City Guide Filming in Newport Beach, CA
Production Permit Fees
- FilmLA Application Fee: $863
- FilmLA Non-Profit Permit: $69
- FilmLA Permit For Still Shots: $82
- Rider Fee: $137
- CFC Permit for State-Owned Sites: Free
- Permit Review: $12 per location for a production crew of 5 or less; $51 per location otherwise
- State-Owned Property Site Rental: Free
Minimum Insurance
- General Liability Coverage
- Worker’s Compensation Coverage
- Automobile Liability Coverage
- Aviation Insurance Coverage
- UAS/Drone Insurance Coverage
- Product Liability Insurance Coverage
- Liquor Liability Insurance Coverage
Additional Permits
Discounts
About Newport Beach
Malibu may be the first name that pops to mind when one thinks of the coast, sand, beaches, warm Mediterranean temperature, the ocean, and fun – but you’ve got another equally excellent option not too far away: Newport Beach. Nestled in the Orange County of California, this city is a hub of recreation and offers much to enjoy for beach lovers, surfers, and swimmers. Other than being a bustling city with a lively atmosphere, Newport Beach offers impeccable beaches and recreation spots. The harborside community of Balboa Island is one of the most remarkable places within the city, attracting a ton of tourists and filmmakers with its unique waterfront path and ferries. Cinematic masterpieces like The O.C. (series), Arrested Development (sitcom), The Thirteenth Year, Dirty John (anthology series), and To Have and Have Not have been filmed in the city. Taking the I-405 N, you’ll reach the heart of the international film industry – Hollywood, in less than an hour. The film production scene is very vibrant here in the city and overall, the filming regulations in Newport Beach are not overly harsh, meaning that nothing’s holding you back from making Newport Beach your next film production destination. Knowing the local regulations and exploring the options you have in the city is important, and we’ll help you cover these fully. As for your next filming destination or site rental, you can browse through the vast library of Newport Beach filming locations shared on Giggster and take your pick from there!
Do I Need a Filming Permit in Newport Beach?
All film production activity within the city requires a permit from the concerned authorities. Otherwise, you may be penalized or even have your production shut down. Fret not, the regulations are rather relaxed, and you won’t have much trouble getting your hands on a permit for filming on city property. For private properties, permission from the owner or a lease agreement (if you’ve leased the site) is also necessary. FilmLA handles all of the permit issuing business for the city, meaning that you’ll be submitting your applications to them. Newport City requires additional forms from film production companies, such as a Fire Department Form, Public Works Form, Parks and Recreation Form, and Private Property Consent Form.
Pyrotechnics Permit
This is applicable if your film contains special effects and explosives.
Animal Control Permit
This permit is needed if animals are part of the film production.
Student/Non-Profit Filming Permits
These permits come at a generally lower cost than the regular ones. Also note that since Newport Beach is in California, you can take advantage of the film production incentives offered by the California Film Commission, which include site rental waivers for state-owned properties and special refunds. This applies to the nearby Crystal Cove State Park as well, which is a state-owned property, among others.
Permit Management in Newport Beach
FilmLA
FilmLA handles permit issuance and the related details for the City of Newport Beach. You can reach out to them via their website and walk through the whole process with relative ease. The permit application procedure is simple and straightforward, save for the extra forms that need to be submitted by the production in Newport Beach. FilmLA will also help coordinate the notification of the filming activity to the neighborhoods affected, and you can count on them for assistance in other matters as well, such as providing self-help resources. However, you will have to collaborate with the local departments for certain permissions on your own. FilmLA will not liaise with the police and fire departments on your behalf; you’ll have to reach out to the focal persons on your own, fill out the related forms, get approval, and then submit those forms to FilmLA. But other than that, the permit issuing authority has you covered for the many challenges that await, including community outreach. If you ever feel confused and unsure of what to do next, you can always reach out to FilmLA via their website to understand the filming guidelines in Newport Beach.
What Insurance Do I Need in Newport Beach?
Production insurance is a necessity in Newport Beach as it is in any other filming locale in the USA. While accidents might not happen under controlled circumstances, you still have to be prepared for the worst-case scenario. Your insurance coverage will protect both your production crew members and any other parties affected in the event of an accident or injury. There are varied requirements for insurance coverage limits, but a minimum standard is always there and this is also the case with Newport Beach. FilmLA requires that you fulfill the following minimum production insurance requirements in Newport Beach.
