ORANGE COUNTY

Orange County offers an exceptional mix of scenic coastline, suburban streets, historic architecture, and upscale urban centers, making it one of Southern California’s most versatile filming destinations outside Los Angeles.

ORANGE COUNTY

Location Scouting Guide

Orange County offers a diverse range of filming locations, making it a versatile destination for various projects. From the stunning beaches of Laguna and Huntington Beach, which provide classic California coastal vibes, to the historic charm of Mission San Juan Capistrano, perfect for period pieces or scenes with old-world elegance, the county has something for every type of production.

ANAHEIM

Home to Disneyland, sports venues, convention centers, and suburban neighborhoods.

FULLERTON

Mix of old downtown, college town energy, and varied residential looks.

HUNTINGTON BEACH

Classic SoCal beach town with surf culture, long piers, and wide sandy beaches.

IRVINE

Master-planned city with futuristic buildings, business parks, and diverse suburban backdrops.

LAGUNA BEACH

Iconic coastal visuals, cliffs, coves, and artsy small-town vibes.

NEWPORT BEACH

Upscale coastal neighborhoods, marinas, and oceanfront estates.

ORANGE

Preserved turn-of-the-century architecture and classic Americana feel.

SANTA ANA

Historic downtown, art deco buildings, courthouse, alleys, and urban grittiness.

Filming in Orange County

Filming in Orange County requires navigating each city’s specific permit and regulatory requirements, including application deadlines, insurance, and public notification procedures. Fees can vary widely, often including charges for public safety personnel and location usage. Depending on the city, applications may need to be submitted anywhere from 2 to 30 business days in advance, with additional fees for expedited processing, special effects, and use of city property or resources.

Research Incentives, Subsidies & Discounts

There are no specific cities within Orange County, California, listed as providing local filming incentives, though the county itself is a prime filming location.

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

Orange County consists of 34 incorporated cities, each with its own permitting timelines, requirements, and restrictions that are constantly changing. We regularly update our content, but cannot guarantee its completeness or accuracy at all times.
♦ Cities that require 3 days or less to process basic film permits.

Orange County (30)

Basic App Fee: $400
(30) business days prior to start.
(14) days if you have a business license on file.

Orange County has a film site for OC Parks only. For use of other OC County Facilities please contact them directly.
Film Permits

ANAHEIM (7)

Basic App Fee: $103
$10.00 – For Each Employee Working In Film
(5) business days prior to start.
Film Permits

COSTA MESA (7)

Basic App Fee: $460
(7) business days prior to start.
Film Permit Office

♦FULLERTON (3)

Basic App Fee: $931
(3) business days prior to the start.
(5) business days prior to filming on public property and/or city right-of-away.
Film Permit Office

IRVINE (10)

Basic App Fee: $1000
(10) business days prior to start.
(15) for requests in the business district.
Film Permit Office

LAGUNA BEACH (15)

Basic App Fee: $830
(15) business days prior to start. Commercial film permits are not issued between Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Film Permits

NEWPORT BEACH (5)

Basic App Fee: $931
(5) business days prior to start.
Film Permit Office
Jurisdiction Fees
Municipal Filming Fees List

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO (5)

Basic App Fee: $150
(5) business days prior to start.
(10) for requests involving public right-of-way.
Film Permit Office

TUSTIN (10)

Basic App Fee: $587
(10) business days prior to start.
(20) for requests involving public right-of-way.
Film Permit Office

BREA (14)

Basic App Fee: $500
(14) business days prior to start.
Film Permit Office

CYPRESS (5)

Basic App Fee: $684
(5) business days prior to start.
(10) for requests involving public right-of-way.
Film Permit Office

GARDEN GROVE (5)

Basic App Fee: $500
(5) business days prior to start.
Film Permit Office

LA HABRA (30)

Basic App Fee: $212
(30) business days prior to start.
Film Permit Office

LAGUNA NIGUEL (14)

Basic App Fee: $300
(14) business days prior to the start of filming activities.
Film Permit Office

ORANGE (16)

Basic App Fee: $40
(16) business days prior to start.
Film Permits Office

SANTA ANA (10)

Basic App Fee: $268
(10) business days prior to start.
Film Permit Office

♦WESTMINSTER (2)

Basic App Fee: $195
(2) business days prior to start.
(5-7) for requests involving public right-of-way.
Film Permit Office

BUENA PARK (10)

Basic App Fee: $522
(10) business days prior to start.
(20) for requests involving public right-of-way.
Film Permit Office

DANA POINT (10)

Basic App Fee: $515
(10) business days prior to start.
(20) for requests involving public right-of-way.
Film Permit Office

*HUNTINGTON BEACH (5)

Basic App Fee: $437
(5) business days prior to start.
(7) business days to reserve police and/or fire.
Film Permit Office

LA PALMA (10)

Basic App Fee: $1,650
(10) business days prior to the start.
Film Permit Office

MISSION VIEJO (7)

Basic App Fee: $TBD
(7) business days prior to start.
Film Permit Office

SAN CLEMENTE (4)

Basic App Fee: $50
(4) business days prior to start.
(10) for requests involving public right-of-way.
Film Permit Office

SEAL BEACH (30)

Basic App Fee: $290
(30) business days prior to start.
Film Permit Office

♦YORBA LINDA (2)

Basic App Fee: $250
(2) business days prior to start.
(5-7) for requests involving public right-of-way.
Film Permit Office

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.
(15) for requests involving freeway ramps and lane closures.
(15-30) for requests involving road closures.
CFC Film Permit Office

California Highway Patrol - Media Relations

Officer Jon Dockweiler
CHP Media Relations Officer
Type of monitor determined by CHP Liaison.
CHP Monitor Fees

California State Fire Marshal - Motion Picture / Entertainment Unit

Vijay Mepani
Deputy State Fire Marshal
vijay.mepani@fire.ca.gov
Deputy State Fire Marshal
Cal State Fire

Cal 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

Cal State Parks & Beaches (4)

Basic App Fee: $0
(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 Lorna Leslie -Southern CA State Parks Permits lorna.leslie@film.ca.gov
CFC Film Permit Office

Mountians Recreation & Conservation Authority (5)

At least one week prior is standard, but applications are accepted within three business days of a shoot for +$336 upon approval. The MRCA Film Office issues filming and photography permits for all parkland managed by the MRCA. This includes open space as well as developed parkland and the Mulholland Overlooks.

Fees are unique to the size and activities of each production. Contact the MRCA for more details.

MRCA Film Office

Orange County Parks (30)

$400.00 / Day + $1,000.00 Security Deposit. For more information on how to apply, please contact OC Parks Permits at 866-627-2757 or permits@ocparks.com. Business Hours: Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. A MINIMUM OF 30 CALENDAR DAYS IS REQUIRED FOR PROCESSING. PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT SOME REQUESTS MAY TAKE LONGER.

Film Permits

US Army Corps of Engineers (30)

Basic App Fee: Non-refundable deposit fee of ($750)

In general, filming is not permitted on Corps-owned property during the rainy season of October 15-April 15, due to safety concerns.
All permit applications must be submitted at least thirty (30) days prior to the requested film date(s).

Film Permits

We are committed to keeping this resource current. If you notice any outdated information, please let us know here.

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