LA City Council Approves Free Microshoots and $1 Parking for Film Crews

Los Angeles city officials have lowered the cost of filming in the city. The City Council passed two new measures on Wednesday. These rules allow small crews to film for free and access city properties for a nominal fee.

The first motion creates a free permit for microshoots. This applies to projects with 10 or fewer production personnel. Student filmmakers, documentary crews, and ultra-low-budget projects can now shoot on-location without paying a fee. The second motion changes how productions use city-owned spaces. Crews can now use parking lots, yards, civic properties, and staging areas for $1 a day. These areas are typically used for base camp and crew parking.

City Councilmember Adrin Nazarian introduced both measures. He noted that these actions complete the first phase of a campaign to support local filmmaking. Nazarian said, “Today marks a major milestone for the Keep Hollywood Home campaign.” He added that the City has approved all Phase 1 motions. He described the progress as evidence of the Ad Hoc Committee’s impact and a commitment to pressure for reforms.

The new rules come as filming activity in Los Angeles drops. FilmLA reported that shoot days for film and television fell from June to September. The decline occurred despite local and state efforts to encourage more production. Shoot days dropped nearly five percent compared to the same period in 2025. The number also fell 11 percent from the previous quarter.

State and city leaders have taken other steps to support the industry. In 2025, California more than doubled funding for its film and television tax credit program. The annual amount rose from $330 million to $750 million. Mayor Karen Bass issued an executive order in 2025 to streamline the city’s permitting process. The full Council also passed seven initial motions from Nazarian earlier this year to improve filming practices.

The council’s latest vote marks the final step in the first round of proposed changes. The free microshoot permit and the $1 daily rate for city properties are now active. These changes apply to productions seeking to film in Los Angeles.