City Guide Filming in Twentynine Palms, CA
Production Permit Fees
Minimum Insurance
- Comprehensive general liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence
- Automobile liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 per accident
- Pyrotechnic liability insurance of at least $2,000,000 per occurrence
- Drone liability insurance of at least $2,000,000 per occurrence (when applicable)
- Aircraft liability insurance of at least $10,000,000 per occurrence (when applicable)
- Workers’ Compensation insurance that aligns with California’s laws and includes Employer’s liability of $250,000
Additional Permits
Discounts
About Twentynine Palms
The city of Twentynine Palms is also known as 29 Palms and lies in the Mojave Desert in San Bernardino County in Southern California. It is dubbed a desert oasis at the north entrance to Joshua Tree National Park because it is located on the north side of the Joshua Park National Park at the Oasis of Mara. This city, located about seventy miles east of the city of San Bernardino, is a well-known hub of cultural arts, beautiful murals, annual events, plenty of food and lodging, and features a unique desert hospitality that always makes visitors feel welcome.
There are plenty of reasons why Twentynine Palms is one of the top destinations for filmmakers, tourists, nature lovers, and outdoor recreation enthusiasts in Southern California. First off, the beautiful terrain in this area is unmatched as it offers some of nature’s best sights – you can rest assured you will always find amazing backdrops here if you are a filmmaker. Moreover, you can never run out of fun activities here - stargazing, hiking, wildlife viewing, bird watching, rock climbing, etc. The California tax credit is another added incentive that encourages film production here in 29 Palms.
Twentynine Palms has been the home of filmmaking since the 1960s, welcoming different kinds of productions on various scales. Some of the top projects filmed here include It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963), Treason (I) (2020), Crazy/Beautiful (2001), On the Beach (2000 TV Movie), Southbound (2015), Twentynine Palms (2003), Kiss Me, Stupid (1964), The Doll Squad (1973), Werewolves in Heat (2015), and Instant Dreams (2017). Find a location that suits your film project in 29 Palms now on Giggster.
Do I Need a Filming Permit in Twentynine Palms?
To comply with the filming regulations in Twentynine Palms, you must obtain a film permit for any commercial production you carry out in the city. This is regardless of whether you intend to shoot on public property in the city or on private property.
For non-commercial film production in the city, you may also require a permit depending on the nature and scale of your production. Reach out to the San Bernardino County Film Office to find out what you need to do so that you do not end up breaking any of 29 Palms’ filming laws.
You may require permits and approvals from the Public Works Department or Community Development Department if you need to close streets or roads or make use of city rights-of-way during production. For film activities with fire, pyrotechnics, and special effects, reach out to the San Bernardino County Fire Department for necessary approvals. You may need the approval of the Sheriff’s Department as well.
Permit Management in Twentynine Palms
San Bernardino County Film Office
The San Bernardino County Film Office in the Economic Development Department is the agency that manages film permitting in Twentynine Palms. The Film Office acts as the one-stop shop for filmmakers looking to shoot production, find answers to production-related questions, obtain permits, locate production resources, and coordinate with city and county agencies.
The San Bernardino County Film Office has a dedicated online portal for filmmakers to submit their permit applications and supporting documents, check the status of their applications, view updates to the project, and pay the required application fees. Get started by visiting the online application portal for your application as early as possible. These are some of the requirements for a film permit in 29 Palms:
Pay the application fee.
Complete the Waiver of subrogation rights.
Provide insurance that complies with the city’s production insurance requirements.
Obtain permission from the owner of the private property where you intend to film.
Sign the Credit Agreement and acknowledge San Bernardino County Film Office in your film credits.
Depending on the nature of your production, the San Bernardino County Film Office may have additional film permit requirements that you must meet before you are issued the film permit. If this is the case, you will be duly notified by the Film Office.
What Insurance Do I Need in Twentynine Palms?
Twentynine Palms’ filming guidelines require a filmmaker to provide a certificate of insurance to the San Bernardino County Film Office before the start of filming in the city. Hand-written certificates or endorsements are not accepted by the Film Office. The insurance certificate you provide to obtain a film permit to shoot in 29 Palms must cover the following:
Comprehensive general liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence.
Automobile liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 per accident.
Pyrotechnic liability insurance of at least $2,000,000 per occurrence.
Drone liability insurance of at least $2,000,000 per occurrence (when applicable).
Aircraft liability insurance of at least $10,000,000 per occurrence (when applicable).
Workers’ Compensation insurance that aligns with California’s laws and includes Employer’s liability of $250,000.
Endorse the County of San Bernardino as an additional insured on all the policies except the Workers’ Compensation.
Complete the Waiver of Subrogation Rights.
You are required to provide the certificate of insurance to the Film Office when it is requested and ensure that the coverage is in effect for the entire duration of the project. The insurance must not expire, be modified, or terminate without a 30-day notice to the Film Office. The County’s Risk Manager is authorized to reduce, waive, or increase any of the production insurance requirements if deemed necessary based on the nature of your production.
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 Twentynine Palms?
As the home of the headquarters and north entrance to the Joshua Tree National Park, Twentynine Palms already has everything a filmmaker that is looking to shoot production in natural untouched areas desires. Filming here at night is an experience that can be bested by only a few places on earth. Even more, the Mojave Trails National Monument and the sprawling terrain of the Mojave Desert, with its unique flora and fauna, make this city hard to resist. The 29 Palms Marine Base, opened in 1952, also offers interesting filming opportunities in the city.
