City Council

(15) 25-1498 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND JOBS COMMITTEE REPORT relative to an ordinance establishing a free Micro-Shoot Permit, required for any public-space filming activity. Recommendations for Council action, pursuant to Motion (Nazarian - Blumenfield): 1. REQUEST the City Attorney, with assistance from FilmLA, the Board of Public Works (BPW), the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), and the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (DOT), to prepare and present within 60 days an ordinance establishing a free Micro-Shoot Permit, required for any public-space filming activity that meets all of the following criteria: a. Involves no more than 10 people on site. b. Uses only handheld cameras, smartphones, small tripods, or similar lightweight equipment. c. Does not block more than half of any sidewalk, maintains ADA access, and does not restrict public use. d. Uses no generators, lighting units over 25 pounds, C- stands, dollies, or amplified sound. e. Does not require parking removal, traffic control, or exclusive use of the public right-of-way. f. Does not involve drones, pyrotechnics, simulated weapons, hazardous activities, or special effects. g. The ordinance shall further specify that: i. The Micro-Shoot Permit is free of charge. ii. The permit shall require only minimal registration information (location, time window, contact person) to allow the City to maintain awareness and ensure public-safety coordination when necessary. 2. INSTRUCT the FilmLA to: a. Integrate the Micro-Shoot Permit as a one-page, rapid- approval application on its digital platform. b. Issue approvals within 24 hours to the best possible except when safety concerns require clarification. c. Clearly publish guidance on when and how a micro-shoot must obtain this no-fee permit. d. Include Micro-Shoot Permit data in its quarterly reporting to the Board of Public Works Film Liaison. 3. INSTRUCT the BPW Film Liaison to develop standardized conditions for Micro-Shoot Permits—including safety guidance, neighborhood expectations, and ADA rules—and incorporate this into the Citywide Filming Handbook. Further include that the establishment of the free Micro-Shoot Permit shall not be interpreted to allow FilmLA or any City department to deprioritize or delay review of larger productions, including episodic series, feature films, and major commercial shoots. Fiscal Impact Statement: Neither the City Administrative Officer nor the Chief Legislative Analyst has completed a financial analysis of this report.