COVID-19 Resource Center

Filmmakers are required to comply with health protocols outlined in the Health Order amended by the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health last updated on April 5, 2021. These orders are subject to further amendment. The latest will always be available from LA County and linked to from the COVID-19 Resource Center of the FilmLA website.

Current orders impose requirements on film productions regarding workplace social distancing, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), hours of filming activity, regular sanitation and employee testing. With the exception of live audience performances, the protocols do not limit the size of productions in terms of people, beyond what is safe and practical for social distancing in a confined space.

To obtain a permit, filmmakers are required to comply with Health Orders last amended by the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health on April 5, 2021. These orders are also available on the FilmLA website. These orders currently impose strict requirements on production regarding workplace social distancing, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and regular sanitation and employee testing. The protocols do not limit the size of productions in terms of people, beyond what is safe and practical for social distancing in a confined space.

In addition, several sets of precautionary guidelines have been developed by the film, television and commercial production industry. All are similar. Many companies will operate under new Health and Safety Guidelines that were released June 1, 2020 by the AMPTP’s Industry Wide Labor Management Safety Committee (IWLMSC) Task Force. The Task Force was comprised of health experts and high-level representatives of studios and entertainment unions. You can read these guidelines, as well as the supplemental document developed by various unions and guilds, “The Safe Way Forward”.

Local health authorities require that every production designate a COVID-19 Compliance Officer (COC). This is not a City or County Official; your compliance officer can be any appropriate individual of authority employed and trained by the production. The COC should be on set whenever possible and be responsible so that all cast and crew adhere to County Public Health safety and infection guidelines. The County Health Order guidelines are written in the form of a checklist of requirements for the COC to follow. The checklist is attached to every film permit released by FilmLA.

The County Department of Public Health is not certifying or training COCs, as it is the responsibility of the production to ensure proper training for these staff members.

For on-location filming, County health protocols do not limit the number of cast and crew you may have present, although the filming of large crowd scenes is discouraged. Practical limits apply based on the location being used, and its ability to accommodate social distancing requirements. Use of live audiences is subject to additional regulations.

Please see the latest LA County health protocols, also known as “Appendix J” on the FilmLA COVID-19 Resource Center.

As of right now, some publicly owned locations such as Los Angeles City Hall and the Los Angeles County Hall of Administration are off limits to filming. Others are available, on a case by case basis. We invite you to contact FilmLA’s Solution Services team with questions.

The locations you select will need to be able to safely accommodate your production while observing health protocols including social distancing, sanitation standards, and regular testing requirements. FilmLA will also be paying attention to base camp and posted parking requirements, intermittent traffic and pedestrian control, extras holding areas and crew feeds during the permit process.

Supervision by municipal and/or FilmLA employees is a condition of filming at many locations. In compliance with the requirements of Appendix J of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health COVID-19 Orders, all municipal and FilmLA employees assigned and/or required to perform on-site duties on film locations will observe the following:

• Using approved personal protective equipment (PPE), including masks, as issued by their agency.
• Following physical distance requirements (6 feet minimum), whenever possible.
• Observing sanitation practices, as applicable, per Appendix J.
• Agreeing to on-site screening questionnaires (including temperature checks) if requested.
• Limiting personal interaction to essential activity only.

Municipal and FilmLA Employees shall not be required to be tested by production representatives for COVID-19 prior to performing their duties as assigned. Productions may have additional requirements for their employees, vendors and visitors. Municipal and FilmLA employees shall not be subject to such requirements. Productions should plan to adapt on-site practices to observe the preceding procedures.

Due to the closure of our physical office, we are only able  to accept payment via credit card and business credit accounts currently. We are unable to accept payments via cash, business checks or money orders.

FilmLA will continue to encourage productions to follow all State and County guidelines that are set in place for safety. FilmLA does not set the terms for filming taking place on-location. Public authorities do that through a process we help coordinate.

Every filmmaker who receives a film permit agrees to comply with Public Health Orders last amended by the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health on April 5, 2021 and subject to change. Currently, these orders impose strict requirements on production regarding workplace social distancing, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), regular sanitation and employee testing.

At FilmLA, we have modified our business practices to minimize health risk to communities when filming happens on-location. As examples, all of our field employees – the folks who deliver Notices of Filming door-to-door – undergo health checks when reporting to work and are equipped with company issued personal protective equipment including masks, gloves, hand sanitizer and “no touch” tools. Our Hollywood office is also closed to the public at this time, with most of our staff working remotely.

When Greater Los Angeles reopened to filming on June 15 after the COVID-19 shutdown, City and County partners directed FilmLA to temporarily suspend use of Filming Surveys during the permit process. This action was taken out of an abundance of caution, and with consideration for communities affected by COVID-19.

Since then, FilmLA and City and County representatives including experts from the LA County Department of Public Health have worked together to update the Filming Survey guidelines. A new process, based heavily on the protocols applying to door-to-door visits by US Census workers, was adopted by City and County authorities. The new process allowed Filming Surveys to resume, while safeguarding the health and safety of residents, business owners and production company personnel.

Yes, FilmLA Monitors are available to oversee productions when ordinarily required. They are under instructions to socially distance at the periphery of the filming location. For their health and safety, Monitors undergo health checks when reporting to work and are equipped with company issued personal protective equipment including masks, gloves, hand sanitizer and “no touch” tools.

FilmLA Monitors are available to ensure compliance with FilmLA coordinated permit. While they do not have authority to serve as COVID-19 Compliance Officers or to enforce County health protocols, observable violations will be reported to government permit approvers and public health authorities as appropriate.

FilmLA recommends you report filming activity that is not in compliance to our office by calling (213) 977- 8600 or emailing us at info@filmla.com. We will forward this information on your behalf to County authorities.

You can also reach out to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health

No. Although routine COVID-19 testing is required of entertainment industry employers working during the pandemic, testing results are not reportable to FilmLA. As outlined in Los Angeles County Public Health Order Appendix J, production officials must report positive Coronavirus diagnoses above a specific threshold to County authorities. FilmLA also does not track or issue reports regarding productions shut down due to mandatory quarantine.

If you wish to reach out the Department of Public Health, they can be reached on their website.

• Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH, County)
• California Department of Public Health
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, National)
• World Health Organization (WHO, International)