If you are a history buff, you will have a lot of fun filming here too, thanks to the museums and national parks that depict various aspects of the nation’s past and the story of the indigenous people that first settled in the area. A great place to start is the 29 Palms Historical Society’s Old Schoolhouse Museum. Moreover, there are vibrant art galleries, beautiful outdoor murals, theaters, and city parks like Bucklin Park, Knott Sky Park, and Luckie Park that offer additional filming opportunities. Other popular areas within the region include the Tortoise Rock Casino, 29 Palms Art Gallery, Sky’s The Limit Observatory and Nature Center, Glass Outhouse Art Gallery, and 29 Palms Airport.
Special Requirements in Twentynine Palms
San Bernardino County Regional Parks
There are some additional requirements for filming in County Parks:
Designate a representative of your production company for field operations before the start of filming and ensure they are the only person that liaises with the Film Office.
Always make a copy of the permit available.
Film only within the approved locations and on approved dates and times in the park.
Do not carry out any activity that leads to soil disturbance.
Keep the filming area free of debris and trash.
Notify the Film Office of any filming that involves exotic plants and animals.
Attribute film credits to the County of San Bernardino and Regional Parks and San Bernardino County Film Office.
Filming with Animals
Abide by the following guidelines when filming with animals in 29 Palms:
Have qualified handlers to control animals that are not endemic to the area.
Animals must not feed on the natural vegetation – provide feed and water.
Feed animals with non-germinating pellets or certified weed-free hay from two days before the start of filming till the end of filming.
Tie animals to a parked vehicle or house them within a trailer when not in use.
Remove all animal waste from the land daily.
Prevent the transmission of diseases from animals to other animals.
City Parks
If you plan to shoot production in any of the city parks in 29 Palms, contact the Recreation Office at least two weeks in advance of the production date for information about reservations and the production requirements.
Joshua Tree National Park
You must obtain a Special Use Permit for any kind of filming activity in Joshua Tree National Park. Complete the Special Use Permit Application Form and submit it to the Park Office. Applications are processed within ten to thirty business days. Reach out to the Special Park Use Coordinator if you have any questions.
As for insurance, these are the requirements to film in Joshua Tree National Park:
Provide a certificate of insurance with liability insurance of $1,000,000.
Name the United States of America and Joshua Tree National Park as the certificate holder.
When required, post a refundable bond.
The fees associated with film production in the National Park include an application/administration fee (payment online), location fee, and monitoring fee. Other fees may be levied to the filmmaker if deemed necessary:
Application/Administration Fee - $315 (non-refundable).
Location Fee:
1 – 2 people with camera and tripod only – Free.
1 - 10 people - $150 per day.
11 - 30 people - $250 per day.
31 - 49 people - $500 per day.
Over 50 people - $750 per day.
Monitoring Fee - $50 per hour.
What Does it Cost to Film in Twentynine Palms?
Although there is an application fee for film production in 29 Palms, other costs associated with commercial film production in the city are determined by the San Bernardino County Film Office on a case-by-case basis. The mode of payment is online on the application portal, and every filmmaker will have access to the fee schedule as soon as they register on the portal and set up their production profile. Other fees that may not be paid directly to the San Bernardino County Film Office during production include those required to cover the services of city personnel, or those billed by the owners of private properties where filming is scheduled. All in all, the production costs in Twentynine Palms may include application fees, location fees, fees for services or personnel, and damage deposits (where required).
Additional Fees
Some locations in Twentynine Palms might require payment for filming on private property or in certain public areas. Fees could include location rental charges or additional costs for set construction and cleanup. Transporting crew, equipment, and talent to and from Twentynine Palms may also incur extra expenses, especially if specialized vehicles or transportation services are required.
Geographical Jurisdiction of Twentynine Palms?
Twentynine Palms sits in the Mojave Desert and is surrounded by park areas, desert landscapes, rocky terrain, and natural areas. All the nearby municipalities are located west of the city, and they include Sunfair, Joshua Tree, Yucca Valley, Pioneertown, Flamingo Heights, Landers, and Rimrock. Cleghorn Lakes Wilderness Area
Outreach in Twentynine Palms
Anyone planning to visit this city for a commercial film shoot is not required to carry out community outreach under the Twentynine Palms’ filming regulations. However, it is strongly recommended that every producer communicates with people who live or conduct business in the vicinity of the filming location. If the production will impact them in one way or another, this is especially important. Conduct outreach by sending out notification letters with information about the production, information about the production team, and the contact information of a representative of your production company.
Community Management in Twentynine Palms
As a filmmaker, you should ensure that you cultivate a positive relationship with the people in the area where you intend to film because they play a significant role in the success of your production. Because the folks here have hosted actors and crew for many decades, they are hospitable and supportive of filmmakers. However, you can make the relationship even stronger by involving them through a variety of communication channels and compensating them when it's necessary and appropriate. You can be sure that the people in the community will support you if you keep the noise levels to a minimum while filming and keep each location clean.
Conclusion
The city of Twentynine Palms is a well-known destination for filming in the Mojave Desert and attracts the fancy of filmmakers because of the tax credits, cultural features, diverse and spectacular landscapes, natural areas, museums, and most of all, Joshua Tree National Park. You can rest assured that the time you spend here will be worthwhile.
All commercial filming activities require a permit in Twentynine Palms, so reach out to the San Bernardino County Film Office to sort out the permit process. You can also count on the Film Office to provide additional services that will ensure the success of your film project, especially as the Film Office assists with other agencies on issues that pertain to film production.
Prepare your production fees, insurance documents, approval letters from private property owners, and any other required supporting documents, and submit the permit application as early as possible to ensure that your permit is ready for you before your planned start date in Twentynine Palms.