Locations for video production can make or break a project. When looking for shooting locations, we typically evaluate which locations best tell the story. Whether that’s shots of nature, an indoor seamless background, or city shots, every location poses potential challenges. When we determine we need to film in a town, we often turn to our own backyard in San Francisco to get the shots we need. SF has its challenges, for sure, including parking, security, and traffic, but every time we apply for a permit, we know we are about to get some gold shots! In this article, we’ll break down how to get a film permit in San Francisco.

Before we dive in, you might be thinking, do I really have to get a film permit to shoot in SF? While we can’t answer that question for you, there are several factors to keep in mind regardless of your production’s size.

#1. Is your client with you?

If so, the obvious answer is yes. You should absolutely get a permit. It’s a professional thing to do, and it doesn’t cost that much. When we first started shooting, we’d often wing it, but as we’ve grown, we’ve learned that the risk vs. reward of getting stopped isn’t worth it.

#2. How big is your crew?

If you aren’t with a client and are just solo shooting a quick scenic pickup, you may be able to get away with not permitting. However, we’d still recommend it! The penalties for getting stopped when shooting commercially can be steep!

#3. How many shots and what shots do you need?

If you are trying to get a bunch of shots at specific locations, we’d highly recommend obtaining permits. This will give you 100% certainty that you can get the shots!!

#4. Will you have security

If you are looking to film in San Francisco for more than a quick pickup shot, we’d highly recommend having security. There have been countless robberies over the last few years, and it doesn’t look like it’s slowing down! Even news crews aren’t safe. Permitting, such that you can hire security guards, is key! Usually, you can get security for around $25/hr per guard with an 8-hour minimum.

Overview

The first thing to know when applying for a film permit is where to get one. FilmSF is your key to getting a film permit. They’ve got a department of very friendly people who will guide you through the permitting process. According to the FilmSF website: “A production permit is required whenever you’re shooting on City property for commercial or non-commercial purposes except for private family use.”

However, that said, you’ve got to remember whose property you are shooting on. Although you might be on a beach in San Francisco, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it is city property. So FilmSF wouldn’t actually be the place to issue your permit. If your location is in SF but it’s technically not city property, check out this comprehensive list of contacts. Let’s break down how to get a film permit in San Francisco.

Timeframe

So you’ve determined you do need a permit to capture your shots, and they are on San Francisco city property. But how long does it take to get your film permit? The answer is that it takes 4 days to get the permit approved. During this time, they’ll review your application, review your insurance, approve (or deny) your parking request, and notify the appropriate jurisdictions of your filming dates and locations. That said, if you are looking to close down a street or use an SFMTA vehicle, it could take an additional 5-10 days. This means that the total process could take up to 2 weeks. Best to get started early.

Insurance

To apply, you need specific insurance: general liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, auto liability insurance of $1,000,000 combined single limit if vehicles are on site, and workers’ compensation insurance with statutory limits and employers’ liability of at least $1,000,000 per accident if you have employees. If there are no employees, you can submit a waiver of subrogation endorsement form. This process can be frustrating when seeking a film permit in San Francisco.

There’s a chance that you don’t have production insurance. In this case, you might consider getting a project production insurance plan. This would protect any rentals that you rent for the project as well as any liability insurance requirements!

Community Notice

Depending on where you are filming or what type of production you are looking to shoot, you may be required to give notice to the community. There are several ways to do this. Post with blue painter’s tape in public spaces where you will film. You should also tape notices near call boxes for apartment buildings. Further, hand them to doormen or front desk staff. You can also tape them to mailboxes(although do not put them inside).

Essentially, you just want to make sure that everyone in the area is aware that you will be filming. This should be done approximately 72 to 96 hours before you begin your first day of filming. The last thing you want while you are filming is to be disturbed and told to stop filming just because a neighbor was not informed!

Cost

There is no cost for the permit application. However, if they grant you a permit, you’ll be required to pay the fees to make the permit active. The fees range depending on your usage. According to the Wrapbook the costs are as follows:

Still Photography: $100/day

Commercial, corporate media, web and music video: $200/day

TV Series, movie, pilot, web series etc: Budgets less than $100,000: $50/day. Budgets of $100,000 to $500,000: $100/day. Budgets of $500,000 or greater: $300/day.

You may also be able to qualify for a significantly reduced rate if you can supply your budget for the project.

If you are working on a student film. Guess what? The permit is free. However, you’d still need to be able to provide the general liability insurance requirements. Your school may be able to help with this. On the other hand, if they can’t help you, then you’d need to pony up for some production insurance. You could try asking for a student discount.

Example

We filmed Pact in San Francisco a few years ago and utilized a permit to reserve a basketball court at a park and to shoot a quick run and gun scene at the Lyon street stairs. This meant we had to post notices in the neighborhood and provide proof of insurance, in addition to paying the permit fee. We were also required to put up signs in the immediate areas where we’d be filming and to notify the neighbors. The whole process took about two weeks.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, getting a permit isn’t really all that hard. Yes, it will take you about 2-4 hours to complete the application and get your insurance documents, but then you’ll be free to rest easy knowing your production shouldn’t be bothered. I hope you’ve enjoyed this article on obtaining a film permit in San Francisco. We wish we had known about the steps earlier in our careers. There’s no need to make it more complicated than it is! If you are looking for other film permitting departments, check out the City of Oakland’s film permitting office. Or perhaps you are looking to get a film permit in San Jose.

Are you looking for San Francisco video production? We’ve got all the skills needed to permit in San Francisco. In fact, this is one of the reasons we are often chosen among the best video production companies in San Francisco. If you are looking for a local crew to get shots for your production company, contact us to find out how we can bring your remote filming needs to life!