City Guide Filming in Marina del Rey, CA
Production Permit Fees
- Permit Application - $863 for up to ten locations
- Permit Rider Fee - $137 per rider per permit change
- Notification Service - $215
- FilmLA Monitor Fee - $41 per hour as required
- Fire Review Fee - $282 per permit for cast and crew over 15 people
- Fire Safety Officer - $196.99 per hour. Minimum 4 hours
- Fire Safety Advisor - $56.55 per hour. Minimum 4 hours
- Student Permit Fees - $33 for simple productions
- Student Permit Fees - $124 for complex productions
- Non-Profit Permit Application Fee - $69
- Non-Profit Permit Rider Fee - $34
Minimum Insurance
- General liability
- Employee liability
- Vehicle liability if applicable
- Watercraft liability if applicable
Additional Permits
Discounts
About Marina del Rey
When you have a script that calls for boating action and you're filming in or around the Los Angeles area, there's really only one place to go to, and that's Marina del Rey. Marina del Rey has a harbor big enough to moor five thousand boats which, if you take the time to work it out, calculates to one craft per every two people residing in the relatively small community.
Even though it's fronted by the long stretch of Venice Beach and the vast expanse of the North Pacific Ocean, Marina del Rey isn't your typical coastal resort. This place is smart, sophisticated, and screams wealth, so if you're looking for a Jersey Shore-style atmosphere, you're looking in the wrong place.
Marina del Rey has been a popular film shoot location for decades but surprisingly enough, not many of the movies shot there have had nautical themes. Going right back to the 1970s, Marina del Rey provided a scenic backdrop in the unforgettable TV series, California Highway Patrol or ChiPs, starring motorbike riding cops Eric Estrada and Brodie Greer.
That might not have been Marina del Rey's first appearance on screen, but it certainly put the community on the map of superb filming locations in Los Angeles. ChiPs was later followed by other television series like Nip/Tuck and Dexter which were also, in part, filmed there.
Marina del Rey has done its fair share of posing in movies too. Three mentionable ones are the 1998 movie The Parent Trap led by Lindsay Lohan and Dennis Quaid, and the more recent 2014 film American Sniper with Bradley Cooper in the lead role.
The films and TV shows shot in Marina del Rey have, as you can tell, been memorable ones. Whether that's down to the luxurious location or the skill of the scriptwriter, actors, and directors, is hard to tell. If you're finding the idea of having a film shoot there inspiring and you're champing at the bit to start scouting, take a look on Giggster.
Be mentally prepared for what you find because, as well as regular locations, there are plenty of boats and they're not the kind to be featured in a movie like Castaway, but are more in the style of Casino Royale.
Now you've got your film shoot appetite thoroughly whetted, all you need to do is read through these guidelines to make sure you know what the filming regulations in Marina del Rey are. Don't step on any toes, or Eric might have to come out of retirement to sort you out.
Do I Need a Filming Permit in Marina del Rey?
Anyone who wants to film for commercial purposes in any location within the boundaries of Los Angeles County, including in Marina del Rey, must be in the possession of a filming permit.
Applying for a film permit that will allow you to film in Los Angeles County is not a complicated process. You can complete the entire procedure online and, unless yours is a massive production, you can apply for your permit as late as three working days before you want to start filming.
Depending on the type of scenes you will be filming and the locations you have chosen to shoot at in Marina del Rey, you may need to fulfill additional requirements before being issued a film permit.
Non-profit Film Permits
Non-profit organizations wishing to film in Marina del Rey may be eligible for discounted permit fees. The film permit issuing body usually requires you to submit proof of being a non-profit organization during the film permit application process.
Student Film Permits
Student productions wishing to film in Marina del Rey are usually eligible for discounted film permit fees. You will be required to provide proof your project is connected to your studies or submit a letter proving your attendance at an educational facility.
Special Effects Permits
Any production involving the use of special effects such as pyrotechnics is required to obtain a Special Effects Permit from the Los Angeles County Fire Department before filming can commence.
Permit Management in Marina del Rey
FilmLA
All film permits for Marina del Rey are managed by FilmLA. Once you have begun the process of applying for a film permit via FilmLA's online app and made the initial submission, you will be allocated a FilmLA officer, the Production Coordinator, who will work with you on your project application. FilmLA will also advise you on any extra permits you may need and the specific insurance requirements for your production.
