Film Production Fee Reductions

At a glance

What: two linked efforts to cut the cost of filming in Los Angeles. A motion by Nazarian and Hutt (Council File 25-1498 is the micro-shoot ordinance; Council File 25-1508 is the city lots motion) asks departments to report on offering non-specialized City-owned parking lots, yards, staging areas and civic properties to productions for $1 per day or a legally required nominal fee. Separately an ordinance creates a free Micro-Shoot Permit for small public-space filming.
Where it stands: on 2026-10-27 the City Council adopted the $1 lots report request (item 4, 13 ayes, McOsker and Price absent) and gave first consideration to the Micro-Shoot Permit ordinance (item 5, 15 ayes).
Next: the Board of Public Works plan within 60 days on modeling the Micro-Shoot Permit on New York City's "Letter in Lieu Permit"; the departmental reports within 120 days on the $1 policy; a second reading of the ordinance.

The $1 per day fee would not apply when a production asks for exclusive use, needs City staff such as monitors or traffic personnel, or a department documents a safety or operational conflict.
Recreation and Parks is to report on a similar structure for park-adjacent lots and non-sensitive facilities, with a list of its properties, annual film revenue and the net loss if the fee applies.
The Department of Water and Power and the Library Department are to identify underused lots that could be added to FilmLA's LocoScout system.
Departments report in 120 days on use, operational impacts, community feedback and whether to adopt it permanently. They may prioritize productions that generate multi-day activity, substantial in-city spending or that use state tax credits, provided the prioritization is transparent. The City Administrative Officer is to report on fiscal impacts.
Neighborhood councils in favor: Greater Wilshire, NoHo, Los Feliz, South Robertson and Westside.

The ordinance dated October 7, 2026 amends Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 41.20 and adds Subsection (f) to Section 41.20.1 to establish a no-fee permit for micro-shoot film activity.
The Board of Public Works, with the Fire, Police, Transportation and Recreation and Parks departments and FilmLA, reports within 60 days on a plan to modify and implement the program; the August 6, 2026 Board report is received and filed.
Neighborhood councils in favor: Greater Wilshire, NoHo and Los Feliz. Neither the Board of Public Works nor the City Attorney submitted a fiscal impact statement.

Items 4 and 5. Item 4 adopted 13 ayes, 0 noes, 2 absent. Item 5 adopted on first consideration, 15 ayes.