FILM PERMITS

Sacramento City Code tit. 5, ch. 5.60

in effect

Sacramento City Code § 5.60.010 Definitions.

5.60.010 Definitions. "Minor filming" means motion picture or television production where no city services are necessary other than those already provided to any city resident in day-to-day operations. "Motion picture production" or "television production" means and includes all activity attendant to staging or filming or video taping commercial motion pictures and television shows, programs, or advertising. "Still photography" means and includes all activity attendant to staging or making commercial still photographs. (Prior code § 69.01.101)

Sacramento City Code § 5.60.020 Permits.

5.60.020 Permits. No person shall use any public or private property, facility or residence for the purpose of making any motion picture or television production without first applying for and receiving a permit therefor from the city manager. As used in this chapter, "city manager" includes any city employee designated by the city manager to perform the duties assigned to the city manager by this chapter. (Prior code § 69.01.102)

Sacramento City Code § 5.60.030 Exemptions.

5.60.030 Exemptions. The provisions of this chapter do not apply to the following: A. Reporters, photographers, or camera persons in the employ of a newspaper, news service, or similar entity engaged in on-the-spot broadcasting of news events concerning those persons, scenes, or occurrences which are in the news and of general public interest; B. Any motion picture of television production at a motion picture or television studio located in the city; C. Commercial still photography; D. Minor filming, when approved in writing by the city manager. (Prior code § 69.01.103)

Sacramento City Code § 5.60.040 Regulations.

5.60.040 Regulations. The city manager shall provide for the issuance of permits and the requirement for deposit for any costs to be incurred by the city related to motion picture production or television production. The city manager may promulgate rules and regulations based upon the following consideration: A. Traffic congestion; B. The safety and convenience of all persons; C. The disruption of normal activities of persons; D. The safety of property; E. The written consent, where appropriate, of affected property owners and occupants. (Prior code § 69.01.104)

Sacramento City Code § 5.60.050 Review.

5.60.050 Review. All applications for permits shall be reviewed by the chief of police, the fire chief, the city manager, and any other city office which is affected by the filming. The city manager shall not issue any permit for any activity described in this chapter without first obtaining the recommendation of the chief of police, the fire chief and any other affected city official. The city manager may impose such conditions as may be deemed necessary to protect the public health, safety and welfare. The decision of the city manager shall be final and conclusive. (Prior code § 69.01.105)

Sacramento City Code § 5.60.060 Business licenses.

5.60.060 Business licenses. The provisions of this chapter are intended to supplement and be in addition to the provisions of Chapter 3.08 of this code. Whenever the provisions of this chapter impose a greater restriction upon persons, premises, or practices than is imposed on Chapter 3.08 of this code, the provisions of this chapter shall control. However, any tax imposed by Chapter 3.08 shall be in addition to any charges under this chapter. (Prior code § 69.01.106)

Sacramento City Code § 5.60.070 Prohibitions.

5.60.070 Prohibitions. No person shall engage in any motion picture or television production which would constitute a hazard to public safety or interfere with or endanger the public peace or rights of owners or occupants of property to the quiet, peaceful, and unmolested enjoyment of their property. (Prior code § 69.01.107)

Sacramento City Code § 5.60.080 Insurance.

5.60.080 Insurance. The city manager shall not issue any permit pursuant to this chapter until a certificate of insurance, or copies of policies of insurance, or other evidence of insurance coverage satisfactory to the city manager has been supplied to the director of finance evidencing the following: A. General liability insurance coverage, personal injury or property damage arising directly or indirectly from the activity for which the permit is issued with a limit of at least one million dollars ($1,000,000) per occurrence naming the city as additional insured, providing that there shall be no contributions by, or subrogation rights against the city, its officers and employees, and that such insurance may not be cancelled without ten (10) days written notice to the city manager. B. Satisfactory insurance or evidence of permission to self-insure in full compliance with Workers' Compensation Law of California. (Prior code § 69.01.108)

Sacramento City Code § 5.60.090 Deposit for costs.

5.60.090 Deposit for costs. As a condition of issuing any permit pursuant to this chapter, the city manager may require the permittee to deposit a sufficient sum to assure payment to the city of any costs it may incur in conjunction with the motion picture production or television production covered by the permit. (Prior code § 69.01.109)

Sacramento City Code § 5.60.100 Application fee.

5.60.100 Application fee. Each application shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable application fee established by resolution of the city council for the purpose of defraying the administrative costs incurred by city for processing such application. (Prior code § 69.01.110)

Sacramento City Code § 5.60.110 Violation-Penalty.

5.60.110 Violation-Penalty. Any person violating any provisions of this chapter is guilty of an infraction. (Prior code § 69.01.111)

Sacramento City Code § 5.60.120 Disruption of motion picture or television production.

5.60.120 Disruption of motion picture or television production. A. No person, after first being warned by a peace officer to cease the conduct, shall engage in conduct which disrupts motion picture or television production undertaken pursuant to a permit issued under the authority of this chapter. B. For purposes of this section, "conduct which disrupts motion picture or television production" includes, but is not limited to: 1. Creating or causing audible interference to the recording of sound; 2. Interfering with the ability of a production to achieve consistent light levels by shining or reflecting light onto a set or at a camera or by utilizing some other artificial means to adversely affect lighting; 3. Interfering with the entrance or egress of production equipment or personnel; 4. The placement of any obstacles at any location where production is taking place. C. Violation of this section is a misdemeanor. D. This section shall not apply to any person who is engaged in the bona fide exercise of a constitutional right. (Prior code § 69.02.201)

Source: City of Sacramento, Sacramento City Code (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/sacramentoca/latest/sacramento_ca/0-0-0-11984Fetched: 10/24/2026