In Citizen Access, the Planning Division and Transportation Department have their own film permit application submittal process, requirements, fees, and film permit record numbers. We recommend that you read both the Planning and Transportation FAQ sections to determine if your filming activity will require that you submit one or both of these film permit applications.

Please note that the Planning film permit application is in the Planning tab and the record number abbreviation is "FP", and the Transportation film encroachment permit application is in the Public Works tab and the record number abbreviation is "PF".

While filling out the online application, you can select the "Save and Resume Later" function if you want to complete the application at a later time. After you save the application, the system will temporarily assign saved applications a generic record number, which is formatted as: "[year][TMP]-[six digits]" (ex. 15TMP-000001).

To resume your saved application:

1. Login to Citizen Access, and click on the Planning tab to resume a Planning Film Permit application or the Public Works tab to resume a Transportation Encroachment Film Permit application.

In the Planning or Public Works tabs, you will see the Records section. The Records section displays both submitted and saved online applications in Citizen Access. Please note that the Planning Division’s film permits use the record number abbreviation "FP", while the Transportation Department’s film permits use the record number abbreviation "PF".

You can sort in descending or ascending order by clicking on the Date or Record Number column headers. If you click on the Record Number column, all of your saved records will be at the top of the list.

2. Find the saved record that you would like to resume and click on the Resume Application hyperlink under the Action column, as shown below:

You will be directed back to the online application form that you had previously saved.

After you submit an application in Citizen Access, the information is logged into our land use database and your application is assigned a record number.

When you receive confirmation that the information was sent successfully, you will receive the record number assigned to your application.

Planning’s Film Permit record numbers are formatted as: "FP[year]-[four digits]" (ex. FP16-0009), as shown below:

Transportation’s Film Permit record numbers are formatted as: "PF[year]-[four digits]" (i.e. PF16-0016)

You can periodically check the status of your application in Citizen Access. To find your permit, you can find your record in the Records section of the department’s tab (i.e. Planning or Public Works for the Transportation Department).

In the Record’s section, you can sort the columns by clicking on the column headers such as the Date column or Record Number column.

Once you find your record, you can click on the record number hyperlink in the Record Number column, and the system will take you to the record’s detail page.

The Planning Division website has online resources to determine if your filming activity requires a permit. To access these resources, click here. Please review these resources before submitting an online application in Citizen Access.

In the Citizen Access online film permit application, you will be required to provide the following:

• Contact Information;
• Land use information on the proposed filming location(s);
• Information on the filming process and activities;
• Submit supporting documentation; and
• Pay the application review fee.

Before you begin the process, you can review the application submittal requirements from the Planning Division website by clicking here.

To navigate the Citizen Access online film permit application for the Planning Division, please follow the steps below:

1. Login to Citizen Access. If you haven’t already, please create a user account. We have a HELP page on the right-hand side of the website titled, "Registering a User Account", if you need assistance with creating a user account.

2. Once you are logged into Citizen Access, click on the Planning tab, which will be highlighted in blue as shown below:

3. In the Planning tab, click on the "Create an Application" hyperlink located in the blue bar.

4. You will see the General Disclaimer page. Once you have read the County’s terms and agreements, click on the checkbox next to the text, "I have read and accepted the above terms" and click Continue Application.

5. The first step of the online application form requests contact information. For each section (i.e. Applicant, Production Company, and Location Manager), you can either add the contact information associated to your Citizen Access account by clicking on Select from Account, or you can manually type in the contact information by clicking on Add New.

When you select Add New, a separate window will appear. Fill-out all of the fields with red asterisks and click Continue to go back to the Step 1: Contact Information page.

Once you have completed filling out all three sections in Step 1, click Continue Application.

6. The second step of the online application requests information on the proposed film activities and the filming locations. Fill out all of the fields with red asterisks. Please note that some of the fields are dynamic. Depending on your responses to the required questions, other fields may be required or will be greyed out.

Example: When you select "Yes" in the Animal Services Department section, the fields below it are required.

Example: If you select "No" in the Animal Services Department section, the other fields are greyed out so that you don’t fill them out.

Once you have filled out all of the required fields, click Continue Application.

7. The next step of the application requests information about the film schedule. Fill-out all of the fields with red asterisks and click Submit to add the information into the table.

