Hosts, Be Aware ,
Film LAPD and FilmLA have put my location on high surveillance and severe restrictions were implemented on my cinematographic production activities inside my private residence, following baseless complaints from neighbor.
FilmLAPD is now counting the amount of reviews/booking on Peerspace and other websites to further justify their imposed restrictions.
The imposed sanctions have increased this year and recently culminated in exaggerated measures that to my knowledge have no reasonable cause nor justified reasons.
The situation is affecting and limiting my professional exercise field, causing me financial losses, invading my privacy and diminishing my standing with my industry contacts.
After many unsuccessful attempts to obtain concrete evidence or records from FilmLAPD and FilmLA , I have not yet received any reasonable and well founded explanation that justifies the imposed restrictions or whatsoever in this particular case.
Hosts, It has been very difficult and stressful to deal with the permitting issues. I’d be so grateful If any of you can provide me with a referral to an experienced attorney familiar with this issues. Please help me find one. I’m in need of an experienced legal negotiator in order to find remedy in this matter.
If you are experiencing similar problems with baseless complaints from neighbors and with FilmLA & FilmLAPD please contact me for advice to join and file together a petition to modify restrictions imposed on neighborhood/low impact productions inside private residences.
Alex 917.912.5401 IG SunsetHollywoodVilla
Have you checked your local zoning codes? In many areas it’s illegal to be doing business out of a private residence. You may very well be breaking the law if you aren’t careful. I recommend calling your local planning office to find out your zoning codes and see what your property restrictions are. Peerspace just assumes you have attained the rights to sublet your space, but many people don’t know they need to do this prior to signing up. LA productions are notorious for using AirBnB listings to illegally shoot where they aren’t supposed to, that’s why the city is cracking down on this illegal activity. Good luck!
I guess the first question is (sorry, it wasn’t clear from the post,) have your productions been securing FilmLA permits for productions at your location? Any commercial (and some non-commercial) production in LA County requires a permit via FilmLA (including proper insurance.) This is usually focused on film/video, but technically commercial photo productions and even things like YouTube videos with commercial intent require it as well. Different municipalities have varying requirements within the FilmLA umbrella, but it is required everywhere. If your productions aren’t getting permits, it’s not so much that you’re getting harassed, it’s that you actually are breaking the law.
If you are allowing regular shoots at your location (especially anything that is clearly commercial in nature, with grip trucks or crews over a dozen people) and not getting permits, then you’re eventually going to get caught. Neighbors complaining may speed up the process, but even still, they’ll likely find you eventually. If you want to continue, you’ll either need to require the productions get their permit, or you’ll need to go much more low key, and not host anything larger than a half dozen people or so and no grip trucks.
Thanks for your comments. I require always Film permits.
Issue now is all of a sudden the production frequency. Complaints now are that FilmLa is issuing too many permits and residence is running a business in a zoned residential area. Although I’m myself a professional involved in the industry, working from my own residence I’m being limited in my professional activities.