City Guide Filming in Los Gatos, CA
Production Permit Fees
- Film Permit Application Fee: $320 (non-refundable)
- Timing: Minimum 3 business days for a simple film production
Minimum Insurance
- Commercial General Liability
- Automobile Liability
- Aircraft Liability
- Workers’ Compensation Liability
Additional Permits
Discounts
About Los Gatos
A fascinating but little-known fact about Los Gatos’ history is that the charming town has served as the scene for several films over the years. This was especially true in 1910 and 1911 when the Essanay Film Production Company spent a few months at the Lyndon Hotel. Some of the other projects shot entirely or in part in Los Gatos include Starman, Lying Eyes, Killing Eva Braun, Skull Island, Netflix vs. the World, and Through the Ashes.
The town has it all: beaches, plains, small-town charm, urban settings, mountains, and wetlands. In Los Gatos, you may film a stunning mountain backdrop while cruising along a crowded downtown street on the same day. Los Gatos is about 60 miles south of San Francisco, which also makes it a pleasant location for film production.
Another benefit of filming in Los Gatos is that you won't have to worry about finding the right film crew members. There are so many brilliant people in the town that you will have no trouble finding someone to bring your film project to life on screen. There's no reason to look elsewhere for your next film project - thanks to a game-changing tax benefit, everything you need, from locales to personnel to studio space, can be found here in Los Gatos.
However, to shoot a successful commercial film in Los Gatos, you'll need to obey the town filming regulations and restrictions to avoid getting into problems with the local, state, and federal authorities.
If you are filming in Los Gatos, be sure to check out the best film and events venues in town with Giggster.
Do I Need a Filming Permit in Los Gatos?
Before beginning any filming activity on public or private property, production companies must submit a permit application and a valid Certificate of Insurance to the California Film Commission. The City Manager's Office issues film permits. Film permits in Los Gatos come in different forms. Depending on the extent of your film production, you may require more than one permit to shoot the right scenes for your production.
However, a permit is not always required for filming in this town. Los Gatos Film Permit Exemptions include:
News Journalism
Film permits do not apply to or impact photographers, reporters, or cameramen working for a news service, newspaper, or similar organization involved in on-the-spot media, publishing, or broadcasting of general public interest news events.
Family Video
The videotaping or capturing of motion pictures for the exclusive purpose of private family use.
Studio production
You do not need a permit to film at a studio.
Non-profit organization
Projects that meet the requirements of Section 501(c)(3) are free from film permit fees but must obtain a film permit.
Student Filming
Filming permit-related fees for student films will be waived case-by-case basis, but a film permit is always necessary.
Permit Management in Los Gatos
City Manager’s Office & California Film Commission
The City Manager’s Office is Los Gatos's special event office. The agency works with the California Film Commission to issue film permits and ensure that your film production has all it needs to succeed. It achieves a balance between improving filmmakers' on-set experiences and the local populations who live and work in the town.
An applicant must submit a permit request as well as any applicable insurance at least three working days before the day such a person wishes to perform an activity that necessitates a permit. If your production will interfere with traffic or poses a potential danger, you may be required to apply for a filming permit at least five working days in advance.
A Los Gatos film permit from the City Manager’s Office covers up to ten locations for 14 consecutive calendar days in most cases. Because the City Manager’s Office represents numerous towns in and around San Jose and Santa Clara, a single filming permit might cover a large area.
Keep in mind that specific areas, such as municipal buildings, schools, or other structures, may have different criteria.
What Insurance Do I Need in Los Gatos?
You need to provide a Certificate of Insurance for all productions requiring a filming permit in Los Gatos. Insurance may not be required for productions that do not require a film permit. However, production insurance can still be useful for equipment and other obligations.
That said, you’ll need to make sure your insurance offers coverage for the following to film in Los Gatos:
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 Los Gatos?
Los Gatos is a lovely small town of roughly 30,000 people. However, it has a rich history and numerous activities, making it a wonderful location to shoot a film. Natural beauty, old buildings, and rolling vineyards surround Los Gatos, giving it the ideal location for picturesque drives that lead to discovering local gems. Your film production may gain from the Los Gatos topography, which has valleys and hillsides. There are also numerous streams, creeks, and animal habitats.
