PALMDALE FILM
LOCATIONS GUIDE
Palmdale, located in the high desert just north of Los Angeles, is a favored and versatile filming location for Hollywood. Its expansive, rugged desert terrain and unique geological formations offer filmmakers a diverse range of natural backdrops.
PALMDALE
LOCATION SCOUTING GUIDE
Palmdale has one of the best desert landscapes near Los Angeles. The desert landscape, rock formations, and vast open spaces make it a frequent stand-in for other areas, including the Wild West, a foreign country, or even another planet.
FILMING IN PALMDALE
Filming in Palmdale is popular for movies, commercials, music videos, and photo shoots because the area offers wide-open desert landscapes, aviation landmarks, and easier production logistics. Most commercial productions that film on public property require permits through FilmLA, while casual personal photography usually does not. The city also supports productions through Film Palmdale, which provides resources for locations, permits, and local production services.
Research Fees, Timelines, Requirements & Restrictions
PALMDALE (3)
Basic App Fee: $931
(3) business days prior to the start of filming activities.
(5-7) for requests involving public right-of-way.
Film Permits
Jurisdiction Fees
Municipal Filming Fees List
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
State Parks & Beaches (4)
Basic App Fee: $100
($100/day per park or beach for simple shoots and $250/day per park or beach for complex shoots) and estimated monitor fees.
*Parks charge cost-recovery fees in order to accommodate filming. Except for parking, these fees are collected by the CFC.
The CFC provides its services and permits at no cost.
(4) business days prior to prep or shoot.
(14-30) Some State Parks require 14-30 days advance notice to process applications. Please contact the park before applying.
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.
Angeles National Forest (20)
Basic App Fee: 1-10 persons $325.79/day, 11-30 persons $434.36/day, 31-60 persons $1,085.94/day, Greater than 61 persons $1,307.28/day.
Public law allows the Forest Service to collect two types of fees for commercial filming or photography activities – a use fee and a “cost recovery” fee.
The use fee is based upon: the number of days filming or photography activities take place; the size of the film/photography crew; and/or the amount and type of equipment present.
The cost recovery fee covers the administrative and personnel costs associated with issuing the permit.
LA County Fire Department
The Public Safety & Film Unit reviews applications for filming permits, commercial still photography, annual fuel truck inspection and special effects permits. The Public Safety and Film Unit sets requirements and may conduct inspections at filming locations to ensure public safety and compliance with the Fire Code.
LA County Parks & Recreation
All filming at County parks, other than non-commercial photos among family members, requires a film permit issued by Film LA Inc., the entity authorized by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to process film permits for all County-operated facilities. This also includes film projects by students and non-profit organizations.
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