Lights, Camera, Incentives: Culver City Just Approved Free Parking and Fee Cuts To Bring Movie Shoots Back Home

Lights, cameras, action! Culver City is making a bold move to keep cameras rolling locally. The city has officially taken a big step to keep film and TV productions local. At a City Council meeting on Monday, November 10, councilmembers unanimously approved a suite of changes designed to make filming in Culver City easier, more affordable, and more appealing for productions of all sizes. The new policies introduce temporary financial incentives on film permit fees, expand parking options for production crews, and extend long-standing tax relief for itinerant film and television producers. It’s all with the goal of attracting more on-location filming to the city. What changes are coming for film productions in Culver City? ------------------------------------------------------------ The approved actions include several production-friendly updates that mirror industry calls to reduce costs and streamline logistics: * Temporary financial incentives on film permit fees to draw more production activity to Culver City * A $500,000 annual cap on incentives during each 12-month period to ensure fiscal responsibility * Free production parking (as available) at Veterans Memorial Park, the Culver City Senior Center, and Downtown Culver City parking structures * A film location familiarization tour , developed in partnership with FilmLA, highlighting iconic Culver City filming locations and assets * A film-specific local business directory to help productions easily connect with Culver City vendors and service providers * A public awareness campaign to spotlight Culver City’s film-friendly programs and incentives * A 10-year extension of the suspension of business tax collection for itinerant motion picture and television producers * Direction to the City Manager to implement the program and report back following the pilot period All of these changes officially took effect on December 1, 2025. Why does this matter? --------------------- Culver City has a long history as a production hub, but like much of Los Angeles County, it has felt the [impact of productions leaving California](https://secretlosangeles.com/los-angeles-rolls-out-new-initiative-to-boost-local-filmmaking/) for other states and countries offering aggressive incentives. The data reflects that slowdown. During the Fiscal Year 2023–2024, Culver City issued 126 FilmLA permits, generating $174,800 in revenue. In the Fiscal Year 2024–2025, permits dropped to 108, with $147,900 collected. City leaders hope that lowering barriers to filming will reverse that trend and bring more crews and more economic activity back to the city. Why keeping production local matters ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Film and television production doesn’t just benefit studios. It fuels the entire local ecosystem. Crews support nearby restaurants, coffee shops, hotels, equipment vendors, small businesses, and thousands of behind-the-scenes workers who depend on consistent local work. By investing in incentives now, Culver City is betting on long-term economic stability, creative growth, and keeping good-paying entertainment jobs close to home. For filmmakers, producers, and crews looking to shoot locally, Culver City is sending a clear message: the city is open for business and ready for its close-up. Source: https://secretlosangeles.com/culver-city-incentivizes-film-production/