Filming FAQs

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Expand/Contract Questions and Answers

What types of productions does the City permit?
The City of Orange recognizes three types of productions:
- Commercial Filming: non-student, for profit productions
- Student Filming: students enrolled in an accredited school, working on a production for a class project, assigned by a teacher/professor
- Non-Profit Filming: productions done by non-profit 501 (c) 3 entities
How much time before the start of a production date does the City require I submit a Film Permit Application?
Orange requires that a completed permit be submitted at least ten 16 working days before the start of on-site location prep work. Working days do not include days the Community Services Department is closed.
Is there anything different about the permit procedure for students?
Students must have their completed application reviewed and signed off by an approved university professor/instructor/advisor/etc. prior to submittal to the City. Students must also adhere to the 16-working-day window in order for the City to review their completed permit. Allow for at least 5 of those days to receive a response back.
Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
How long does it take to approve a permit?
We require about 16 working days to approve a complete permit. Incomplete applications will be returned to the applicant un-reviewed.
My production is scheduled within less than 16 days of submitting my application. Can I pay an extra fee to expedite the review for my application?
We do not accept expedite fees for any applications. Every single completed film application coming through us requires 16 working days to process, no exceptions.
How much does it cost to film in Orange?
That depends on what, where, and how long your production will be filming in Orange. The City charges a one-time, nonrefundable $40 application fee. There are also permit fees that range from $208 per day to film in the City if you are not in a park or in our Old Towne District. If your project will be in Old Towne, the fee is $444 per day. City Parks are $218. If your production requires City Staff, such as Police, Fire, Public Works, or others, they are charged at 100% of the cost. There is no charge from the City for filming on private property, but all aspects of production (parking, shuttling, equipment, etc.) will need to be contained exclusively on the private property
Really? No charge from the City for filming on private property?
Yes, but there are VERY SPECIFIC GUIDELINES for what constitutes a “private property” production:
o The ENTIRE production must be self-contained on the private property.
o ALL VEHICLES must park on that property, or private property immediately adjacent to that property without public right-of-way between the two properties.
o If, at any time, the production, its staff, cast, or crew, need to use public property such as streets or sidewalks during the course of production, it is not a “private property” production. This includes parking, walking from a private parking lot to the production location, unloading equipment, deliveries, etc.
Do I need a permit if I film on private property?
Yes, a complete permit is still required. The City does not charge per-day permit fees for this type of production.
Does Orange have a database of film-friendly locations?
Unfortunately, Orange does not have a database at this time.
What sort of insurance documents do I need?
The City of Orange requires a Certificate of Insurance AND an Additionally Insured Endorsement document. A Certificate WITHOUT an Endorsement will not be accepted. See Production Insurance Requirements section for details.
What is an Additionally Insured Endorsement document?
You can find a sample of this document at the end of the Permit Application Form (page 2).

A helpful note: 90% of the problems productions have when applying for a permit to film in Orange arise from not having this document.
I am a low/no budget production. Can you waive my fees?
Unfortunately not. The City of Orange Municipal Code does not allow staff the discretion to waive fees for commercial productions.
Is there a student discount?
There are no permit fees if the student is doing an assigned production for a grade in an official class at an accredited school and is doing this assignment covered by the school’s insurance.
What sort of notification do I need to give residents and businesses near my filming location?
The City of Orange requires that you deliver a notice of filming at each residence/business within 500 feet of the proposed production location. Signatures of permission from the immediate surrounding area (front and back, side to side) need to be collected in order to move forward. Only written signatures are accepted as valid approval.
I’m filming a story involving characters that use weapons. Does that impact my permit?
Yes, and the impact is different depending if you are seeking a regular (Commercial) permit, or a student permit. For standard productions, you must disclose what weapons you will have on the set, and how they will be used. They will need to be inspected by the Orange Police Department, and possibly the Orange Fire Department, depending on the type of weapon.

Student productions that involve weapons will not be issued a City Film Permit.

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Filming FAQs

What types of productions does the City permit?

How much time before the start of a production date does the City require I submit a Film Permit Application?

Is there anything different about the permit procedure for students?

How long does it take to approve a permit?

My production is scheduled within less than 16 days of submitting my application. Can I pay an extra fee to expedite the review for my application?

How much does it cost to film in Orange?

Really? No charge from the City for filming on private property?

Do I need a permit if I film on private property?

Does Orange have a database of film-friendly locations?

What sort of insurance documents do I need?

What is an Additionally Insured Endorsement document?

I am a low/no budget production. Can you waive my fees?

Is there a student discount?

What sort of notification do I need to give residents and businesses near my filming location?

I’m filming a story involving characters that use weapons. Does that impact my permit?