To add another entry to the table, click Add a Row. You can copy information from the previous row in the table by clicking on the Copy Info checkbox, as shown below.

To edit an entry in the table, check the box next to the entry that you want to edit in the table and click Edit Selected. Or, you can click on the Actions hyperlink in the row that you want to edit and click Edit.

To delete an entry in the table, check the box next to the entry that you want to delete in the table and click Delete Selected. Or, you can click on the Actions hyperlink in the row that you want to delete and click Delete.

Once you have completed the table, click Continue Application.

8. The third step of the application is to upload all required documentation. To upload a document, click the Add button.

Select the document from your computer and click Open. The file upload status must show 100%, as shown below, and you must fill-out the Type and Description fields. Once the information has been filled out, click Save.

Repeat the abovementioned process until you have uploaded all of the required documents. Once all of the required documents have been uploaded in Citizen Access, click Continue Application.

9. Next, you will see the confirmation page where you can review the information that you provided. If you need to revise any of the information, click the Edit button next to the appropriate section that needs to be revised.

At the bottom of the review page, please review the County’s film permit authorization and check the box next to the text, "By checking this box, I agree to the above certification.

Once you have checked the box, click Continue Application.

10. The last step in the application process is to pay for the application review fee. Click Check Out.

11. Your application review fee will be added to your cart. If you have other permits to pay for, you can click Continue Shopping. Or, click Checkout to continue with the payment process.

You will be directed to a third-party website, Official Payments, where you will be executing your credit card payment. If you have questions about the credit card payment process, we have a HELP page on the right-hand side page titled, "Online Payment Process".

12. Once your credit card payment has been approved and processed, you will return to Citizen Access where you will receive a confirmation that your application has been submitted successfully and you will also receive your permit number.

After you submit an application in Citizen Access, a notification will be sent to staff that they need to review your information. Once they review the information, they will either send you an email requesting for more information and/or inform you that you must pay additional permitting fees based on your filming activity.

After all information has been collected and fees have been paid, you will receive an email notification that staff has uploaded your film permit in the Attachments section of your record in Citizen Access. In the Attachments section, click on the name of the permit document to open it.

If you are having difficulty finding your record, please see the section above titled, "Where can I find the permit application that I submitted in Citizen Access?"

If you are making changes to an approved Planning Division film permit, please fill-out the form below and click Submit to submit your requested changes to the Planning Division. Planning’s Film Permit Coordinator will review your requested changes and follow-up with you via email. Please note that your changes may require a new FP film permit number and/or new fees may be assessed.

Fill-out information below:

Date: Original Film Permit Number: Production Company: Applicant Name: Location Manager: Name of Production:

Amendment Information:

Describe the proposed changes in the production schedule or filming activities:

Add Prep/Film/Strike Day(s) (include production times): Change Prep/Film/Strike Day(s) and/or production times: Change filming activities description: Add additional film location(s): Other Changes:

For additional questions about the film permit requirements and process, contact information and fees, visit the County of Ventura Planning Film Permit Website.

 

A film encroachment permit is required for any film activity or commercial photography in the County road right-of-way. Film activity includes, but is not limited to prep, shoot, strike, equipment placement, parking, traffic restrictions, and temporary no parking zones. Please be aware that almost all film activity will require an additional separate permit from the County of Ventura Planning Division. For more information on this separate permit, click here.

In the Citizen Access online film permit application, you will be required to provide the following:

• Permittee, Location Manager, and Agent Contact Information;
• Road Names and Limits;
• Base Camp Address and Common Name;
• Film Start & End Date and Times;
• Description of Film Activities;
• Certificate of Insurance;
• Agent Authorization; and
• Drone Plan of Activity (if the use of a drone is proposed).

To navigate the Citizen Access online film encroachment permit application, please follow the steps below:

1. Login to Citizen Access. If you haven’t already, please create a user account. We have a HELP page on the right-hand side of the website titled, "Registering a User Account", if you need assistance with creating a user account.

2. Once you are logged into Citizen Access, click on the Public Works tab, which will be highlighted in blue as shown below:

3. In the Public Works tab, click on the "Create an Application" hyperlink located in the blue bar.

4. You will see the General Disclaimer page. Once you have read the County’s terms and agreements, click on the checkbox next to the text, "I have read and accepted the above terms" and click Continue Application.

