(a) Statement of Purpose and Intent. This chapter establishes procedures for the review and issuance of permits allowing work associated with the production of commercial filming activities within the city. The intent of this chapter is to facilitate the production of such work while protecting the residents and property owners from the potential adverse impacts of filming activities.
(b) Definitions. For purposes of both this chapter and Chapter 15-52 of the Woodland Municipal Code, the following definitions shall apply:
“Applicant” means any person who has applied for a city filming permit.
“City filming permit” or “permit” shall mean a permit issued by the city to allow the activities associated with the production, filming or video taping of commercial motion picture and television shows, programs and commercials.
“City filming permit coordinator” shall mean the city manager of the city or the city manager’s designee.
“Motion picture or television production” or “production” means all activity attendant to staging, making, filming or video taping commercial motion pictures and television shows, programs and commercials.
“Permittee” means any person who has been issued a city filming permit by the city.
“Person” means any individual, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company or organization of any kind.
(c) Permit Required. No person shall use any public or private property, building, facility or residence for the purpose of producing, taking or making any motion picture or television production without first applying for and receiving a city filming permit issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.

(d) Permit Exceptions.
(1) Non-profit organizations shall be exempt from the permit fee requirements only, provided they supply a certificate to the city stating that they are exempt and classified as non-profit under state and federal taxing statues. All other requirements of this chapter, however, shall apply to such organizations.
(2) The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to:
(A) Current news, which includes reporters, photographers or cameramen in the employment of a newspaper, news service, broadcasting station or similar entity engaged in the broadcasting of news events.
(B) Productions that are conducted by a cable television company operating under a franchise granted by the city which involve less than two motor vehicles.
(C) Student and educational filming, provided a written certificate is submitted from the school of their attendance stating they are currently an enrolled student and/or the educational film shall be limited to classroom viewing only.
(D) The filming or videotaping of motion pictures solely for private use.
(E) Any motion picture or television production at a motion picture or television studio located in the city.
(e) Permit Applications.
(1) Permit Application. Any person desiring a city filming permit shall complete an application on a filming permit application form provided by the city filming permit coordinator. Filming permit applications shall be submitted at least three working days prior to the date on which such person desires to conduct an activity for which a permit is required. If such activity will interfere with traffic or involves potential public safety hazards, an application shall be submitted at least five working days in advance.
2. Application Fee. The application for a city filming permit shall be accompanied by a non-refundable permit application fee in the amount set by city council resolution. This non-refundable fee shall cover the actual costs of processing and investigating permit applications and administering the city filming permit program.
3. Permits from Additional Jurisdictions. Written evidence of permits and/or coordination with other public agencies may be required upon submission of an application for a city film permit. In such instances, requirements of the applicable responsible agencies shall also be made a requirement of the city film permit. Examples of potential agencies include, but are not limited to, the California Highway Patrol, Yolo County sheriffs department and fire protection districts in Yolo County.
4. Cleaning Deposit. Each application shall be accompanied by a refundable five hundred dollars faithful performance bond (cash or bond) in favor of the City at the time of application to ensure clean up and restoration of the production location. This amount may be increased as provided in Section 15-51(G) below. The bond shall be returned upon completion of filming and after an inspection to the city’s satisfaction.
(f) Permit Denials. The city filming permit coordinator may deny a permit as provided for in this chapter if, based on a consideration of the application and from such other information as may be otherwise obtained, the city filming permit coordinator finds that:
(1) The production will unduly interfere with traffic, pedestrian movement or endanger public safety.
(2) The production will unduly interfere with normal governmental or city operations, threaten to result in damage or detriment to private or public property, or result in the city incurring costs or expenditures in either money or personnel not reimbursed in advance by the applicant.
(3) The Production will constitute a fire hazard or any other type of safety hazard that cannot be adequately mitigated.
(4) Information contained in the application, or supplemental information requested from the applicant, is false in any material detail.
(5) The application is incomplete or the applicant failed to complete the application after having been notified of the additional information or documents required.
(g) Permit Conditions. The city filming permit coordinator may impose any conditions found necessary to protect the public health, safety and welfare. The permittee shall comply with any conditions or restrictions the city may impose as a condition to issuing a permit. No changes shall be made without first obtaining the city’s written approval. In addition to specific conditions placed on individual city filming permits by the city and other public agencies, the following conditions shall apply:
(1) Special Effects. Any use of special effects (e.g., pyrotechnics, open flames, small explosives, etc.) shall require a separate special effects permit from the city fire department. Evidence of such a permit shall be submitted at the time of application for a city filming permit.
(2) Traffic Control. Production companies must use the city police department for any filming that requires interim traffic control (“ITC”). ITC on major roads is limited to five minutes. ITC shall not occur more than once during any twenty minute period. The permittee is responsible for obtaining, and paying the cost of, the required officers. The following conditions shall apply:
(A) The permittee shall furnish and install all advance warning signs and any other traffic control devices in conformance with Caltrans’ Manual of Traffic Controls for construction and maintenance work zones.
