SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
FILM LOCATIONS
San Bernardino County 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
FILM LOCATIONS
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.
FILM PERMITS 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.
San Bernardino County Filming 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.
San Bernardino County Film Permit Fees, Timelines, Requirements & Restrictions
San Bernardino County has 24 incorporated cities. Many of these permit offices do not reference filming or film permit requirements on their website. Contact the Inland Empire Film Office if you have any questions regarding any of the Permit Offices in San Bernardino County.
♦Select a City below to view Film Permit Office Information
ADELANTO
Contact the City of Adelanto about Filming.
-Special Event Permit
-Film Tax Incentive
BIG BEAR LAKE
Big Bear Lake Film Permit Office,
-Film Permit Office
♦COLTON (3)
(3) business days before the start of filming.
Contact the City of Colton about Filming.
-Film Permit App
-Filming Code
HESPERIA
Contact the City of Hesperia about Filming.
–City of Hesperia
-Film Permit App
MONTCLAIR
Contact the City of Montclair about Filming.
-City of Montclair
RANCHO CUCAMONGA
Contact the City of Rancho Cucamonga about Filming.
-City of Rancho Cucamonga
-Film Permit App
SAN BERNARDINO (5)
Film Permit App Fee: $260
(5) business days before the start of filming.
-City of San Bernardino
-Film Permit App
UPLAND (10)
Basic App Fee: $1,320.00
(10) business days before start of filming.
Contact the City of Upland. about Filming.
-City of Upland
-Film Permit App
YUCCA VALLEY
Contact the City of Yucca Valley about Filming.
-City of Yucca Valley
-Film Permit App
♦APPLE VALLEY (1)
App Fee: $984
(1) business day before start.
(5) business days for requests involving public right-of-way.
Contact the City of Apple Valley about filming.
-Film Permit App
CHINO
Contact the City of Chino about filming.
-City of Chino
FONTANA
Contact the City of Fontana about Filming.
-City of Fontana
-Film Permit App
HIGHLAND
Contact the City of Highland about Filming.
-City of Highland
-Film Permit App
NEEDLES
Basic App Fee: $0
Contact the City of Needles about Filming.
-City of Needles
REDLANDS (10)
Contact the City of Redlands about Filming.
-City of Redlands
Film Permit App
♦SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY (3)
Basic App Fee: $500
(3) Business days before start of filming.
(4) Regional parks permit
(7) Business days for requests involving public right-of-way.
Contact the San Bernardino County Film Office.
-San Bernardino County Film
-Film Permit App
VICTORVILLE
Contact the City of Victorville about Filming.
-City of Victorville
-S.C.L.A Film Permit App
BARSTOW (5)
Basic App Fee: $350
(5) business days prior to start.
(14-30) for requests involving public right-of-way.
Contact the City of Barstow about Filming.
–Barstow Film Office
-Barstow Permit App
CHINO HILLS (5)
Basic App Fee: $404
(5-7) business days before start of Filming.
Contact the City of Chino Hills about Filming.
-City of Chino Hills
-Film Permit App
GRAND TERRACE
Contact the City of Grand Terrace about Filming.
-City of Grand Terrace
LOMA LINDA (5)
Basic App Fee: $385
(5) business days before the start of Filming.
Contact the City of Loma Linda about Filming.
-City of Loma Linda
-Film Permit App
ONTARIO (10)
Basic App Fee: $246
Contact the City of Ontario about Filming.
-City of Ontario
-Ontario Film Permit
RIALTO
Contact the City of Rialto about Filming.
-City of Rialto
TWENTY NINE PALMS (10)
(10) business days before start.
(30) for requests involving public right-of-way.
Contact the City of Twentynine Palms about Filming.
Film Permits
YUCAIPA
Contact the City of Yucaipa about Filming.
City of Yucaipa
Film Permit App
San Bernardino County Film 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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