5. The first step of the online application form requests contact information. For each section (i.e. Permittee, Location Manager, and Agent), you can either add the contact information associated to your Citizen Access account by clicking on Select from Account, or you can manually type in the contact information by clicking on Add New.

When you select Add New, a separate window will appear. Fill-out all of the fields and click Continue to go back to the Step 1: Contact Information page.

Once you have completed filling out all three sections in Step 1, click Continue Application.

6. The second step of the online application requests information on the proposed filming and base camp locations, activities, and schedule. Fill out all of the fields.

Once you have completed the page, click Continue Application.

7. The third step of the application is to upload all required documentation. To upload a document, click the Add button.

Select the document from your computer and click Open. The file upload status must show 100%, as shown below, and you must fill-out the Type and Description fields. Once the information has been filled out, click Save.

Repeat the abovementioned process until you have uploaded all of the required documents. Once all of the required documents have been uploaded in Citizen Access, click Continue Application.

8. Next, you will see the confirmation page where you can review the information that you provided. If you need to revise any of the information, click the Edit button next to the appropriate section that needs to be revised.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Do NOT proceed beyond this Step until you are certain that no changes to information will occur, but no later than 5 working days in advance of the film start date. Prior to submitting, a temporary record will be created which allows for changes prior to the formal review. The temporary record can be retrieved and edited. For more information, see "How do I resume a saved online application that was never submitted?" in the General Information section.

In the event you need to make changes after the submitting the application, a revision application and fee will apply. For more information on the revision process, see "I need to make changes to my application or issued film permit. How do I make these changes to the Transportation Department?"

At the bottom of the review page, please review the County’s film permit authorization and check the box next to the text, "By checking this box, I agree to the above certification."

Once you have checked the box, click Continue Application.

You will see a confirmation that your record has been submitted to the Transportation Department and you will also receive your permit number:

After you submit an application in Citizen Access, a notification will be sent to staff that they need to review your information. Once they review the information, they will may send you an email requesting for more information. When the application is complete and ready for issuance you will be notified that you must pay the remaining additional permitting fees based on your filming activity.

After all fees have been paid, you will receive an email notification that staff has uploaded your film permit in the Attachments section of your record in Citizen Access. In the Attachments section, click on the name of the permit document to open it. It is required that the Location Manager keep a copy of the permit on-location and available for inspection upon request.

If you are having difficulty finding your record, please see the section above titled, "Where can I find the permit application that I submitted in Citizen Access?"

The Public Works Agency requires a minimum of 5 working days to review and process a film encroachment permit application after an application is submitted. All required information must be input correctly prior to application submittal. Acceptance of a permit application does not guarantee approval of the permit. Applications for full road closures will require a minimum of 10 working days for review and processing. Applications received with less than the minimum amount of review and processing time may not be approved.

DO NOT proceed further than Step 4 "Review" within Citizen Access if you anticipate changes. Please use "Save and Resume Later" to make changes until 5 working days before the Film Start Date. If "Save and resume later" is used, you may make as many changes as you would like at no charge up until 5 working days before the Film Start Date.

Submitted applications or Issued permits require a formal revision and incur a revision charge.

To make changes to a submitted application or issued Transportation Department film permit, please fill-out the form below. Staff will review your requested changes and follow-up with you via email.

NOTE: A non-refundable $170 Revision Fee shall be assessed for each submittal of this web form. This amount and the total fees due for the film permit must be paid prior to permit issuance or revised permit issuance. Each Revision Fee is in addition to the original Application Fee paid at submittal in Citizen Access.

Fill-out information below:

Permit Number:

Revision Information:

Describe the proposed changes in the filming information:

Change(s) to Road Name(s) and Limit(s): Change(s) to Base Camp Address and Common Name: Change(s) to Film Start Date/Time and/or Film End Date/Time: Changes to Description of Film Activities and Specialized Equipment: Other Changes:

For additional questions about the film permit requirements, process, contact information and fees, visit the Public Works Agency Transportation Department Film Encroachment Permit Website.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: By clicking Submit below, I agree that a non-refundable $155 Revision Fee shall be assessed for each submittal of this web form. This amount and the total fees due for the film permit must be paid prior to permit issuance or revised permit issuance. Each Revision Fee is in addition to the original Application Fee paid at submittal in Citizen Access.