Film Unit

The City of Los Angeles is often referred to as the "Film Capital of the World" due to the number of studios housed within City limits as well as the numerous productions that film in Los Angeles on a daily basis.

The Los Angeles Fire Department, specifically the Film Unit in the Bureau of Fire Prevention and Public Safety, handles all fire and life safety oversight for motion picture and television production studio sound stages, approved production facilities and production locations, and all commercial digital media production conducted within the City of Los Angeles.

LAFD Film Unit Oversight

• Issue special permits for helicopter landings, the use of tents, vehicles on stage, fire performers and open flames, as well as special effects pyrotechnics.
• Inspect all motion picture and television production facilities, all related occupancies on studio property including wood shops, paint shops, spray booths, fiberglass operations, metal shops, theaters, daycare, restaurants, offices, explosive vaults, as well as all new construction on studio lots.
• Review plans for audience shows, fire lanes, set construction, building construction, and helicopter landings, and plans for change-of-use events such as parties, concerts and trade shows.
• Perform walkthroughs at film locations and studios to ensure fire/life safety and exiting requirements are enforced.
• Train, test, certify and supervise all Uniform Fire Safety Officers.
• Serve as liaison with City, County, State, Federal and private agencies regarding filming, special effects pyrotechnics, studios and related issues.
• Confer, consult and direct FilmLA regarding film location approvals, required Uniform Fire Safety Officers, fire protection, fire lanes and special effects.
• Attend meetings with film industry representatives concerning rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Prepare legal reports for submittal to the City Attorney Office resulting from noncompliance with codes and regulations.

Forms & Permit Requests

• Drone (Unmanned Aerial Systems) Permit — Required for all indoor drone use, or any drone use on a certified studio lot. Permitting for all other drone use is handled by FilmLA via the film permit process required for all on-location filming in the City of Los Angeles. When applying for your permit, please include PDF copies of: (1) Part 107 license; (2) Registration; (3) Insurance; (4) Description and map of activities.
• Filming Location Fire Safety Inspection Checklist (the "Spot Check" list) — Required for all on-location filming activity within the City of Los Angeles for which a UFSO is not assigned. The checklist shall be completed every day, at every location, and a signed copy shall be made available to any LAFD inspector requesting it. Exception: This form is not required when filming at an approved production facility (certified studio).
• Fire Performer Permit — Required for fire performers utilized in filming or special events related to filming.
• Fuel Transfer Permit (Mobile Fueler Permit) — Annual permit required for all mobile fuelers conducting fuel transfers for the film industry. Issued by LAFD Fire Development Services. All provisions of FPB Requirement #47 shall be adhered to. Please note: New permit applications require upload of the vehicle's current registration; permit renewals require upload of the current fuel transfer permit and the vehicle's current registration.
• Helicopter Landing Permit — Required for helipad use or helicopter landings/takeoffs in conjunction with filming. The permit request shall be submitted via email following the instructions on the form and should include the FilmLA permit number along with PDF attachments of: pilot's license, insurance, description of helicopter activities and, if required, an accepted FAA Plan of Activities.
• Hospital Filming Location Evaluation Report — Required for proposed filming at any building identified as a hospital by the LA Department of Building and Safety.
• Hot Work/Welding Permit — Along with your permit request, please submit photos of the proposed hot work/welding area showing all required safety measures (e.g., signage, screens, fire extinguishers, etc.). The area should be fully set up as if hot work/welding were about to begin at the time the photos are taken.
• Schools, Churches & Institutions Pre-Approval Form — Required for proposed filming activities (e.g. filming, base camp, parking, or any combination) at any building identified as a school or church by the LA Department of Building and Safety.
• SPFX: Open Flame Permit — Issued on a case-by-case basis. This permit may be issued for non-pyrotechnic open flame use during filming. Depending on the nature of the flame effect, a licensed pyrotechnician may be required and/or a Uniformed Fire Safety Officer may be assigned to the film shoot.
• SPFX: Pyrotechnic Special Effects Permit — Issued to California-licensed pyrotechnicians for pyrotechnic special effects utilized during filming.
• Tent Permit — Required for any tent or membrane structure exceeding 400 sq. ft. Exception: Tents open on all sides that comply with all of the following: (1) individual tents 700 sq. ft. or less; (2) aggregate area of multiple tents placed side by side without a fire break clearance of 12 ft. not exceeding 700 sq. ft. total; (3) minimum clearance of 12 ft. to all structures and other tents.
• Uniform Fire Safety Officer (UFSO) Authorization Form — Required for payment of an LAFD UFSO when the UFSO is required for filming activities permitted outside the purview of the FilmLA permitting process (i.e. productions filming on state or federal property, or productions filming at an approved production facility where a film permit is not required).
• Vehicle on Stage (Motorcraft Indoors) Permit — Required for any vehicle or motorcraft (e.g. car, motorcycle, van, hybrid, etc.) utilized indoors for cinematic purposes, regardless of whether filming occurs on location or at an approved production facility. This requirement includes gas, electric and hybrid vehicles.
• Welding Permit — Required for hot work/welding onsite during production. Along with your permit request, please send photos of the desired hot work/welding area with all appropriate signage, screens, extinguishers, etc.

Certified Studios

In the City of Los Angeles, a film permit is not required while filming in a certified studio — that is, while filming in any of the three areas defined in Chapter 48, Section 4801.3, of the LA Fire Code that have been approved by the LAFD Film Unit:

• Approved Production Facility: An existing building, or portion of a building, or a group of buildings altered for use by the entertainment industry for the purpose of motion picture, television and commercial production.
• Production Studio: A building, portion of a building, or a group of buildings designed and constructed for use by the entertainment industry for the purpose of motion picture, television and commercial production.
• Sound Stage: A building or portion of a building usually insulated from outside noise and natural light for use by the entertainment industry for the purpose of motion picture, television and commercial production.

Please note: The phrase "certified studio" does not exist in the LA Fire Code, but is commonly used by members of the film industry to indicate any of the three areas defined above that have received final approval from the LAFD Film Unit.

Follow this link for more information on certified studios.

Links

• California Film Commission
• FilmLA — Issues film permits on behalf of the City of Los Angeles
• LAFD Related Filming Requests
• Los Angeles Business Portal — Studio Concierge Services (LADBS)
• Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS)
• LADBS Electrical Test Lab (ETL) — The ETL division of LADBS evaluates electrical equipment for safety, fire and shock hazards and personnel injuries in accordance with current applicable codes and standards.
• Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks — Park Film Office
• Los Angeles Unified School District — Filming Permits
• Neighborhood Info — LA City address verification
• Office of the State Fire Marshal — Motion Picture & Entertainment Unit

Be Safe

Honda EU2000i Generator Recall — Honda EU2000i generators with serial numbers between EAAJ-2260273 through EAAJ-2485025 are prohibited from use within the City of Los Angeles.

Personnel

• Captain I — Anthony Randolph
• Inspector II — Marvin Anderson
• Inspector I — Amilcar Aguilar
• Inspector I — Arthur Rodriguez
• Inspector I — Carlos Morel
• Inspector I — Derwin Pitts
• Senior Clerk Typist — Kanisha Leonard

Contact

Phone: 213.978.3670
Email: lafdfilm@lacity.org

*For filming inquiries regarding the use of LAFD facilities, personnel, branding, etc., please visit the LAFD Public Relations page.