Download the complete 2008 Event and Film Guide

1. Santa Monica Pier Filming Approval Form. No person shall take still, motion, video or sound pictures for commercial purposes on the Santa Monica Pier without a Santa Monica Pier Filming Approval Form approved by the Pier Restoration Corporation Filming Coordinator. The Santa Monica Pier Filming Approval Form shall be in writing and shall set forth any conditions pertaining to use as the PRC Filming Coordinator shall determine and the fee or charge to be paid for such use. The approval form must be approved 48 hours prior to the filming date. Santa Monica Pier Filming Approval Forms are not issued for any filming activity on weekends. (Weekends are Friday, 5:00pm thru Monday, 6:00am).

2. Weekend Activity. Santa Monica Pier Filming/Still Photography Approval Forms are not issued for any filming/still photography activity on weekends. The weekend period begins on Friday, 5 p.m. and ends on Monday, 6 a.m. Exceptions to this rule may only be made by the SMPRC Operations Manager and/or Executive Director.

3. Fees and Charges. The fees and charges for use of the Santa Monica Pier for filming and commercial photography shall be established by the Pier Restoration Corporation and shall be paid prior to the issuance of the Santa Monica Pier Filming Approval Form. All fees must be paid 48 hours prior to the filming date.

4. City Film Permits. In addition to the Santa Monica Pier Filming Approval Form appropriate film permits must be issued by the City of Santa Monica Permit Office (310/458-8737). Evidence of insurance and security deposit must be duly noted on the film permit and attached when necessary.

5. Insurance. All party's wishing to film on the Santa Monica Pier are required to provide a Certificate of General Liability Insurance in the minimum amount of $1 million. Insurance certificate holder shall read as follows:

The Santa Pier Restoration Corporation and its Board,
Officers, Director, Staff, property owners and merchants
200 Santa Monica Pier, Ste. A
Santa Monica, CA 90401

6. City Police and Fire Department Personnel. The City Permit Office will specify when Santa Monica Police and Fire Department officers are required on location. A Harbor Patrol officer is required throughout the duration of the approved Santa Monica pier Filming/Still Photography Approval Form. Santa Monica Police, Harbor Patrol and Fire Department officers are on location to monitor public safety and provide traffic control. Officers are not security guards for film companies.

7. Weight Limits. All Production companies must adhere to the weight limits of the Pier as determined by the City's Engineering Department. Weight limit on the Municipal Pier, paved portion, is 10 tons (20,000lbs.). Weight limit on the Pleasure Pier, wooden portion is 3.5 tons (7,000lbs.).

8. Vehicle and Equipment Parking. Production companies may not set up a parking base on the Pier lot. All vehicle and equipment parking must be in one of the Beach parking lots and arrangements must be made in advance with Flavio Valadez, Transportation Parking Coordinator, 310/458-4903. Equipment may be shuttled on and off the Pier by vehicles, adhering to #7 Weight Limits and #9 Vehicle Restrictions but those vehicles may not remain parked on the Pier. Production company vehicles are not allowed on the Pier until the assigned officer is on scene. If the Harbor Patrol officer is not on scene at the scheduled time, permission for vehicles to enter the Pier may be given by the Harbor Patrol Sergeant at 310/458-8695.

9. Vehicle Restrictions. No vehicles over 7,000 lbs. may drive on the Santa Monica Pier Parking Lot. Vehicles over 7,000 lbs. include vans and pick-up trucks of the following make and model - Dodge: 2500 & 3500 series, Ford: F-250 & F-350 Series, General Motors: 2500 & 3500 Series. Stakebed trucks less than 20,000 lbs. are permitted to drive on the Municipal Pier. Cube trucks are not permitted on the Santa Monica Pier at anytime, unless the driver has certification of the gross vehicle weight. Certification must be from an authorized weigh station and dated one (1) hour prior to Pier arrival.

10. Santa Monica Harbor Patrol Officers. Santa Monica Harbor Patrol Officers are required to be hired by all production companies that anticipate having moving vehicles throughout the duration of the approved Santa Monica Pier Filming/Still Photography Approval Form. Production companies coordinating any water-related activities must obtain approval from the Santa Monica Harbor Patrol, 310/459-8695.

11. Established Perimeter. A perimeter must be established around all filming on the Pier to allow for pedestrian and emergency vehicle access. Film companies may not impede or block access to areas of the Pier without allowing reasonable public access for pedestrians and emergency vehicles.

12. Compensation to Pier Tenants. Santa Monica Pier tenants and vendor carts must be compensated for loss of business if filming/still photography will take place within the confines of the tenant's/vendor's lease space or if filming/still photography will block patron access to the businesses. Arrangements between production companies and Santa Monica Pier tenants/vendors must be made prior to the filming/still photography date. Compensation is negotiated directly by the film company with the Santa Monica Pier tenants/vendors.

13. Santa Monica Pier Tenants: Pacific Park and Playland Arcade. The amusement park and arcade are two separate venues. Pacific Park consists of the rides, games of skill and food court. Arrangements to film/photograph within Pacific Park premises and/or use as background must be made through Kristin Wasiluk at 310/260-8744 ext. 258. Playland Arcade consists of the coin operated video games and shooting gallery. Arrangements to film/photograph within Playland Arcade premises must be made through Marlene Gordon at 310/451-5133. For a complete list of all Santa Monica Pier businesses, please visit the directory.

11. Public Safety. Activities that will endanger structure, buildings and/or public safety on the Pier are prohibited. The SMPRC Operations Manager, Santa Monica Police, Santa Monica Fire Dept. and Santa Monica Harbor Patrol may shut down a production company at any time if they feel it is endangering public safety.

12. Litter or Debris. Upon completion of filming, the Pier must be left free of litter or debris. A custodial and trash receptacle fee will be deducted from the security deposit of film companies who do not leave the Pier in the condition in which it was found.

*The Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation Operations Manager, Santa Monica Police Dept., Santa Monica Fire Dept. or Harbor Patrol may shut down a production company at any time if they feel the conditions of the Santa Monica Pier Filming Guidelines and/or the Santa Monica Pier Filming Approval Form are not being conformed to.*