CITY OF SIMI VALLEY
LOCATION FILMING PERMIT APPLICATION PROCEDURES

The City's permitting procedures have shown to serve the City and the filming
industry very well, balancing the needs of the filming industry with concerns for
public impacts. The City's codes and permitting procedures have been refined in
recent years to reflect the City's growing experience with location filming and to
better serve the needs of the filming industry for prompt and efficient permitting.

Permit Applications:
The City's simplified permitting process can begin with a phone call to
Debbie Gabler, Customer Services Manager at (805) 583-6735, followed by
the completion of a one-page permit application form. Permit application
forms are available from the Administrative Services Department/Customer
Services Division. Once completed, the permit application form provides all
the basic information necessary for the permit review process. Forms can
be faxed to applicants and completed forms can also be submitted by fax.
For additional assistance with location filming permits, you may also contact
James Purtee at (805) 583-6701.

Proof of written consent of the property owner (usually a signed Location
Agreement or Release form) and proof of compliance with insurance
requirements will need to be submitted before the permit is issued. For
more complex applications, additional information, such as, descriptive
drawings of the location, parking plans, special effects details, and
information regarding filming activities on the streets and sidewalks will
often help expedite permit processing.

Two Permit Classifications to Streamline Application Reviews:
Recognizing that not all location filming requires extensive City review, there
are two permit classifications available; location filming permits are
separated into Minor and Major production categories.

"Minor production" location filming permit applications receive an
abbreviated and expedited review and are generally processed within 24 to
48 hours. However, to ensure that sufficient time is available for application
review, it is recommended that applications for minor productions be
submitted three (3) working days prior to the scheduled location filming date.

"Major production" location filming permits require additional review and
should be submitted five (5) working days prior to the scheduled location
filming date(s). Major location filming permits are generally processed in
less than five (5) working days. Standardized criteria are used to determine
whether a location filming is considered to be a minor or major production.
Information regarding these criteria can be obtained from the Administrative
Services Department/Customer Services Division.

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Coordinated one-stop permit processing:

To enable permit applicants to receive "one stop" service, review of the
permit application is coordinated by the City's Administrative Services
Department and the City Manager's Office. When additional permit review by
other City departments is necessary, contacts with the other City
departments are handled directly by the Administrative Services
Department. Any permit conditions generated by other City departments, are
returned to the Administrative Services Department for incorporation into the
permit. The City Manager's Office provides a final review of all permit
conditions. When necessary for a more expedited review, the City Manager's
Office can also arrange for a meeting of all involved departmental
representatives with the permit applicant at the proposed site.

Notification to surrounding residences or businesses is a common permit
condition. In addition to providing coordinated permit review, the City can
also assist with any necessary public notifications. In a few special cases, a
public meeting may be the preferred method for notifying affected residents
or businesses. The City Manager's Office makes the determination if a public
meeting is appropriate and the City will assist with the preparation and
distribution of the public meeting notices.

Permit Modifications:
Experience tells us that sometimes not all elements of a location filming
application are known at the time a permit application is submitted or filming
plans can change even after a permit is issued. The City tries to
accommodate most types of permit modifications.

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Filming in the Streets and Parks:
While the City streets can be available for most location filming activities, the
City does have approximately 20 high traffic street sections where location
filming is discouraged during weekday commuting hours. Information
regarding these street sections can be obtained from the Department of
Administrative Services/Customer Services Division. On the other hand, the
City also has many areas where location filming is promoted and
encouraged. This includes the City's Cultural Arts Center, Corriganville Park
and other park areas. For additional information regarding location filming
on park locations, call the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District at
(805) 584-4400.

Permit Application Fees:

Location Filming Permit Application Fee (Minor Production)
$354.00
Location Filming Permit Application Fee (Major Production)
$760.00

The fee amounts are directly related to the City's costs of processing a
typical location filming permit. Any fees paid can be refunded if the permit
application is withdrawn before the permit is issued. Permit Fees and
Business Taxes are not charged for student filming. If a student film fee
waiver is requested, written confirmation is needed from the student's
school and arrangements need to be made for insurance coverage. In
addition to the permit application fees, other fees are sometimes required for
other special City services, including police services. Requirements for
police services are determined after consultation with the permit applicant.
Applicants may provide their own on-site security, however, all traffic control
on City streets must be provided by the Simi Valley Police Department.
Police services fees are estimated based on the number of personnel and the
hours they will be needed at the location filming site. Fees for these special
services are then calculated and collected prior to issuance of a permit.
These fees are considered to be deposits and are refunded if the filming
activities are canceled or if the actual hours are less than estimated.

Business Tax:
Business Taxes for location filming activities are $100.00 per day. Business
taxes are refundable if the application is withdrawn or the permit is canceled.

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