City Guide Filming in Vacaville, CA
Production Permit Fees
- Filming Permit Fee (Vacaville Special Events Office): Variable, to be decided by the special events team for each case
- CFC Permit Fee: Free
- State-owned property site rental: Free
Minimum Insurance
- General Liability: $1 million
- Workers’ Compensation: As per state requirements
- Automobile Liability: $1 million for “owned,” “non-owned,” or “hired”
- Aviation Insurance Coverage: $5 million
- UAS/Drone Insurance: $2 million
Additional Permits
Discounts
About Vacaville
Vacaville is the third biggest city in California’s Solano County and is located not too far from both San Francisco (55 miles) and Sacramento (35 miles). The area, of which the city is a part, houses several endangered and elusive animal species and is also home to many rare plants. Notable local landmarks include the Lagoon Valley Lake, which occupies a span of 105 acres. Another major local attraction/public artwork is the "Vacaville Centennial," which is a series of murals made from ceramic tiles, put together in a three-year period (1992-1995) by Guillermo Wagner Granizo. The murals reflect notable events in the history of the city.
Other historical and iconic places of interest include the Vacaville Town Hall, Peña Adobe, Pleasants Ranch, and Will H. Buck House. The city is also the home, and in some cases, even the birthplace, of many national legends, including comic book artist Arthur Adams, eight-time world kickboxing champion Dennis Alexio, champion shot putter Andy Bloom, baseball player Jermaine Dye, and many more.
On top of this, the city is also well-known as the filming location for the MythBusters science experiment series. Other than this, many Hollywood productions have also worked here on big-time projects like Spider-Man: No Way Home, The All-American Boy, The Killing of America, The Willow Man, The Green Room, Brooke, American Yearbook, Under a Black Cloud, Predatory Lender, and April's Fools. Vacaville has had its fair share of screen-time in both Hollywood blockbusters and TV shows, meaning that the sight of film production teams is not unusual for the locals. Before you start working on your next project here, why not take a look at the filming guidelines in Vacaville to know what to expect?
And while we’re talking about filming in town, if you ever need to find the best places to film in Vacaville or anywhere else, feel free to check out Giggster’s listings!
Do I Need a Filming Permit in Vacaville?
Yes, you need a permit to film in Vacaville, but getting one is super easy and hassle-free, so why worry? Film productions can get access to public property (for filming), assistance from the local departments in their production efforts, special parking privileges, exclusive access to certain lanes/streets/right of way, and technical support for their production activities.
Permit Management in Vacaville
Vacaville Special Events Office
Getting filming permits in Vacaville is as simple as things get. You don’t have to leave the comfort of your home or hotel room or wait hours for a response to your email. Instead, you can simply log onto the Vacaville Special Events Portal, which is operated by the Vacaville Special Events Office, and add all relevant details for your filming schedule step by step. If you’ve ever signed up for a social media account, it’s that simple – once you've added all the information and submitted all the documents required, you can hit submit to further the process.
The Special Events Office will then review all the information provided, reach out to you if any additional documentation is needed, and then give you an invoice for your expenses. You can also visit the office in person if you want to at 650 Merchant Street, Vacaville, CA 95688, or call them at (707) 449-5140 or visit their website.
The Special Events Office will offer assistance at all levels of the production process, including pre-production preparations, and you can reach out to your special events coordinator that will be assigned to you for any technical assistance you may need. If your filming protocol demands the presence of officials from the local police department or fire department, the special events office will take care of that as well, although it will cost you.
If you're a student aspiring to be a filmmaker of the highest caliber in the coming years, but want a small breakthrough, then you'd be glad to hear about the city's Teen Film Competition Program, which accepts applications whenever a competition is announced; you can reach out to the program coordinator at 91 Town Square Plaza, Vacaville, California 95688 for more information about the program and any upcoming competitions.
In short, whether you’re a full-scale film production team or a student filmmaker crew, the Special Events Office and the city as a whole are willing to entertain you in all capacities.
What Insurance Do I Need in Vacaville?
The production insurance requirements in Vacaville are subject to change based on the specifics of any film production, but for most cases, a certain limit is deemed sufficient. Now, you may be wondering why you need to get insurance for your film production efforts in the first place. Even if your film does not delve into risky action sequences or stunts, accidents can still happen, be they slip-and-fall accidents, automobile accidents (when parking one of your production crew vehicles), lifting injuries (when setting up props), equipment failure injuries, and far too many other to list. Of course, if risky activities are involved, the probability of sustaining a serious injury jumps up significantly. But for most cases, the following insurance requirements are deemed sufficient:
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 Vacaville?
Let’s take a look at some of the finest, most in-demand filming venues in the city first. Topping off our list is the Bright Spacious Luxury Modern Clean Home which is a perfectly renovated house available for filming, photography, and more. This perfectly renovated and completely furnished home offers the perfect background aesthetics for your needs if you're looking for a homey, residential setting. There is a small parking space associated with the property, but if you need more space, you can park the rest of your crew vehicles at a nearby parking lot. The house itself offers a lavish interior owing to its cathedral-style ceiling, marble bathroom, sliding doors (and wooden doors), perfectly maintained back and front yards, a brick fireplace, carpeted floors, granite countertops, slider windows, and lots more. You also get complete air conditioning, unabated WiFi connectivity, and a separate hair/makeup area.
