Guidelines for Frequently Filmed Areas

The purpose of these guidelines is to provide particular scrutiny and more stringent conditions for Film Permits in Frequently Filmed Areas. The Guidelines are based on a three-step process:

1. determine the geographical boundaries of the neighborhood most impacted by the proposed filming, the Measuring Neighborhood;
2. determine if the Measuring Neighborhood has been a frequently filmed area during the preceding 90 day period;
3. and if so, devote extra scrutiny to the proposed film permit, and impose mandatory conditions if it is approved.

For the purposes of these guidelines, the area considered to be affected by the proposed film permit (the "Measuring Neighborhood") includes all property within one-half block in both directions of the location on both sides of the street

 

DETERMINATION OF FREQUENTLY FILMED AREA

After defining the Measuring Neighborhood, the recent frequency of filming in such a Neighborhood is evaluated as follows:

If one or more film locations have been used in the Measuring Neighborhood, for a total of 6 days in a residential area or 15 days in a commercial area, within a 90-day period preceding the proposed filming, the permit is considered to be a Film Permit in a Frequently Filmed Area.

FACTORS FOR EVALUATING LEVEL OF IMPACT

All proposed film permits in Frequently Filmed Areas will receive particular scrutiny with regard to the following factors:

1. Public disturbance or other problems connected with prior filming in the Measuring Neighborhood within the past 90 days. 
2. Frequency of filming in the Measuring Neighborhood during the calendar quarter when the filming will occur. 
3. Number of filming days requested.
4. Number of days needed for pre-filming and any other film-related activity.
5. Nature and impact of filming activity.Proposed number of vehicles on the street.
6. Availability of on-street parking.
7. Adequacy of proposed parking plan.
8. Width of street proposed for parking.
9. Containment of activity on private film location.

MANDATORY CONDITIONS

Any permit requests for filming in a Frequently Filmed Area may be approved, conditionally approved, or denied. The following conditions shall apply to any approved film permit in a Frequently Filmed Area, in addition to any other conditions imposed by the Film Liaison. Film companies must understand that obtaining a film permit in a Frequently Filmed Area is not considered routine.

Filming hosts should not assume that film permit requests in their frequently filmed area will be approved. It is well within the City’s legal right to deny the permit to prevent potential neighborhood fatigue.

1. No extension of the regular hours of filming (7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.) will be authorized before 7:00 a.m. or past 10:00 p.m. The Film Liaison, at his/her discretion, may waive this condition if consent is received from 100% of the property owners in the Measuring Neighborhood.
2. The location manager, or his or her designated representative, must be present at the filming location until pre-filming activities are completed, and must communicate to the production company the conditions of the permit.
3. Companies will be required to include information on construction and strike-down plans on the notification form. The company must attach additional information if the space on the form is insufficient. For a permit in a Frequently Filmed Area, each day which involves exterior construction or strike down will be counted towards the maximum number of days for purposes of calculating quarterly filming allocations under section 17.90.20 (1. & 2.) unless all such construction activities occur on the property with no vehicles outside the property, and construction does not violate section 59.36 of the Pasadena Municipal Code.
   

The City may withdraw a permit and stop the production in the event the permitee does not adhere to all conditions of approval.

The existing instructions and regulations adopted by the City Council will remain applicable except as modified by these Guidelines.
Guidelines for Frequently Filmed Areas