SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
San Bernardino offers a diverse range of filming locations, from historic downtown areas to deserts, lakes, mountains, and ranches. It is the largest county in the contiguous U.S. by area and home to diverse communities and significant landscapes.
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
Location Resource Guide
Location scouting in San Bernardino County offers access to one of the most diverse filming regions in the United States. As the nation’s largest county by area, it features a wide range of urban environments, small towns, deserts, mountains, forests, parklands, and rural landscapes, all within a single region. This diversity makes San Bernardino County an attractive and versatile destination for film, television, and commercial productions.
Filming in San Bernardino County
Filming in San Bernardino County requires a permit and approval from the appropriate jurisdiction. As the largest county in the United States by area, San Bernardino County includes approximately 24 incorporated cities, ranging from major cities such as San Bernardino, Fontana, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Chino Hills, and Redlands to smaller cities like Adelanto, Barstow, Big Bear Lake, Colton, Upland, and Yucaipa. In addition to its urban centers, the County is widely known for its small towns, expansive parklands, and diverse natural landscapes.
Research Incentives, Subsidies & Discounts
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
The State of California offers Free film permits for all California State properties. No location fees for filming on state-owned land (e.g., freeways, roads, beaches, parks, buildings, and facilities). Monitor reimbursement is typically required, even though permits and locations are free.
The California Film Commission (CFC) oversees the process and provides centralized support for all State Properties.
The (CFC) works in coordination with over 55 regional film offices across the state to ensure smooth and efficient filming logistics.
The Film Liaisons in California Statewide (FLICS) is a professional association made up of these film commissions and offices, all dedicated to promoting filming throughout California. FLICS members offer free assistance to productions, providing support with locations, permits, local resources, and regional expertise to help filmmakers navigate the process and successfully shoot across the state.
The State of California provides a film and television Tax Credit Program with a current annual allocation of $750 million. This program offers tax credits to offset qualified production expenses, encouraging film and television productions to shoot in California. The credits can be applied towards any tax liabilities within the state.
Learn more by visiting the California Film Commission for more information.
Research Fees, Timelines, Requirements & Restrictions
♦Inland Empire Film Services is a one-stop resource for film permits and production support in San Bernardino County.
ADELANTO
Contact IEFS about filming in Adelanto.
City of Adelanto
BIG BEAR LAKE
Contact IEFS about filming in Big Bear Lake.
Film Permit
COLTON
Contact IEFS about filming in Colton.
City of Colton
Film Permit App
HESPERIA
Contact IEFS about filming in Hesperia.
City of Hesperia
MONTCLAIR
Contact IEFS about filming in Montclair.
City of Montclair
RANCHO CUCAMONGA
Contact IEFS about filming in Rancho Cucamonga.
City of Rancho Cucamonga
SAN BERNARDINO
Film Permit App Fee: $260
City of San Bernardino
IEFS Film App
UPLAND
Contact IEFS about filming in Upland.
City of Upland
YUCCA VALLEY
Contact IEFS about filming in Yucaipa.
City of Yucaipa
Film Permit App
APPLE VALLEY
Contact IEFS about filming in Apple Valley.
City of Apple Valley
CHINO
Contact IEFS about filming in Chino.
City of Chino
FONTANA
Contact IEFS about filming in Fontana.
City of Fontana
Film Permit App
HIGHLAND
Contact IEFS about filming in Highland.
City of Highland
Film Permit App
NEEDLES
Contact IEFS about filming in Needles.
City of Needles
REDLANDS
Contact IEFS about filming in Redlands.
City of Redlands
Film Permit App
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
Contact the San Bernardino County Film Office.
San Bernardino County Film
Film Permit EZPortal
VICTORVILLE
Contact IEFS about filming in Victorville.
City of Victorville
BARSTOW (5)
Basic App Fee: $350
(5) business days prior to start.
(14-30) for requests involving public right-of-way. Contact IEFS about filming in Barstow.
Barstow Film Office
CHINO HILLS
Basic App Fee: $404
(5-7) business days before start.
Contact IEFS about filming in Chino Hills.
City of Chino Hills
GRAND TERRACE
Contact IEFS about filming in Grand Terrace.
City of Grand Terrace
LOMA LINDA
Contact IEFS about filming in Loma Linda.
Film Permit
ONTARIO (10)
Contact IEFS about filming in Ontario.
City of Ontario
Ontario Film Permit
RIALTO
Contact IEFS about filming in Rialto.
City of Rialto
TWENTY MNINE PALMS (5)
(5) business days before start.
(10) for requests involving public right-of-way. Contact IEFS about filming in Twentynine Palms.
Film Permits
YUCAIPA
Contact IEFS about filming in Yucaipa.
City of Yucaipa
Film Permit App
Permit Jurisdictions
Caltrans Highways & Freeways (4)
Basic App Fee: $0
*Caltrans does charge a review fee, as well as an inspection fee for complex requests.
(4) business days prior to start.
(12) for requests involving freeway ramps and lane closures.
(16) for requests involving freeway closures.
CFC Film Permit Office
California State Buildings & Facilities (4)
Basic App Fee: $0
*Buildings, and Facilities charge cost-recovery fees in order to accommodate filming.
(4) business days prior to start of prep or shoot.
*Certain activities and locations require a much longer lead time and coordination with additional state departments.
Contact the building or facility before applying.
CFC Film Permit Office
San Bernardino County Regional Parks
Regional Parks provide unique backdrops for filming locations. Each park has its own climate, landscape, and habitat, native to San Bernardino County. Regional Parks offers six campgrounds, multiple lakes, trails, and plenty of scenery, and even a ghost town.
San Bernardino Regional Parks
San Bernardino County Fire Protection District
The San Bernardino County Fire Protection District works all special events in conjunction with local law enforcement, California Highway Patrol, Economic Development Department, County Land Use Services (Planning, Code Enforcement, Building and Safety), Department of Public Works, County Public Health, and any other local city, State, or Federal agencies involved.
San Bernardino County Fire Protection District
San Bernardino County Economic Development Department
The San Bernardino County Economic Development Department aids in obtaining film and photo permits for all commercial filming/photography done in the unincorporated areas of San Bernardino County. San Bernardino County Economic Development Department
San Bernardino National Forest (90)
National forests are popular locations for commercial filming and still photography industries. Like other commercial uses of National Forest System lands or resources, commercial filming and photography require a Special Use Permit, which is issued by the District Ranger or Forest Supervisor [Authorized Officer] of the relevant forest.
San Bernardino National Forest
National Park Service (90)
The National Park Service conserves and protects areas of untold beauty, grandeur and historical importance for current and future generations. The tradition of capturing images of these special places started with explorers who traveled with paint and canvas or cameras. Sharing these images helped inspire the creation of national parks. Today, visitors to national parks continue to memorialize their visits through filming and photography.
National Park Service
Bureau of Land Management
♦Inland Empire Film Services is a one-stop resource for BLM film permits and production support in San Bernardino County.
BLM-Filming on Public Lands
BLM Offices-California Desert District Office
Barstow-Barstow Field Office
Needles-Needles Field Office
We are committed to keeping this resource current. If you notice any outdated information, please let us know here.
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