West Hollywood’s The Lot at Formosa has been a popular filming location for over a century. (photo courtesy of The Lot at Formosa)

The West Hollywood City Council unanimously approved a waiver pilot program for film and television production permits at its Dec. 1 meeting. West Hollywood is home to one of Los Angeles County’s most prominent studios, The Lot at Formosa on Santa Monica Boulevard. Additionally, the Sunset Strip and the Rainbow District have long been oft-shot filming locations.

“Cutting red tape makes it easier and faster for productions to film in West Hollywood, which keeps jobs local and supports the small businesses that rely on film activity,” Councilman John Erickson said following the meeting. “Filming is part of our city’s cultural identity, and when productions stay here instead of going elsewhere, our community, our workers and our local economy all benefit. We need to do all we can to ease the restrictions on filming in WeHo, and I would encourage other cities to do so as well.”

The program would not start until the 2027 budget cycle as the city explores the best way to implement it.

“It gives time for this to be something that the region moves on, which I also know is something that the county is interested [in],” Mayor Chelsea Byers said during the meeting. “What would it look like to really send a message that the county wide is open for filming, rather than just sort of the city-by-city moment. So, I’m looking forward to telling that story as a region moving forward through this this item. I’m also interested to see and watch as other cities explore their fee systems, all of the different sort of structural components that make filming a challenge, and to see what else we can learn as this time moves forward.”

The Lot, the location where Best Picture winners “The Best Years of Our Lives” and “West Side Story” were filmed, as well as hit series like “True Blood,” is the epicenter of the city’s production heartbeat. A recent item by the city also moved to protect The Lot, as well as other studio location, safe for the exclusive use of film and television production.

“Many of our residents work in the entertainment industry or in related jobs,” Vice Mayor John Heilman said after the meeting “We need to do everything possible to preserve the film industry in Southern California. Making it easier for filming to take place in West Hollywood helps residents who work in filming, but it also helps our hotels, restaurants and other businesses.”

Stay in LA, among other organizations, was key in bringing $750 million in California tax incentives, but has also been advocating for local municipalities to make filming easier.

“Cutting red tape makes it easier and faster for productions to choose West Hollywood,” Councilman Danny Hang said following the meeting. “If we make the process smooth, we stay competitive and keep those jobs, dollars and local business boosts right here in our city. And waiving administrative film permitting fees is also a great incentive to attract production work in West Hollywood. Filming in WeHo keeps our creative identity strong. We are the Creative City, and West Hollywood is definitely the place where stories are made.”

Councilwoman Lauren Meister had a further suggestion during the meeting to help continue streamlining the permit processes.

“I’ve heard that when there are separate streets being filmed, each street needs a permit, even though it’s the same project,” Meister said. “So maybe that’s something staff can look at.”

“This is not a problem that is just ours locally,” West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Genevieve Morrill said. “It’s a problem that is throughout the state of California, and the state has been trying to do their part, but it’s not enough. So, anything that we can do locally to help is really [appreciated].”