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 Newport Beach?
Now that we’ve understood the basic filming guidelines in Newport Beach, let’s go through the many filming locations available in the city. You have a ton of options to pick from for your filming project and each choice is more impressive than the previous one, but you need something that resonates with your vision for the film project. Perhaps the simplistic Photo & Video 5 Wall Eggshell Studio might be what you’re looking for, with its spacious interior and dedicated filming/photoshoot space. If you’re looking for something more lively and themed, the Embodiment and Pole Studio will be a perfect fit. In contrast, the Boutique Photo Studio is quainter, with a lighter theme and a quaint ambiance. You can also try something like the Naturally Lit Pilates Studio In Lush Green Setting which offers a serene atmosphere and a well-lit interior. But if you wish to incorporate something more artistic into your film's frames, then the Artist’s Light Filled Home With A Blue-Grey Kitchen will be a perfect option as the property reflects the mindset of its owner precisely. To kick it up a notch, you can try Private Property Hosting A Tropical Resort-Like Yard/Pool/Slide which will be perfect for filming party-themed scenes because of its aesthetics and vast space. The Airy Traditional Family Home with Private Backyard may not sound like a regular filming space but it can fill in for those who're looking for such a cozy and natural space for their shooting. Contrasting this serenity and calmness is the Executive Private Fitness Facility which exudes productivity and calorie burns – the perfect recipe for adrenaline-packed sections. Or, for the everyday office-life scenes, you can try an actual Office in Irvine as your filming destination. Be sure to check out all the options available to you – there are a ton of options to pick from – you’ll definitely end up with something you feel that reflects the true nature of your film production.
Special Requirements in Newport Beach
Newport-Mesa Unified School District
The Newport-Mesa Unified School District serves both Newport Beach and the neighboring city of Costa Mesa. Filming is allowed here but you'll first need to seek consent from the administration and schedule your shoot with them on days when the school premises won't be used by the students. It is best to reach out in advance and discuss your filming schedule and other details concerning the school administration, such as crew size, the number of automobiles, use of pyrotechnics (most likely won't be allowed), and so on. Once you get express permission from the school administration, you can reach out to FilmLA for furthering the process. Do keep in mind that you’ll need to provide general liability coverage of no less than $1,000,000, automobile liability coverage, and worker’s compensation to be able to film within the school district.
John Wayne Airport
Once again, here you'll have to reach out to the Airport Director who is the focal person for all such allowances in the airport. You can film at the John Wayne Airport, but only when you've been given written permission by the concerned authorities. FilmLA cannot initiate a permit issuance on its own here. Instead, be sure to discuss the whole thing in detail with the focal persons to get permission for your filming schedule. Also, general liability insurance coverage is a must here.
Crystal Cove State Park
You’ve got some good news if you plan on filming in the wilderness of the famous Crystal Cove State Park – there is no site rental. But getting a permit for your filming here will be a bit different in that you can’t ask the State Park to issue you a permit. Instead, this part is handled by the California Film Commission which also offers incentives for filming in California, especially state-owned properties. While the site rental will be waived, you’ll still have to pay monitoring fees if applicable in your case and the same goes for parking and other expenses (although you may qualify for refunds via CFC).
Filming Survey & Special Forms
Besides the notification requirement, you may also have to (although not necessarily) conduct a survey to record the response of the people affected by your filming. This way, they’ll be able to express their concerns, if any, and you can hopefully resolve them. On top of this, you’ll be required to liaise with the local fire department, public works, and parks and recreation as well and get them to sign special forms. There’s also a private property consent form if you wish to film on private property.
Filming Hours
As with most big cities, you can't just go on filming 24/7 in Newport Beach, CA. The filming hours are Monday to Friday, 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM. While it is possible to film beyond these hours if you have to, you'll need the city's express permission to do so. Otherwise, no film production-related activity, including setting up a scene, can happen other than these hours.
What Does it Cost to Film in Newport Beach?
