Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)/Drones

The Film Office must review and approve a film permit application for drone use based on your request. Please see below for requirements.

If the Film Office is able to approve drone filming, it would also most likely require 2 deputies for assignment, possibly additional depending on additional activity/impacts, and a contract with the LA County Sheriff’s.

Please contact Susana J. Hernandez at (213) 229-1672 or s4hernan@lasd.org to start a contract with the sheriff’s for deputy assignment.

If a production is not able to establish a contract based on LASD turnaround, or if one is not on file, we would not be able to permit drone activity.  

Please see below for more information about the general permitting process for drones. Please note updates or additional requests may also apply.

The Film Office requires the exact locations where the drone would be and each location would be an additional public property use fee. The locations would also need to be noticed in the days prior to filming by the production, with confirmation returned to the Film Office.

• Drone activity would involve an application fee of $1250 along with applicable Public Property use fees for the day, plus any additional applicable fees.
• Note each specific location production would like to have the drone and each location must be notified in the days prior to filming with confirmation returned.
• For the drone operator the Film Office requires a current Airman Certificate dated on or after April 6, 2021 OR proof of a passed recurring knowledge test dated on or after April 6, 2021. If needed, the FAA is providing a free online exam for those operators with older certificates at Part 107 Small UAS Recurrent (ALC-677) online training course.
• The FAA certified pilot must also register with the City’s Code Compliance Division separately from the film permit and return confirmation to the Film Office, this may be able to be done online and you can call (323) 848-6437 for more direction, or email code@weho.org: Drone Registration.
• The Film Office required insurance from the production company, as well as the drone company itself (both with additional endorsement sheets). Risk Management will review and we will follow up with any questions or updates needed.
• Please also send confirmation to the Film Office along with the application confirming the drone operator is an employee of the drone company.
• Please also submit a POA of the activity.

Please complete the application in full, in addition to the requirements above.

Please also send insurance, including additional endorsement sheet for both the production, and drone company, as below. Please be sure it reads as below prior to sending.

If the drone company has a different type of insurance that can also be submitted for review with the City named as the additional insured, as below, with full name and address included.

The description of operations box should read as below:

Certificate Holder is named as the additionally insured as their interests may appear.

Certificate Holder Box:

The City of West Hollywood, Its Officials and Representatives

8300 Santa Monica Blvd. 

West Hollywood, CA 90069

Additional Endorsement Sheet:

The City of West Hollywood, Its Officials and Representatives

8300 Santa Monica Blvd. 

West Hollywood, CA 90069