County to Double Permit Fees for Filmmakers

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to more than double permit fees charged to Hollywood filmmakers, despite concern from industry officials that the increase might drive them elsewhere.

County Chief Administrative Officer Richard Dixon recommended that the fees production companies pay to film in unincorporated areas and three independent cities be raised from $110 per day to $200, effective July 1.

The fees will increase to $220, plus an adjustment based on the consumer price index, in January, 1991, and will rise an additional $20 plus an index adjustment in January, 1992.

Dixon had initially proposed increasing the fees to $310 per day to offset the cost of running the county’s film permit office. But after film industry officials protested, the supervisors ordered county officials to negotiate with the industry.

Although Dixon said the fee increase approved by the supervisors was a compromise, several industry officials testified against the increase and expressed concern that it would drive filmmakers to cheaper jurisdictions.

Along with the increase, the board voted to transfer management of the film permit office from the county to the Economic Development Corp., a private nonprofit group.