Other than the site rental and filming costs, you’ll also have to spend some money on fees for your film production. Filming permits in Newport Beach are not free, and then you have to contend with charges for any on-set monitoring if required. FilmLA will provide you with an invoice when you apply for your permit and it will detail all the things you need to pay for before you begin filming. A generalized breakdown of the FilmLA fee structure is as follows: The FilmLA application fee is $863 If you apply for a FilmLA qualified Non-Profit Permit, you’ll have to pay a discounted application fee of $69 The application fee for still shots is comparatively less: $82 $137 will be charged as a rider fee For non-profit filming, the rider fee will be $34 and for still photo productions, it will be $28 The permit notification fee is charged as per the radius with the base rate of $215 Monitoring fees are charged hourly at $41 per hour You can also secure reduced fees for complex permissions at $124 per permit and $33 per permit for simple permissions The City of Newport Beach will also charge some extra fees on top of the aforementioned: For a production crew of 5 or fewer people, the city will charge $12 (per locale) as a permit review fee In case the production crew consists of 6 or more people, this fee will be $51 per filming location On top of these costs, there will be extra fees and costs if you wish to have representatives from various local departments on set (as needed). You’ll have to reach out to the local police and fire departments on your own if any cooperation is needed here. Plus, the costs vary depending on the extent of help needed, the scope of the production, and whether or not you qualify for certain waivers. Since you’ll be filming in California, odds are you might have a state-owned property in mind as the stage for your film production; if so, and you do get the necessary permission, you won’t be charged any site rental as per CFC’s policy. Plus, CFC also offers refunds on certain filming expenses to productions operating in California, be sure to get in touch with their focal persons for more information.
Additional Fees
Newport Beach typically requires a film permit for commercial, non-commercial, and student filming. The fees for these permits can vary based on the type of production and the locations used within the city.
Geographical Jurisdiction of Newport Beach?
The name Newport Beach doesn’t leave much room for ambiguity about the geographical location of the city – it hugs the coast. To the west of the city lies the famous Huntington Beach. Going north, the city is bordered by the John Wayne Airport, Costa Mesa, Irvine City, and UC Irvine. Eastwards lies the famous Crystal Cove State Park. Filming At John Wayne Airport Filming is allowed at the John Wayne Airport, but you'll first have to reach out to the Airport Director for permission and then get a permit from Orange County. Filming At Crystal Cove National Park The state park itself does not give filming permits. Instead, you’ll have to reach out to the California Film Commission for a filming permit for this location. Since this is a state-owned property, there is no site rental fee, but you’ll still have to pay monitoring fees of $79 hourly and a lifeguard fee of $39 hourly if the shoot involves a water body.
Outreach in Newport Beach
As with any other city, Newport Beach also requires all film productions to notify the community about any filming activity that may affect them. Here, you have it easy with the filming laws in Newport Beach because you don't have to seek consent from the property owners but instead have to only notify them. This does not mean that the affected residents and business owners can't file complaints against your film production if you create an excessive disturbance. The community notices must all be delivered at least three days prior to the shooting date. For more complex productions, however, you'll have to notify the community earlier on. Get in touch with FilmLA to manage your notification requirements; the permit issuing authority will help you out here.
Community Management in Newport Beach
Overall, the Newport Beach community is described as being friendly, welcoming, and an actual "community" unlike some other cities where people live more or less secluded. The people are used to filming crews coming over for projects as the city has witnessed the filming of both series, sitcoms, and Hollywood films. You should approach the community in a friendly manner and let them know about your plans (if you have to), there shouldn't be many problems for you. As per the filming regulations in Newport Beach, you don’t have to get signatures from the people affected by the shoot but only notify them. Overall, with a friendly atmosphere and a welcoming community, you don't have much to worry about.
Conclusion
Newport Beach has everything that a budding filmmaker could hope for in a city. It is a coastal city with beaches, ample sunlight, a ton of indoor and outdoor filming locations, a friendly community, and a nearby State Park. If you choose to make this your film project destination, you’ll find the filming laws in Newport Beach to be quite relaxed when compared with many other cities. Also, FilmLA, which serves as the main permit issuing body of the city staffs a friendly team, always eager to assist you. You should not have any trouble notifying the community about your filming project as you’ll be assisted by FilmLA in this regard. Overall, the diversity of filming locations is remarkable. From themed indoor spaces to open sunny beaches, from quaint studios to bright and flashy ones, from a serene interior to more stimulating ones – the city offers everything. Balboa Island is an especially captivating neighborhood on the coast and has hosted many filming crews before. You will require special permission to shoot in certain locales, but the extra effort will be worth it. The experience is guaranteed to be unique and inspiring. And as for the options available to you with regards to filming locations, you can trust Giggster as always to help you pick the best locations available. You’ll definitely find someplace that reflects all that you want from your script/film project.