Filming permits issued by FilmLA are usually valid for up to ten locations and for a filming duration of two weeks. If FilmLA considers your film shoot to be disruptive to the community of Marina del Rey or any other additional location you've chosen, you may be required to have a FilmLA monitor on site during the shoot. The final decision on whether or not you'll need one is made at the discretion of the Project Coordinator. The fees for the presence of a FilmLA monitor at the shoot are charged to the production company at an hourly rate.
What Insurance Do I Need in Marina del Rey?
Having adequate liability insurance is obligatory for obtaining a film permit to film in Marina del Rey. Without having the correct insurance coverage, you won't be issued a permit.
FilmLA publishes the minimum insurance requirements on their website, but they are the minimums. The requirements for your shoot may vary depending on the size and complexity of your shoot.
Before you consider contracting any kind of insurance for your particular project, you should consult with a FilmLA insurance specialist for guidance. It's easier, cheaper, and a lot less hassle to get the right insurance first time.
Once you've received advice, you will be able to contract the correct amount of liability insurance for your project from the list of entertainment insurance brokers published by FilmLA or independently if you prefer.
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 Marina del Rey?
In answer to the question what kind of filming locations are available in Marina del Rey, it would be easy to say, whatever floats your boat, you'll find it. In reality though, there's a lot more in Marina del Rey where filming locations are concerned than luxury yachts bobbing against their moorings.
Forget things that float and the harbor, for the moment at least, and concentrate on dry land. There are filming locations in Marina del Rey like amazing beachfront cottages that, even if you aren't looking for one, you'll be begging for a script rewrite so you can use them.
Amazing interior locations don't stop there, either. In Marina del Rey there are open-plan homes with incredible interior designs you'll want to live in, let alone film in. Once you see the canal views from the bedroom patio doors, you'll be packing your bags and planning on when you can move in.
There are ultra-modern split-level apartments overlooking lush gardens that come fully furnished and are classy enough that even James Bond himself wouldn't look out of place shaking - not stirring - his dry martini at the teak-topped kitchen counter.
Don't think for a moment that all the filming locations in Marina del Rey are only suitable for the wealth and stealth of a super spy, though. There are more down-to-earth places too. In Marina del Rey you'll come across a boho-decorated motorcycle garage with all the tools needed to do any ChiPs rider proud if they needed their bike serviced.
There are beachfront apartments, penthouses with ocean views, lofts with décor so bright you'll want to don your shades to view them, and on a more realistic level, condos suitable for families that will still make you smile with delight.
It goes without saying that the interior shoot locations available in Marina del Rey are exceptional, but not quite as exceptional as the boats. If you need a yacht that can turn into a floating disco or one with Bohemian décor and wood paneling perfect for a horror movie about being lost at sea where everything creaks and gives you the creeps, you'll find it in Marina del Rey.
Special Requirements in Marina del Rey
Filming Hours
Regular filming hours in Marina del Rey are from seven in the morning until ten at night from Monday to Friday only. Filming is not permitted during the weekends. If you need to film outside of the regular weekday filming hours, you may be asked to conduct a community survey before being granted permission.
Street Closures
When your film shoot involves the closure of any street or LA County road in Marina del Rey, you will be required to have a police or CHP officer in attendance. If intermittent traffic control is required, you will have to have two officers. Intermittent traffic control is restricted to the hours of nine in the morning until three in the afternoon or after seven at night. The production company is charged by the hour for the attendance of police or CHP officers.
Lifeguard Attendance
When your film shoot will be taking place on a dock or in a boat, navigating or moored, you will be required to have an LA County lifeguard present throughout. The production company is charged by the hour for the attendance of a lifeguard.
Filming With Animals
If your production involves an animal of any kind, you will need to apply for an Animal Exhibition Permit. This is applicable to all filming locations that fall within the boundaries of Los Angeles County.
