City of West Hollywood Launches One-Year Film Permit Administrative Fee Waiver Program Beginning July 1

Beginning on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, the City of West Hollywood's Film Office will launch a new one-year Film Permit Administrative Fee Waiver Program designed to encourage film and television production, strengthen the local creative economy, and reinforce the City of West Hollywood's longstanding reputation as one of Southern California's most film-friendly jurisdictions.

During the pilot program, which will run through June 30, 2027, the City will waive City-specific film permit administrative fees for productions. The program was approved by the City Council of the City of West Hollywood following a fiscal analysis and builds upon a series of recent initiatives to support the local entertainment industry amid regional declines in production activity.

"The City of West Hollywood has always embraced the entertainment industry as part of our identity," said City of West Hollywood Councilmember John M. Erickson. "This pilot program demonstrates our commitment to supporting the film and TV industry, production crews, local businesses, and the countless thousands of people whose livelihoods depend on a strong industry. We want West Hollywood to remain a premier destination for film and TV production."

"The entertainment industry is an essential part of the City of West Hollywood's creative and economic vitality," said Councilmember Chelsea Lee Byers. "In reducing administrative costs, we're making it easier for productions to choose West Hollywood. Our aim is to help sustain the jobs, businesses, and artists who contribute so much to our community."

The film permit administrative fee applies to City-issued film permit administrative fees. Other applicable fees and requirements remain unchanged, including fees associated with public property use, street use, street closures, blanket administrative permits, revisions or riders, and required processing, cancellations and late administrative processing, neighborhood notification, public safety, and fire safety requirements. Productions must continue to comply with all City permitting procedures and operational standards, including insurance.

The new pilot program builds upon existing City of West Hollywood Film Office incentives, including the Low-Impact Filming Program, which provides full or partial fee waivers for qualifying small-scale productions, and the Blanket Permit Program, which allows qualifying productions to operate under a single updatable permit for up to 14 consecutive days, simplifying logistics for multi-day filming. These programs will remain available throughout the pilot.

In June 2025, the West Hollywood City Council unanimously approved an item to reaffirm the City of West Hollywood's commitment to remaining one of California's most film-friendly cities. The item directed staff to streamline and modernize the City's film permitting process, strengthen partnerships with the entertainment industry, support state efforts to increase film production in California, deepen promotion of West Hollywood as a premier filming destination, and explore additional incentives to attract productions.

"West Hollywood has a long history of welcoming the entertainment industry, and we're committed to ensuring our City remains a place where creativity thrives," said Vice Mayor Danny Hang. "As a City, we will continue to seek to reduce barriers for productions while continuing to provide the exceptional service that make our Film Office a model in the region."

Located in the heart of the local entertainment industry's historic Thirty-Mile Zone (TMZ), the City of West Hollywood has long served as a premier destination for feature films, television series, streaming productions, commercials, music videos, still photography, and digital media. The City's Film Office is recognized for its streamlined permitting process and personalized concierge-style service, working closely with production companies, location managers, residents, and businesses to facilitate filming while minimizing neighborhood impacts. In recent years, West Hollywood has welcomed productions including The Morning Show, Hacks, All's Fair, Netflix's Animals, Selling Sunset, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Vanderpump Rules, Daisy Jones and The Six, and numerous national commercial campaigns.

Film production generates economic activity that benefits local businesses, hotels, restaurants, retailers, vendors, and entertainment workers while showcasing West Hollywood's iconic neighborhoods, cultural destinations, and world-famous streets to audiences around the globe. During the City's Fiscal Year 2024/2025 alone, the City issued permits for more than 120 film and photography productions, underscoring West Hollywood's continued role as one of Southern California's premier filming destinations.

During the one-year Film Permit Administrative Fee Waiver Program, the City's Film Office will evaluate the effectiveness of the administrative fee waiver in encouraging additional production activity and supporting local economic development.

For additional details about the City of West Hollywood's Film Office, including resources and an updated Fiscal Year 2026/2027 fee schedule, please visit www.weho.org/film.

For more information about filming in the City of West Hollywood, please contact Eddie Robinson, City of West Hollywood Film Coordinator, at (323) 848-6489 or [email protected]. For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing dial 711 or 1-800-735-2929 (TTY) or 1-800-735-2922 (voice) for California Relay Service (CRS) assistance.

For up-to-date information about City of West Hollywood news and events, follow @wehocity on social media, sign-up for news updates at www.weho.org/email, and visit the City's calendar of meetings and events at www.weho.org/calendar. Receive text updates by texting "WeHo" to (323) 848-5000. Read feature articles about people, places, and City events at www.helloweho.com. City Hall programs and services information is available at www.weho.org.

For reporters and members of the media seeking additional information about the City of West Hollywood, please contact the City of West Hollywood's Public Information Officer, Sheri A. Lunn, at (323) 848-6391 or [email protected].