While Los Gatos has five distinct historic districts, the Downtown Commercial Historic District is the City's beating heart. As a result, filmmakers will find the best-preserved examples of the town's distinctive old architecture. There are numerous filming locations in Los Gatos' downtown area.
Look no further than Vasona Lake County Park if you're searching for something less artsy and more nature-oriented in your film production. The park contains 45 acres of space for your production. However, you must act quickly because the places are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
You can also find peace and a quiet spot at the Kotani-En Japanese Garden, located in the hills overlooking Silicon Valley. What makes this garden so unique? For one thing, the US Department of the Interior has designated it as one of the most authentic Japanese gardens in the country. It's also one of California's most important historical sites. The estate was built between 1918 and 1924 by Japanese master artisan Takashima and 11 other Japanese craftsmen.
The Mountain Winery is proud to offer an unrivaled setting for a variety of events, such as film production. It has stunning views, with groomed gardens and redwood woods around the terrace, making it a great outdoor venue for film production.
Renting out private office space is another option if your production requires conducting work in a private but well-equipped area. You'll find various options for shooting office-related scenes. The town also has restaurants and cafés, old schoolhouses, trails, and fitness centers that can be handy.
Special Requirements in Los Gatos
Parking Requirement
If you need to park production equipment, cars, or trucks in prohibited zones, temporary "No Parking" signs must be posted. In addition, you must seek approval to run a cable across sidewalks.
When parking your production vehicle in a parking lot, you may be charged according to Los Gatos' current rate schedule.
Parks & Recreation
The Parks and Recreation Department oversees the special event permit process and acts as a liaison between the City and the filmmaker.
In addition to the application fee, the filmmaker is responsible for acquiring insurance and any City permits, inspections, and associated expenses. Therefore, each application component includes contact information for the department(s) in charge of issuing the permits required for your production.
After thoroughly examining your application, you will be granted conditional approval or denied. The conditional permission will include a list of the filming production needs, such as permits, insurance, inspections, and related costs. Depending on the size and complexity of your production, a pre-event meeting with City personnel from related departments may be required as part of the permission process.
Street Closure And City-Owned Property
Filming on City-owned land requires a Right of Entry License Agreement with the City Manager's Office.
Street closures necessitate encroachment permission, and the Traffic Engineering Division approves your traffic control strategy.
If your film production activities require traffic control, you must sign a General Service Agreement with the Los Gatos/Monte Sereno Police Department to be reimbursed for personnel costs. If your event necessitates this service, police officers will contact you immediately.
Castle Rock State Park
Permission from the California Film Commission is required for filming at Castle Rock State Park.
When you submit an application, you’ll be issued form DPR245A, and the California Film Commission will give you an invoice for the review cost and anticipated monitor fees. In the case the final expenses are higher than expected, California Film Commission will provide an additional invoice at the end of the shoot. However, if actual monitor costs are lower than anticipated, a refund will be issued at the film's end.
The number of monitors needed will vary according to the size of your film production cast and crew. Less than 50 people will require just one monitor. 50-89 cast and crew will need two, while 90 or more may need three. Due to the complexity of the shoot, scale, special effects, and locations to be used, additional monitors may be assigned as needed.
Shooting in the park necessitates a General Liability insurance policy with a minimum $1 million coverage limit, and California Film Commission must be included as additionally insured on your insurance documents.
What Does it Cost to Film in Los Gatos?
Anyone organizing a special event in Los Gatos must complete Special Event Application and submit a non-refundable application fee along with a detailed site plan to City Manager’s Office at least 60 days before the day of the event. Individuals and businesses must pay $320, while non-profit organizations must pay $26. Any fee imposed for issuing a film and video production permit shall be collected on a cost recovery basis, as set or adjusted by the resolution of the City Council from time to time. Each department involved will determine the final cost. Your film applications will likely not be considered until all required supplemental documents are submitted, and the application fee is paid. While there is no reimbursement for the application cost, in the event of unforeseen circumstances, the event may be rescheduled (within 30 days) after receiving City clearance. Please keep in mind that, in addition to the application fee, your film production company is responsible for acquiring insurance and any City permits, inspections, and associated expenses.