Application forms for an Animal Exhibition Permit are available on the FilmLA website. Once you've completed the form, you should mail it and the correct payment in check form to the following address:
County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control Facility License Program
12440 E, Imperial Highway
Suite 603, Norwalk
California, 90650
Special Effects Permits
Any film shoot taking place anywhere in LA County, including in Marina del Rey, that will be using special effects is required to have a Special Effects Permit. Special Effects Permits are issued by the Los Angeles County Fire Department's Public Safety and Film Unit.
Application forms for a special effects permit are available for download from the FimLA website. Completed forms can be submitted by mail, fax or by email. The mailing address is as follows:
Los Angeles County Fire Department
Fire Prevention Division – Public safety and Film Unit
14425 Olive View Drive
Sylmar
California, 91342
What Does it Cost to Film in Marina del Rey?
The normal fees charged for a permit to film in Marina del Rey are the standard fees charged for filming in Los Angeles County. But - and it can be a big but - if your production is a large one or is deemed disruptive, you may incur additional costs. The final decision on the permit fees for your production will be decided at the discretion of the FilmLA Production
Additional Fees
The above fees do not include any charges you may incur for public or private property rental.
Geographical Jurisdiction of Marina del Rey?
Marina del Rey is a compact community that occupies no more than one and a half square miles. Over a third of that space is taken up by water. The actual marina itself has a mooring capacity for approximately five thousand boats which makes it the largest small craft marina in the United States. Marina del Rey is surrounded on three sides by outlying neighborhoods of the City of Los Angeles and fronted by the North Pacific Ocean. To the northwest is Venice and Venice Beach, to the north the neighborhood of Culver West, and to the northeast, Del Rey, Alsace, and Playa Vista. To the southeast, Marina del Rey is bordered by the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve, and to the southwest by Playa del Rey. Should your chosen film shoot locations encroach into the neighborhood of Venice then, as it's managed by FilmLA, you can state it as one of the ten locations on your film permit for Marina del Rey. If you want to film on Venice Beach, you will need to adhere to some strict guidelines, which you'll be advised about by FilmLA during your permit application process. If one of your chosen shoot locations falls within the boundaries of the Playa Vista neighborhood, you will also be able to include this on your Marina del Rey permit application.
Outreach in Marina del Rey
Conducting outreach in Marina del Rey is a standard practice that is part of the FilmLA service. FilmLA will send out notifications to the residents and businesses in the area relevant to the upcoming filming activity when you submit your permit application.
If your production is a large one involving a numerous cast, crew, and vehicles, they may require more than the standard three days to complete the operation. The production company is charged a one-off fee for the notification service.
If, after the notifications have been distributed, FilmLA receives complaints about the upcoming film shoot, you may be asked to conduct a survey. You will be expected to conduct the survey yourself and then submit the results to your Production Coordinator. They will then make a decision as to whether or not the filming will be permitted to commence.
Community Management in Marina del Rey
Community management isn't obligatory for filming in Marina del Rey, but having a community manager on your team is a good idea even if you have a FilmLA monitor in attendance. Why?
Marina del Rey is a community of wealthy people, yacht owners among them, and as with all slightly elite communities where rich folk gather, there can be big egos to cater to. You may have had no adverse comeback from the notification service whatsoever, but that doesn't mean problematic people won't suddenly pop up out of nowhere on the shoot day.
A community manager, with superior public relations skills, will be able to iron out any problems that arise for whatever reason and help ensure that the film shoot goes as smoothly as sailing over a duck pond.
Yes, having a community manager is an extra expense, but it's not as expensive as having cast and crew standing around doing nothing while a local resident or business owner vents their wrath at having their otherwise peaceful life disrupted.
Conclusion
When you need a luxurious waterside film location, Marina del Rey really fits the bill. It's got everything you could possibly want, including plenty of boats you can add as a backdrop to your scenes. Getting a film permit for such an elite location isn't complicated either and costs no more than any other area of Los Angeles County and the City of Los Angeles, which is an absolute bonus.
You will have to make sure you stick to the additional filming regulations in Marina del Rey, but they're not so restrictive that you'll find them a hindrance to getting your project done. In all cases, FilmLA will be there to assist you throughout, plus your Production Coordinator will be there to advise and keep tabs on you to make sure you stay within the Marina del Rey filming guidelines.