• For film projects by students — defined as enrolled in an accredited college/university doing an assigned class project for a grade or credit — please submit a completed film application.
• Applications submitted later than 16 business days in advance of the proposed film activity will not be accepted. Permits submitted after 3 p.m. will be considered submitted on the next workday.
• Film students are required to obtain a Film Permit for any production activity. Production activity includes personnel, movement of equipment and vehicles, parking, shuttling from one location to another, on-site preparation before filming, etc.
• Permit application fees are waived for students and non-profit productions.
• Student filmmakers are also responsible for providing the appropriate liability insurance.

Make sure you allow time for your permit to be processed.

• Student film permit applications must be submitted no later than 16 working days in advance of the proposed film activity. Working days do not include days the Community Services department is closed.
• When submitting permit applications, please take into account that City offices are closed on alternating Fridays.
• Permit applications submitted one week or later in advance of proposed film activity will not be accepted.
• Please note, it is a violation of the Orange Municipal Code (OMC) to film without a permit. Productions found in violation of the OMC will be shut down and may be issued a citation.

All film and photo permit applicants must provide proof of insurance in the form of a Certificate and an endorsement before a permit will be issued in the following amounts (Orange Municipal Code Section 5.45.080 Insurance):

• Workers compensation insurance as required by law for the protection of permittee's workers;
• Comprehensive or commercial general liability insurance written on an occurrence basis providing for a combined single limit of
  • $1 million,
  • $500,000 per occurrence with $1 million aggregate for bodily injury, death and property damage,
  • $1 million aggregate; and
• Automotive liability insurance on a comprehensive form covering all owned, non-owned and hired automobiles providing for a combined single limit of
  • $1 million,
  • $500,000 per occurrence with $1 million aggregate for bodily injury, death and property damage,
  • $1 million aggregate

Each policy of general liability and automotive liability shall be endorsed to provide that City, its officers, agents, and employees are declared to be additional insureds under the terms of the policy. In addition to the insurance certificate, the applicant must provide a separate, additional insured endorsement (i.e., CG 20 10, 2011 85) that designates the City of Orange. See sample insurance certificate with additional endorsement.

One of the most popular locations in the City of Orange is the Old Towne Orange Plaza, set within the Old Towne Orange Historic District. The Plaza is located in the area surrounding the intersection of Glassell Street and Chapman Avenue and is bordered by Lemon Street, Almond Avenue, Grand Street, and Maple Avenue.

Before approval by the City's film liaison, Film Permit Requests for productions in the Old Towne Orange Historic District should consider:

• Number of filming days requested
• Number of days needed for preparation, strike, or other film-related activities
• Nature and impact of the proposed film activity
• Proposed number of vehicles and availability of parking
• Adequacy of proposed parking plan
• Amount of activity on private property
• Publicity and exposure for the City

Production Blackout Dates
No filming activity (with the exception of event-related filming) will be allowed in the Old Towne Plaza area during the following events:

• Orange International Street Fair (Labor Day weekend)
• Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony
• Harvest Fest Trick or Treat through the Streets
• Car Shows
• Antique Fair (President's Weekend)

In addition to the general requirements for Film Permits in the City of Orange, the following conditions are mandatory. Please note that the City film liaison has the discretion to require additional conditions if warranted.

Traffic Control & Street Closures

• The City is not permitting complete street closures for any film production at this time.
• Periods of intermittent traffic control will be limited to 3 minutes maximum during business hours and during peak traffic flow periods (morning and evening rush hours)
• All waiting traffic must be released before a period of intermittent traffic control begins
• Lane closures, including the inside lane of the Plaza traffic circle, will be permitted at the discretion of the Orange Police Department

Parking

• A Parking Plan must be submitted with the application.
• Only essential vehicles may be located in the Plaza area.
• All crew, cast, catering and other non-essential vehicles must be parked in one of the following public parking lots: Lemon Street, East Chapman Avenue (next to Main Library), or the parking structure at the southeast corner of Sycamore and Olive (Please refer to map of City parking lots) when filming in Old Towne Orange.
• There are some private parking lots in the area: please negotiate with the property owner if used.
• All vehicles and equipment associated with filming activities must park in designated areas only.
• The production company is responsible for posting and removing No Parking signs. Signs are available at no charge from the City's Economic Development Department.
• No Parking signs must be posted 24 hours prior to the start of production to be enforceable.

Business owners and residents in front of whose property equipment or vehicles are parked or No Parking signs are posted must give written approval. Completed signature forms must be submitted 48 hours prior to the start of production.

Hours

• Normal hours for filming activities are 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
• The Plaza is primarily a commercial area, however, there are residences located above or adjacent to Old Towne businesses.
• An approval signature from the apartment complex manager is acceptable

• Only written signatures are accepted as valid approval.

Direct Impact

• The City of Orange believes a business experiences direct impact when:
• Equipment is placed, or personnel are positioned, in front of a merchant's business (with his/her approval) which would prohibit or discourage customers from entering the store;
• The merchant's exterior storefront is used (with their approval) as a definite background;
• The interior of the merchant's store is used (with their approval);
• Prep or strike activities cause a demonstrated hardship to the merchant's business;
• The business is located adjacent to the filming site.

Notifications

Many businesses in Old Towne are open daily during normal business hours. Some businesses, such as restaurants, open earlier and close later. If any filming activity occurs during this period, approval signatures are required from those merchants directly impacted by the filming activity.

• All merchants in the Plaza area must be notified in writing 72 hours in advance of filming activity, including prep work.

Notification Letters

A copy of the Notification Letter must be submitted with permit application and all other required documents. Please use the City's standard format letter titled: “City of Orange Film Notification.”

If the project involves multiple dates and locations, the production company may draft its own notification letter as long as the letter meets the guidelines required by the City. Please refer to the document, "Notification Requirements for Filming" for instructions.

Communication

The location manager or a designee must be available to resolve issues or answer questions. This person should be identified to the City's film liaison and the Orange Police Officer on location (if Police Department is assigned) and appropriate contact numbers provided.

All signage (including directional posters, notification flyers, no parking signs, etc.) must be removed upon completion of filming. If City staff is required to remove signage, the production company will be charged for clean-up costs. The production company is encouraged to borrow and post the City-owned "Businesses Open During Filming" signs.

Posting Requirements

• All equipment and vehicles associated with filming activity in the City of Orange must park in areas specified in the parking plan or on private property only.
• The production company is responsible for posting the No Parking signs 24 hours in advance of the permitted starting time in commercial areas, but no more than 48 hours in advance.
• Signs posted any later than the required 24-hour advance are not enforceable.
• No parking signs may only be posted in areas where signatures of approval have been secured.
• No parking signs are available at no charge from the City of Orange Economic Development Department, 230 E. Chapman Ave., Orange, CA 92866.
• The department is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. and closed on alternate Fridays.
• No parking signs must be removed by the production company immediately after filming activity is completed.