Who issues filming permits for Altadena?

Filming permits are prepared and approved in a process that involves several County Departments. 

The permit applications are initially prepared by a filming company representative with guidance from FilmL.A. FilmL.A. confirms the applicant has the required insurance and then distributes the permit application to several County Departments for preliminary permit approval. Approval is required from the following Los Angeles County Departments: The Sheriff’s Department, the Fire Department and the Department of Public Works (DPW). When appropriate, preliminary approval is also required from the Department of Parks and Recreation and/or the Department of Beaches and Harbors. DPW is responsible for granting the “final approval” of every Altadena filming permit. Once a filming permit application has final DPW approval, FilmL.A. issues the permit to the film production company. 

This process is unique to the unincorporated areas of LA County. The neighboring communities of Arcadia, Pasadena, South Pasadena, Glendale and La Canada/Flintridge all have filming offices that manage their permitting process and do not use the services of FilmL.A.