(B) Traffic shall not be detoured across a double centerline without prior approval of the city engineer/public works director.
(C) Camera cars must drive with the flow of traffic and must not interfere with other vehicles on the road.
(D) Stationary cameras should be mounted off of the roadway. If a stationary camera is to be located in a traffic lane, all necessary lane closures must be provided and this matter must be disclosed on the permit.
(E) No existing regulatory or warning signs may be bagged or removed without city approval.
(F) If a production company wets the roadway for filming purposes, the filming company may not strike the set until the roadway is dry to the city’s satisfaction.
(3) City Fire Department. Production companies shall comply with the provisions set forth in “Filming in California. A Fire Protection Handbook”. All productions numbering over fifty cast and crewmembers require fire department notification. Production companies are further responsible for contacting the fire department to determine the requirements of the fire safety advisor coordinator. Written evidence of the fire safety advisor coordinator’s requirements for the production shall be required upon submission of an application for a city filming permit. Fire safety advisors are required for:
(A) Productions using special effects.
(B) Productions involving helicopter refueling, stunt operations and location takeoffs and landing.
(C) Productions occurring in native vegetative areas.
(D) Interior productions closed to the public where crew and cast exceed twenty-five members.
(E) Productions involving refueling operations in excess of ten gallons.
(4) Limitation of Filming Hours. Filming activity of commercial motion picture or television productions shall be limited to between the hours of 7:00 A.M. and 7:00 P.M.
(A) Residential Extension. Filming activity hours may be extended beyond 7:00 P.M. in residential areas upon the submission of written approval of seventy-five percent of the property owners and/or residents within a five hundred foot radius of the filming location. The approval form shall be provided by the city.
(B) Non-Residential Extension. Filming activity hours in nonresidential areas may be extended beyond 7:00 P.M. with the consent of both the city and seventy-five percent of the property owners and/or occupants within a five hundred foot radius of the filming location.
(5) Insurance. The city shall require, as a condition of issuing such a permit, that the applicant furnish acceptable proof of insurance in a minimum amount of one million dollars to protect the city against claims of third persons for personal injury, wrongful death and property damage and to indemnify the city for damage to city property arising out of the permittee’s activities. The city, in its sole discretion, may require additional insurance for certain filming activities. A copy of the policy will remain on file with the application. The city and its officers and employees shall be named as additional insured under the policy which shall not be subject to cancellation or modification until after thirty days written notice to the city. The applicant shall also submit verification that adequate worker’s compensation insurance coverage is maintained.
(6) Cleanup/Restoration.
(A) Depending on the nature of the production, the city may require an additional deposit in excess of the five hundred dollar deposit set forth in Section 15-51(e)(4), above.
(B) The permittee shall conduct operations in an orderly fashion with continuous attention to the storage of equipment not in use and the cleanup of trash and debris. The area used shall be cleaned of trash and debris within two hours of the completion of the activity to the satisfaction of the city. The permittee shall be responsible for restoring any area damaged or disrupted before leaving the production location. If the production location is not repaired or restored to the city’s satisfaction, the city filming permit coordinator shall have the necessary restoration and/or repairs performed at the expense of the permittee.
(7) Reimbursement. The applicant shall pay the city for all costs and expenses incurred by the city as a result of the production. The city filming permit coordinator may require the applicant to post a cash bond in an amount to be determined by the city filming permit coordinator sufficient to satisfy this reimbursement obligation.
(h) Public Service Fees.
(1) Upon approval of an application for a city filming permit, the city filming permit coordinator shall provide the applicant with a statement of the estimated cost of providing police, fire, emergency medical services and other city employees and services for public safety for the filming event. The cost of such services shall be solely borne by the applicant and shall be paid to the city prior to the conducting a production. The amount of such fees shall be based on the city’s actual cost of providing the required number of police and other city employees and services necessary to ensure the safety of both the participants of the production and the community.
(2) If the actual cost of public services for the filming event is less than the estimated cost pursuant to subsection (h)(1) of this section, the permittee shall promptly be refunded the difference by the city. If the actual cost for public services is more than the estimated cost pursuant to subsection (h)(1) of this section, the difference shall become due and payable to the city upon the permittee’s receipt of a statement of actual costs by the city.
(i) Permit Issuance.
(1) Prior to the issuance of a city filming permit, the applicant shall execute a hold harmless agreement. In this agreement, the applicant shall consent to defend, indemnify and hold harmless the city and its officers and employees from any liability to any persons or property resulting from any damage or injury occurring in connection with the permitted filming event, insofar as permitted by law.
(2) Prior to the issuance of a city filming permit, the applicant shall be required to execute a location filming checklist.
(3) Unless grounds for denial exist pursuant to Section 15-51(f), above, the city filming permit coordinator shall issue the city filming permit after the application has been approved, the applicant has agreed in writing to comply with all of the terms and conditions of the permit, and the requirements of this ordinance respecting indemnification, insurance, police, traffic-control, fees, and cleanup deposits have been fully satisfied.