Another equally impressive venue, with a different outlook and theme altogether, is the Unique Lounge and Event Space in California, which is present in the same building as a local historic post office from 1937. The parking space is big enough to accommodate 20 vehicles at a time, and the place itself offers a high-tech, artsy look with a bar or club theme. Inside, you'll find the space flooded by colorful LED lights, a DJ booth, a stage, a separate VIP area, a cove ceiling, a ballroom, a conference room, and a dance floor. The interior is, once again, completely air-conditioned, offers a dedicated makeup area, and has WiFi connectivity.
If the two premium filming venues we discussed don’t resonate with your script’s demand, then the options don’t end there. You can try properties like the Open Dance Studio With Mirrors, Pre-Lit RGB Cyclorama Studio, Daylight Photo Studio With Equipment, Retro Diner With Ceiling To Floor Windows, Hotel Dining Space And Rooftop, or the Hookah Lounge & Café.
Special Requirements in Vacaville
Filming In Vacaville Unified School District
The protocol for getting approval for your film proposal at the Vacaville Unified School District is not all that complicated, but you’ll have to put your persuasion skills to the test and be ready to be a bit flexible:
To start, you must reach out to the school management
Arrange a one-on-one meeting with the board to discuss your proposal
Summarize all the relevant details of your filming activities and project for the board’s review and approval
Schedule your filming activities wisely, i.e., when the school premises is likely to be vacated (during the holiday season, weekends, vacations, etc.)
Get insured for general liability ($1 million) and workers’ compensation
Discuss the charges/fees for using the school's premises for your project
Get approval for your application/proposal
Filming In Neighborhood Parks
The local Parks and Recreation Department manages all local parks in the city. Examples of such parks include Padan Park, Magnolia Park, Beelard Park, Stonegate Park, and Lagoon Valley Park. If you want to film in these areas and access the premises exclusively for your project, you must:
Reach out to the parks department and see if the premises are available
See if it is possible to get exclusive access to the premises
Discuss the schedule and timing with the parks department
Get a quote for site rental/fee for using the park premises exclusively
Notify all nearby residents about your upcoming filming activities
Hire someone from the parks department staff to monitor your filming activities
Arrange parking with the concerned departments
Filming In Lagoon Valley Lake
The Lagoon Valley Lake area occupies a stretch of 105 acres, of which 100 acres is the lake itself (only non-motorized boating allowed). The rest of the area is covered by hiking trails, biking pathways, a disc golf course, and a dog park. This lake is both a local attraction and a hotspot for picnicking and assorted activities in town; you can get a special tour of the place via the Solano County Office of Education. If you’re planning to film here:
Get in touch with the City
Submit your proposal to film here but understand that you may not get exclusive access
Get $1 million in watercraft liability coverage if you wish to use any boats/watercraft in your production activities
Observe all the lake area rules, especially concerning the use of motorized boats and cleanup
Noise Regulations To Follow When Filming
As per the noise ordinance applicable throughout Vacaville, the “normally acceptable” levels of noise are 65 dBA outdoors and 45 indoors as measured from a reasonable distance. To put this in perspective, normal human conversation is somewhere around 60 dBA when listened to from a short distance. Just avoid loudspeakers, the humming of vehicle engines, and shouting, and you should be fine.
What Does it Cost to Film in Vacaville?
The filming regulations in Vacaville clearly state that the city and state-level departments can charge filmmakers for any services rendered, including fees (if applicable) for permit issuance and site rental. We have listed a rough breakdown of the fees for your reference:
Additional Fees
It's essential to consult with the Vacaville Film Commission or the local government to get a detailed breakdown of the permits required and associated fees. Additionally, hiring a production manager or someone familiar with the area can help in estimating and budgeting all expenses accurately.
Geographical Jurisdiction of Vacaville?
The 28.6 square mile stretch of land upon which the city of Vacaville sits is the extent to which the filming laws in Vacaville apply. Sitting in California’s Solona County, the city of Vacaville is surrounded by neighboring settlements – Hartley and Allendale to the north; Batavia and Elmira to the east; Cannon to the south; Bucktown to the east. Of these, Elmira and Allendale are often fused with Vacaville and thus considered the territory of greater Vacaville.
Outreach in Vacaville
If you're planning to film in a public area, you must first inform all neighborhood residents in the adjoining area. This means all the affected individuals, including business owners, who operate in the area. As per the Vacaville filming laws, you must send your notification letters to all affected parties at least two business days in advance. These letters should mention your contact information, details of the filming schedule, and a brief roundup of what the locals should expect (concerning street closure and parking restrictions, for example). Be sure to run the draft by the Special Events team before posting it to everyone, and if you are not sure how to proceed, ask for a sample.
Community Management in Vacaville
The community in Vacaville will give you suburban vibes, and you’ll find the locals to be nice, kind-hearted people. If you think that the filming regulations in Vacaville being light is the only support you should expect when in town, you’d be wrong. The locals will welcome film production efforts here as long as you respect any concerns they may have, especially regarding noise control, privacy protection, and disturbance. Plus, you can find all sorts of local talent here to assist you with your project too!