Additional Fees
Some public or private locations might charge additional fees for filming on their premises. This could include parks, streets, or other public areas.
Geographical Jurisdiction of Los Gatos?
The town of Los Gatos is located roughly 60 miles south of San Francisco in the southwestern region of Santa Clara County. The town shares a border on the south with the unincorporated counties of Santa Clara, on the eastern part with San Jose, on the west with the cities of Saratoga and Monte Sereno, and on the north with the City of Campbell.
The Los Gatos Planning Area includes a wide range of landforms, from flat topography on the valley level to heavily wooded hillsides. Creeks, riparian habitats, and streams are dispersed across the valley and hillsides. The stark contrast between the valley bottom and the hillsides provides the town's scenic backdrop.
The town grew apart from other population centers and formed an independent community with residential, commercial, and industrial sections. The town's economy has evolved from wheat farming, logging, milling, orchard, and cannery industries in the 19th and early 20th centuries to suburban, high-tech, and tourism attraction businesses today. The railroad also had an important part in the establishment and development of the town, as Los Gatos was either the railroad's terminus or the changeover point.
In addition, the town became a popular tourist destination in the United States early on due to its good temperature and easy rail access from San Francisco. Today, Los Gatos is part of Northern California's largest metropolitan region. Yet, on the other hand, the town keeps a mix of light industrial uses, residential and commercial, attracts visitors, and maintains its small-town appearance.
Outreach in Los Gatos
Complicated filming activities may necessitate notification of additional locations. In this case, residents and businesses within a 200-foot radius of the filming location and associated activity must be notified at least 24 hours before the first filming day.
In addition, letters of permission outlining the proposed filming activities – including times, dates, parking, filming activity, traffic control, and so on – must be acquired from neighbors and businesses that the proposed activities may impact. This must be completed before the permission is issued. It is also important to note that neighbors near crew parking areas be notified of intended parking activities, including days and times.
Your production company will be in charge of gathering signatures from affected residents and/or businesses. Keep in mind that most polled people must not object to filming to be approved. Before the final permit is given, all signatures must be on file with the City Manager’s Office.
Community Management in Los Gatos
Your production company must do more than just identify the ideal location and conduct a survey; you must also ensure that everything from traffic to parking is taken care of. Maintaining good ties with the local community is critical, especially when shooting in a residential or commercial area.
Location managers must be capable of communicating with the local community about their complaints regarding noise or other disruptions that may be caused as a result of the filming activity. People become agitated when they don’t understand what is going on. Productions frequently forget that real life continues while the film is being made.
The production must take into account the needs of the community. For instance, if prop guns with blanks are used, residents and businesses should be informed so that they are not alarmed and believe an actual gunfight is going on.
That said, when the filming activity is minimal, a leaflet announcing the impending activity and containing the contact’s name and the number of the film crew may be enough. However, it is quite common for a town meeting to take place during a large or lengthy film production.
Conclusion
Los Gatos is a top entertainment center with studios, a ton of outdoor locations, post-production facilities, and the most brilliant and well-trained creative and technical employees.
If you're wondering if you need a permit to film in Los Gatos for the first time, look no further. Instead, consider contacting the City Manager’s Office and the California Film Commission. The local agency can explain the laws and norms governing filmmaking in public and private locations in Los Gatos and may answer any queries you may have.
In some cases, the City Manager’s Office can direct you to locations where film licenses are unnecessary. They will also help you get the right permits to film in the location of your choice. Most public spaces are governed by municipal legislation, and film permits are required for the safety and security of those in the area. By requesting permission to shoot in a public place, you will avoid any potential legal ramifications later on.
Overall, give yourself enough time to make contact and complete the necessary film production documents, especially if this is your first time dealing with filming permits in Los Gatos. And, of course, once your application has been approved, remember to strictly adhere to all Los Gatos filming laws and regulations.