(j) Filming Requirements.
(1) Safety. No person shall engage in any motion picture or television production that would constitute a hazard to public safety or otherwise interfere with or endanger the public place or rights of any owners or occupants of property to the quiet, peaceful and unmolested enjoyment of their property.
(2) Location Filming Requirements. Permittees shall comply with the following requirements filming requirements:
(A) In preparing for the filming, consideration must be given to all neighbors or business owners who will be impacted.
(B) When filming in a neighborhood or business district, proper notification shall be provided to each neighbor or merchant within the total reasonable range of the filming’s impact and physical presence. The filming notice shall, at a minimum, include the name of the company, name of production, kind of production (e.g., feature film, etc.), duration of activity (e.g., date(s), 7:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M., etc.), description of filming activity, company contact and a signed copy of the location filming checklist.
(C) Production vehicles arriving on location in or near a residential neighborhood shall not enter the area at a time earlier than the time stipulated in the permit.
(D) Production vehicles shall neither park in nor block driveways without the express permission of the city and driveway owner.
(E) All productions shall keep noise levels as low as possible, and strive to maintain a “low profile” during their presence in the area.
(F) All catering, craft services, construction, strike and personal trash is to be removed from the location and its impacted area.
(G) Cast and crew meals shall be confined to the area designated in the permit. Individuals shall eat within the designated meal area during scheduled crew feedings.
(H) Removal, trimming and/or cutting of vegetation or trees is prohibited, unless approved by permit or property owner. Requirements of any applicable city tree ordinance shall be satisfied.
(I) All signs erected for filming purposes shall be removed upon completion of the day’s filming, unless otherwise stipulated by the permit.
(J) The removal, moving or towing of the public’s vehicles is prohibited without the express permission of the city or the owner of the vehicle.
(K) All members of the cast and crew of the production shall behave in a courteous manner.
(L) The production shall not interfere with the normal activities of the neighborhood, unless specified in the permit.
(M) Any roadwork or construction by city crews and/or private contractors under permit or contract to the city shall have priority over filming activities.
(N) All fire lanes shall remain open at all times. The access to all private and public buildings must be maintained. Intersection sight distance must also be maintained.
(O) The city shall not provide posting of advance parking reservations for any production company. The permittee is responsible for posting of all public or private parking areas.
(P) The production area and all surrounding areas, including the public right-of-way shall be cleaned daily by the permittee. No litter shall remain upon completion of the filming. If either the city or a homeowners association is required to clean up the street as a result of a complaint, the production company shall be liable for such costs.
(Q) There shall be no interference with the normal activities of any neighborhood, such as refuse collection, street sweeping, deliveries or ingress or egress to public or private property.
(R) The use of bullhorns shall not be permitted.
(k) Rules and Regulations.
(1) Change of Date. Upon request of the permittee, the city shall have the power, upon a showing of good cause, to change the date for which the permit has been issued, provided established limitations are complied with in respect to time and location.
(2) Rules. The city filming permit coordinator is hereby authorized and directed to promulgate rules and regulations, subject to approval by resolution of the council, governing the form, time, and location of any motion picture or television production conducted within the city. The rules and regulations promulgated by the city filming permit coordinator shall be based upon the following criteria:
(A) The health and safety of all persons;
(B) Avoidance of undue disruption of all persons within the affected area;
(C) The safety of property within the city and;
(D) Traffic congestion at particular locations within the city.
(l) Appeal Procedures. The decision of the city filming permit coordinator to issue, conditionally issue, or not issue a permit shall be final, unless appealed in writing within five working days of the decision by requesting a hearing of the city council at the next available meeting. Such written request for an appeal consideration shall be accompanied by a fee, as established by city council resolution. If the length of time between the appeal and the filming event prevents an appropriate review by the city council, then the decision of the city filming permit coordinator is final.
(m) Revocation of Permit.
(1) The city filming permit coordinator may revoke a permit upon a finding that any term, condition, restriction or limitation of such permit has not been complied with, including the timely payment of all required deposits. A permit may also be revoked if the city filming permit coordinator determines that, as a result of changed circumstances, any one or more of the grounds for denial specified in Section 15-51(f) have been met. Notice of such action revoking a permit shall be delivered in writing to the permittee by personal service or by registered mail. Appeal to the city council from any such revocation may be taken as specified in Section 15-51(l).
(2) The city filming permit coordinator may revoke a city filming permit prior to the expiration of the city filming permit in the event of the occurrence of a riot, major disorder or serious breach of the peace when, in his/her opinion, it is necessary to prevent injury to persons and/or to property.
(n) Enforcement. A violation of the provisions of this chapter shall be a misdemeanor and may be punishable by a fine of five hundred dollars, or imprisonment for six months in the county jail, or by both such fine and imprisonment. (Ord. No. 1322, § 3.)