FilmLA, partner film office for the City and County of Los Angeles and other local jurisdictions, today announced that its Low Impact Permit Pilot Program with the City of Los Angeles will continue through April 30, 2027. Applications will continue to be accepted without interruption after October 31, 2026, the pilot program’s original deadline.
During the pilot’s first six months, from April 27 through October 31, FilmLA issued 422 Low Impact permits, saving hundreds of filmmakers more than $400,000 in combined fees compared with standard permit pricing.
The extension gives filmmakers continuity while the City reviews other permitting approaches and FilmLA gathers the data the pilot was designed to produce, including permit application volume, customer satisfaction, and how well the eligibility rules work in practice.
The pilot is a public/private partnership between the City of Los Angeles and FilmLA. FilmLA’s Board of Directors funded staff and technology costs for the pilot’s first six months and will continue to financially support the program through the extension period.
“In April, we said that when community impact is small, regardless of the project type or production budget, the City and FilmLA review process should be simple,” said FilmLA CEO Denise Gutches. “More than 400 Low Impact permits later, the pilot has shown that it can meet that goal. Extending the pilot keeps the program open while we gather feedback from filmmakers and report back to the City.”
The program is open to any production that meets its low impact criteria, regardless of project type or budget. In practice, this has meant small, mostly independent productions. While online content and short films account for the largest share of Low Impact activity, the program has also served music videos, still photography, documentaries, scripted features, commercials and television projects.
“On an independent production, every line of the budget determines what makes it to the screen,” said Larry Laboe, executive director of NewFilmmakers Los Angeles, a nonprofit that showcases the work of independent and emerging filmmakers. “Lower permit costs for small shoots let more filmmakers work on location in Los Angeles with the full protection of a permit.”
FilmLA is currently surveying Low Impact permit holders and applicants about their permitting experience, including what worked for them, what didn’t, and how the eligibility rules affected their projects. Their responses, together with feedback FilmLA has received from filmmakers throughout the pilot, will inform a report to the City of Los Angeles on the program’s results and possible improvements.
“Our independent and small productions are essential to our creative economy and we’re seeing success in our efforts to ensure productions of all sizes can succeed right here in Los Angeles,” said LA Mayor Karen Bass. “I’m proud that we’ve saved local productions more than $400,000 by lowering permit costs and cutting red tape. I want to thank FilmLA for their continued partnership in supporting local jobs and opening doors for the next generation of storytellers here in the entertainment capital of the world.”
Filmmakers can continue to apply for Low Impact permits via the MyFilmLA online permit application portal with no immediate changes to program eligibility or pricing:
- $350 application fee, compared with $931 for a standard film permit
- $156 notification fee per location, compared with $232
- City Fire Department spot check fee ($285) waived
- Up to three locations over three consecutive days, within the City of Los Angeles
- No more than 30 cast and crew on set
Full eligibility rules, including the types of locations and filming activities covered, are available in the FilmLA Knowledge Base at info.filmla.com. FilmLA’s Production & Community Affairs team can also assist with questions at 213-977-8600 and info@filmla.com.
The Low Impact Permit Pilot Program is separate from the City’s proposed no-cost Micro Shoot permit, approved by City Council in October and forwarded to City departments for finalization. FilmLA will share more information about that option when the City officially makes it available. FilmLA supports permitting solutions that streamline the process and make filming more affordable and accessible to all filmmakers.
