City Will Be Ready in Case Hollywood Gives It a Shot

When Hollywood comes knocking at the city’s door, Garden Grove officials will be prepared with a new film permit ordinance that applies to production companies hoping to use the city as a backdrop for TV shows, commercials and movies.

That the city has not had a feature film shot within its borders in recent memory is irrelevant, City Council members said this week before approving a fee of $250 a day.

Officials were alerted to Garden Grove’s lack of a standard film permit by the Orange County Film Commission, which issued a report showing that the city was one of only a few without a clearly defined policy.

Up to now, companies filming in Garden Grove had to take out a community event permit and get a city business license for $75.

Even at $250, Garden Grove’s fees are below those of many other Orange County cities, and most of those are less expensive than many desirable Los Angeles County locations. Laguna Hills charges $450 a day, and Seal Beach, where the new soap opera Sunset Beach is filmed, charges $600.

City Manager George Tindall said Garden Grove has no plan to market itself to the film industry, but the county’s film commission makes ongoing efforts to promote local cities, so Garden Grove stands to benefit.