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Fire Spot Check Fee and Public Safety Reform / Waive Spot Check Fees / Keep Hollywood Home

Council File 25-1499

Approved — the City Council has cleared a package to trim red tape and costs for film productions, including waiving duplicate fire safety fees, cracking down on illegal "inconvenience payments" to residents, and standardizing police staffing for shoots. Implementation details are now in motion.

Introduced
2025-12-12
Last changed
2026-09-18
CFMS file status
File open See note on file status
Expires
2028-09-15
Mover
ADRIN NAZARIAN
Second
JOHN S. LEE
References
Council file Nos. 25-1508; 25-1498; 25-1500; 25-1501; 25-1502; 25-1503; 25-1509-S1; 25-1512; 26-0195; 26-0195-S1; 26-0195-S2

This is the City Clerk's status for the council file itself, not the outcome of the measure. A file often stays open after the Council has already adopted an item. The summary above reflects the latest recorded action.

Brief

Councilmember Adrin Nazarian moved to waive fire department spot check fees for film and television productions in Los Angeles and to create an Ad Hoc Committee on Film, Entertainment, and Creative Industry to support the sector. The motion passed through Economic Development and Jobs Committee and Budget and Finance Committee with amendments, and was adopted by full Council on September 18, 2026, by a vote of 15-0-0.

Full summary

Introduced by Councilmember Adrin Nazarian and seconded by Councilmember John S. Lee, this motion targets what the filing describes as a duplicative and costly public safety permitting process for on-location film production. The central grievance: the LAFD charges every production a mandatory $285 spot check fee, but productions are not guaranteed an actual fire inspector visit in return. At the same time, productions already required to employ a Fire Safety Officer on-site for high-risk work involving pyrotechnics or similar hazards are charged the fee regardless, effectively double-paying for fire safety oversight. The motion instructs the LAFD to waive the fee in both scenarios, and directs the LAFD and City Administrative Officer to report back within 60 days on the fiscal impact of doing so. The package addresses a second problem separately: the growing practice of residents demanding so-called inconvenience payments from film productions as a condition of not disrupting shoots. The filing notes that while such payments are not explicitly banned by the Municipal Code, they set a damaging precedent, and productions under deadline pressure routinely comply rather than risk delays. The adopted motion directs the Board of Public Works, with help from the LAPD and City Attorney and in consultation with FilmLA, to develop a community education plan making clear that inconvenience payments are not required for permitted filming and explaining how residents can report harassment or unlawful disruption. Updated language on FilmLA notices and the City's filming website is also required. On the law enforcement side, the LAPD is instructed to establish a standardized citywide staffing matrix for Motion Picture Officers to ensure consistent deployment across patrol divisions, and to report on eliminating unjustified staffing minimums. The LAPD is also asked to report on current firearm licensing procedures for Motion Picture Officers and how to ensure all officers remain current on those requirements. The file traveled through the Economic Development and Jobs Committee, which approved it as amended on February 17, 2026, and the Budget and Finance Committee, which concurred on March 3, 2026. The Ad Hoc Committee on Film, Entertainment, and Creative Industry reviewed it on September 9, 2026, and forwarded its amended recommendations to the full Council. A key last-minute amendment by Nazarian replaced an earlier recommendation that the City Attorney draft an ordinance to rename the spot check fee with a narrower directive: FilmLA itself is asked to propose a new name within 30 days for the committee's consideration. Community impact statements supporting the motion were filed by the Greater Wilshire, Los Feliz, and NoHo neighborhood councils. The full Council adopted the amended package unanimously 15-0 on September 18, 2026, subject to reconsideration under Council Rule 51.

Activity (13)

  • 2026-09-18 Council adopted Motion (Nazarian - McOsker) to move the Ad Hoc Committee on Film, Entertainment, and Creative Industry as amended by Amending Motion 12C (Nazarian - Padilla), subject to reconsideration, pursuant to Council Rule 51.
  • 2026-09-15 City Clerk scheduled item for Council on September 18, 2026.
  • 2026-09-09 Ad Hoc Committee on Film, Entertainment, and Creative Industry approved as amended .
  • 2026-09-08 Ad Hoc Committee on Film, Entertainment, and Creative Industry scheduled item for committee meeting on September 9, 2026.
  • 2026-07-07 Corrected Referral per Council to include Ad Hoc Committee on Film, Entertainment, and Creative Industry.
  • 2026-03-03 Budget and Finance Committee concurred with the Economic Development and Jobs Committee's action of February 17, 2026.
  • 2026-02-27 Budget and Finance Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on March 3, 2026.
  • 2026-02-20 Community Impact Statement submitted by Los Feliz Neighborhood Council.
  • 2026-02-17 Economic Development and Jobs Committee approved as amended .
  • 2026-02-17 Community Impact Statement submitted by NoHo Neighborhood Council.
  • 2026-02-13 Economic Development and Jobs Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on February 17, 2026.
  • 2026-02-12 Community Impact Statement submitted by Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council.
  • 2025-12-12 Motion referred to Budget and Finance Committee; Economic Development and Jobs Committee.

Documents (17)

Council votes (1)

  • 2026-09-18 Adopted — 15-0-0 · Regular

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