Film Permits Under COVID-19
CONDITIONS FOR FILM PERMITTING UNDER THE SAN FRANCISCO ORDER OF THE HEALTH OFFICER No. C10-07y
- COVID-19 RETURN TO WORK AGREEMENT AS OF JULY 19, 2021 WITH DGA, IATSE, SAG-AFTRA AND TEAMSTERS/BASIC CRAFTS
- Simple summary of Return to Work Agreement
- Productions are required to follow Cal/OSHA rules and regulations
- Productions must develop and implement a process for screening Personnel for COVID-19 symptoms. Productions should ask Personnel to evaluate their own symptoms before reporting to work. If Personnel have symptoms consistent with COVID-19, they should follow subsections 3.d and 3.e in the Order of the Health Officer.
- Productions are required to post signs in employee break rooms or other areas encouraging employees to get vaccinated and informing them how to obtain additional information. Sample signage is available online at https://sf.gov/resource/2021/covid-19-outreach-toolkit.
- Well-Fitted Masks are required under current federal law for people riding or waiting to ride on public transit, and for people at or near a public transit stop or station. **Everyone is required to follow the CDPH face covering guidance
- All Businesses and governmental entities with indoor operations are urged to review the Ventilation Guidelines and implement ventilation strategies for indoor operations as feasible.
The following are best practices to reduce COVID-19 transmission: Get vaccinated; Stay home if sick, and talk to your doctor; Wear a mask for added protection; Maximize fresh air; and Clean your hands.
REQUIREMENTS FOR FILM PERMITTING UNDER COVID-19:
1. We need 7 business days before your first shoot date for permit turnaround. If you are using a drone camera for filming, we may need additional days to work on your submission (be aware that the process will not begin until all required documentation has been submitted).
2. Submission of our updated permit application (bottom left corner of the document should say Use Agreement 08/20).
- Please download the permit, fill it out, save it and send it to us. DO NOT FLATTEN/PRINT/SCAN PERMIT APPLICATION PDF BEFORE SENDING TO FILM OFFICE, we need to receive the fillable format in order to work on your submission.
- DO NOT PRINT, SIGN AND EMAIL THE SIGNATURE PAGE, we will do all signatures at the end of the permitting process through DocuSign.
3. The film or media production must develop and implement a process that ensures that all cast, crew and personnel have completed a self-screening for COVID-19 symptoms before arriving on each day of the production. Any person who answers “yes” to a screening question must not be permitted to enter the location.
4. All other permit application requirements and guidelines still apply (insurance, parking production vehicles, etc.)
- Please use this updated film notice template with special wording regarding COVID-19 when you need to notify a neighborhood of your parking and/or filming activity.
FAQ FOR FILM PERMITTING UNDER COVID-19:
- FilmSF staff may conduct drop-in inspections of permitted productions.
- Please be respectful of the public and merchants and try to impact access to merchants as little as possible.
- Posted parking will be limited in order to facilitate merchants getting back to business, including curbside pick-ups by their customers.
RESOURCES:
Testing Resources: Please note that the below is not a comprehensive list of vendors
CDPH Testing Lab Vendor List
Mission Wellness Pharmacy
https://mydoctorsf.com/
San Francisco Department of Public Health website on COVID-19:
https://www.sfdph.org/dph/alerts/coronavirus.asp
The Toolkit section and the Coronavirus Facts section of the DPH site also includes signage in multiple languages which you can use to meet some of the notice requirements in the Safety Protocol. Additional Public Health information can be found at https://www.sfcdcp.org/infectious-diseases-a-to-z/coronavirus-2019-novel-coronavirus/
San Francisco Department of Human Resources is a valuable source of information to help respond to questions you may have regarding topics such as employee assistance programs, telecommuting, application of various leave policies, employee non-compliance with safety requirements, and other COVID-19 related personnel issues: https://sfdhr.org/covid-19
San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development has helpful resources for businesses and workers: https://oewd.org/resources-businesses-and-employees-impacted-covid-19
Other sites with relevant information:
- The Center for Disease Control’s site provides extensive guidance: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus
- CDPH COVID-19 main website: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Immunization/ncov2019.aspx
- Cal/OSHA COVID-19 General Industry Guidance: https://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/coronavirus/Health-Care-General-Industry.html
- List of EPA approved cleaning and disinfecting products: https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2-covid-19
- CDC Guidance on Proper Handwashing: https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/index.html
- CDC Guidance on Face Coverings: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/about-face-coverings.html
- CDC Guidance on Proper Glove Removal: https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/pdf/poster-how-to-remove-gloves.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0i5PeHnaG7yjcO99Guf6jL2vgbUtsGJz2cna-3gR2NKLsYLzdUFOWnYcY
Safety Considerations - Suggestions for production safety while filming in San Francisco