Rules and Regulations

1.         Santa Monica Pier Filming/Still Photography Approval Form.  No person shall take still,    motion, video or sound pictures for commercial purposes on the Santa Monica Pier without a Santa Monica Pier Filming/Still Photography Approval Form approved by the Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation Operations Manager (310/458-8935).  The Santa Monica Pier Filming/Still Photography Approval Form shall be in writing and shall set forth any conditions pertaining to use as the SMPRC Operations Manager shall determine and the fee or charge to be paid for such use.  The approval form must be approved 48 hours prior to the filming date. 

2.         Weekend Activity.  Santa Monica Pier Filming/Still Photography Approval Forms are not issued for any filming/still photography activity on weekends. The weekend period begins on Friday, 5:00PM thru Monday, 6:00AM.  Exceptions to this rule may only be made by the SMPRC Operations Manager and/or Executive Director.

3.         Fees and Charges.  The fees and charges for use of the Santa Monica Pier for commercial filming and still photography shall be established by the Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation and shall be paid prior to the issuance of the Santa Monica Pier Filming/Still Photography Approval Form.  All fees must be paid 48 hours prior to the filming date.  The production/filming company is responsible for payment of all assigned officers, including Harbor Patrol, Police Offices and Fire Safety Officers.

4.         City Film Permits.  In addition to the Santa Monica Pier Filming/Still Photography Approval Form, appropriate film permits must be issued by the City of Santa Monica Permit Office {310/458-8737}.  Evidence of insurance and security deposit must be duly noted on the film permit and attached when necessary.

5.         Insurance. All party’s wishing to film and/or photograph on the Santa Monica Pier are required to provide a Certificate of General Liability Insurance in the minimum amount of $1 million. Insurance certificate holder shall read as follows and must be included as additional insured:

The Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation &

City of Santa Monica, and its Board,  officers,

Director, Staff, property owners and merchants

200 Santa Monica Pier, Suite. A

Santa Monica, CA 90401

6.         City Police, Fire Department and Harbor Patrol Personnel.  The City Permit Office will specify when Santa Monica Police and Fire Department officers are required on location.  The Santa Monica Pier Filming/Still Photography Approval Form will specify when a Harbor Patrol officer is required throughout the duration of the approved filming activity on the Santa Monica Pier.  All City Officers are not part of the actual filming company personnel.  Santa Monica Police, Harbor Patrol and Fire Department officers are on location to monitor public safety, enforce all City & Pier permits and provide traffic control.  SM Officers are not on location to serve as security guards for film companies.

7.         Weight Limits.  All Production companies must adhere to the weight limits of the Santa Monica Pier as determined by the City's Engineering Department.  Weight limit on the Municipal Pier, paved portion, is 10 tons (20,000lbs.).  Weight limit on the Pleasure Pier, wooden portion is 3 tons (6,000lbs.).

8.         Vehicle and Equipment Parking.  Production companies may not set up a parking base on the Santa Monica Pier parking lot.  All vehicle and equipment parking must be in one of the Beach parking lots and arrangements must be made in advance with Flavio Valadez, City of Santa Monica Transportation Parking Specialist, 310/458-8295.  Equipment may be shuttled on and off the Santa Monica Pier by vehicles, adhering to #7 Weight Limits and # 9 Vehicle Restrictions but those vehicles may not remain parked on the Pier.  Production company vehicles are not allowed on the Santa Monica Pier until the assigned Harbor Patrol officer is on site.  If the Harbor Patrol officer is not on site at the scheduled time, permission for vehicles to enter the Pier may be given by the Harbor Patrol Sergeant at 310/458-8695.

9.         Vehicle Restrictions.  No vehicles over 6,000lbs. and having pneumatic tires may drive on the Santa Monica Pier Parking lot.  All vehicles driving on the Santa Monica Pier must have all terrain air filled tires.  Vehicles over 6,000lbs include vans and pick-up trucks of the following make and model – Dodge: 2500 & 3500 series, Ford: F-250 & F-350 series, General Motors: 2500 & 3500 series.  Stake-bed trucks less than 20,000lbs. are permitted to drive on the Municipal Pier.  Cube trucks are not permitted on the Santa Monica Pier at anytime, unless driver has certification of the gross vehicle weight.  Vehicles over 22’ long are not permitted on the Pier at any time.  Certification must be from an authorized weight station and dated one (1) hour prior to Pier arrival.  Santa Monica Harbor Patrol officers are required on site at anytime film company vehicles are on the Santa Monica Pier

Cube trucks and stake-bed trucks driving on the Pier Ramp/Roadway, displaying a “California Highway Patrol” weight decal on the door over 20k lbs., MUST produce a weight certificate, prior to the entering the Pier.  This certificate must be issued no more than 60 minutes prior ro entering the Pier.  There are no exceptions to this rule.

The nearest weight station is located at the City of Santa Monica Maintenance Facilities, 2401 Delaware, Santa Monica, 90404, 310/829-7323.

10.       Santa Monica Harbor Patrol Officers.  Santa Monica Harbor Patrol officers are required to be hired by all production companies that anticipate having moving vehicles throughout the duration of the approved Santa Monica Pier Filming/Still Photography Approval Form.  Production companies coordinating any water related activities must obtain approval from the SM Harbor Patrol, 310/458-8695.

11.       Established Perimeter.  A perimeter must be established around all filming/still photography on the Santa Monica Pier to allow for pedestrian and emergency vehicle access.  Production companies may not impede or block access to areas of the Santa Monica Pier with out allowing reasonable public access for pedestrians and emergency vehicles.

12.       Compensation to Santa Monica Pier Tenants and Vendor Carts. Santa Monica Pier tenants and vendor carts must be compensated for loss of business if filming/still photography will take place within the confines of the tenants/vendors lease space or if filming/still photography will block patron access to the businesses.  Arrangements between production companies and Santa Monica Pier tenants/vendors must be made prior to the filming/still photography date.  Compensation is negotiated directly by the production company with the Santa Monica Pier tenants/vendors.  For a complete list of all Santa Monica Pier businesses please visit our website at santamonicapier.org.

13.       Santa Monica Pier Tenants:  Pacific Park and Playland Arcade.  The amusement park and arcade are two separate venues.   Pacific Park consists of the rides, games of skills and food court.  Arrangements to film/photograph within Pacific Park premises and/or use as background must be made through Kristin Wasiluk at 310/260-8744 ext. 258.  Playland Arcade consists of the coin operated video games and shooting gallery.  Arrangements to film/photograph within Playland Arcade premises must be made through Marlene Gordon at 310/451-5133.  For a complete list of all Santa Monica Pier businesses please visit our website at santamonicapier.org.

14.       Public Safety.  Activities that will endanger structure, buildings and/or public safety on the Santa Monica Pier are prohibited.  The SMPRC Operations Manager, Santa Monica Police, Santa Monica Fire Dept. and Santa Monica Harbor Patrol may shut down a production company at anytime if they feel it is endangering public safety.

15.       Litter or Debris.  Upon completion of filming/still photography, the Santa Monica Pier must be left free of litter or debris.  A custodial and trash receptacle fee will be deducted from the security deposit from production companies, who do not leave the Santa Monica Pier in the condition in which it was found. 

*The Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation Operations Manager, Santa Monica Police Dept., Santa Monica Fire Dept or Harbor Patrol may shut down a production  company at anytime they feel the conditions of the Santa Monica Pier Filming & Still Photography Guidelines and/or the Santa Monica Pier Filming/Still Photography Approval Form is not being conformed to.*