filming Hours
The regular filming hours are 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Any request for shooting film outside these hours may necessitate a filming survey, which is meant to show that impacted community members have been contacted individually and elicit individual complaints about the planned activity.
The Police
You are required to contact and hire police officers if it is required by your permit. The police are authorized to enforce all filming permits that are issued within the City of Lancaster limits. For safety reasons, they have the authority to enforce, modify, or cancel a permit.
What Does it Cost to Film in Lancaster?
Film permits in Lancaster come with a variety of fees that vary depending on your location and the scope of your production operations. Without a film permit, you risk having your operation shut down by the police. Your FilmLA Production Coordinator can work with you and your budget to meet your production's demands while keeping these fees to a minimum. The following fees are related to your film permit in the City of Lancaster:
Additional Fees
When you pick up your permission, you must also pay any applicable government fees. Please keep in mind that FilmLA does not determine or regulate the costs paid by its government partners for filming.
Geographical Jurisdiction of Lancaster?
The City of Lancaster is a charter county in northern LA County, in the Antelope Valley of Southern California's western Mojave Desert. The county is part of a twin city complex with Palmdale, its southern neighbor, and the two cities form the Antelope Valley region's main cities. Lancaster is about 110 kilometers north of downtown LA and close to the Kern County line. It is divided from the LA Basin to the south by a mountain range (the San Gabriel Mountains) and from the San Joaquin Valley and Bakersfield to the north by the Tehachapi Mountains.
With the partnership the City of Lancaster has with FilmLA, every jurisdiction for filming has been combined into a multi-jurisdictional permit. So, streamlining the process of getting a filming permit and filming across borders is a great way to incentivize local production, making it a real win-win for the city of Lancaster and the industry. An overview of the requirements to film in the county is available on FilmLA’s website.
Outreach in Lancaster
FilmLA representatives participate in community outreach to establish a positive relationship between production companies and local communities, strengthening both groups long before and after production. The City of Lancaster may demand a Filming Survey to show that impacted residents/businesses have been contacted individually and to solicit individual objections (if any) about the desired activity. FilmLA will supply a survey form, Lancaster filming laws and guidelines, a sample letter, and a sample map, but it is the responsibility of the production company to survey affected individuals and businesses.
Residents and/or businesses within 500 feet of the filming location and accompanying activity should be notified at least two working days before the first filming day. Complex filming activities may necessitate notification of additional locations, which Lancaster will assess. The normal FilmLA notification service may also be used.
Community Management in Lancaster
While the residents and businesses in Lancaster may have been informed about the film production in the area and the disturbance it can cause, it’s always a good idea to reach out to them in order to get them involved in the film production process. Residents' support is required for film production to be a success in your neighborhood.
They frequently have a lot to say about the continuous filming activity in their neighborhood, and if they are unhappy, their elected authorities will hear about it and attempt to prohibit specific types or all production. Residents are also fantastic assets. The more assistance and support you receive from the residents, the happier and more successful the project will be.
Effective communication with residents and/or business owners in the community can mean the difference between success and failure. People become agitated when they cannot understand what is going on. Productions frequently forget that real life continues while the film is being made. Overall, maintaining a good relationship with the residents and local businesses will make your job easier.
Conclusion
While the City of Lancaster is not the most often filmed location in the world, it does appear in a number of films. With its rural countryside, deserts, and major metropolis skylines, the county is definitely a fantastic choice for practically any film. The county has a long and rich history of offering gorgeous and exotic film settings. In light of these recent pro-filming changes, Lancaster is working hard to solidify its position as a film-friendly community.
To shoot in these locations, you must first visit each city's sites. You can always begin your search for Lancaster film permits on the FilmLA website, as they frequently coordinate with other communities.
However, before you begin your next filmmaking project in the city, make sure to review the City of Lancaster film permit policy to guarantee your production goes off without a hitch. Applying for a film permit on top of all of their other production duties might feel like leaping through hoops for many filmmakers.
Planning ahead of time to obtain a FilmLA permission and understanding the FilmLA jurisdictions will make the process go as smoothly as possible. The permitting procedure is the city's way of ensuring that local communities and productions continue to benefit each other for years to come. Work with FilmLA to ensure you have the proper licenses in place during your production days. Allow yourself enough time to prepare your application and keep on track.