Film and Photo Production on Catalina Island

Thank you for considering Avalon and Catalina Island for your film or photo shoot project.

The island’s distinctive setting offers an especially memorable backdrop, along with logistical considerations unique to an island location. Film Catalina has created a Film and Photo Shoot Handbook to help production teams identify and contact the businesses and entities needed for a successful shoot. Film Catalina can also help with permit processing, answer questions, and connect you with local businesses that provide required products and services.

Resources and Tax Information

Catalina Island Landownership Map

Catalina Island Film & Photo Shoot Handbook

Updated 6-4-25.

California Production Incentive – Tax Credits

For information or assistance, contact Jim Luttjohann, Film Liaison/CEO, at 310-510-7643 or jim@lovecatalina.com.

City of Avalon Permits and Fees

Love Catalina facilitates permits for both the City and Catalina Island Conservancy. The City of Avalon requires a business license, a film permit location fee for use of streets, beaches, and piers, and permits for every vehicle brought into the City of Avalon. The City also requires $1,000,000 additionally-named liability insurance coverage. When aircraft are used, the required amount is $5,000,000 additionally-named insurance.

Effective July 1, 2026.

City of Avalon Film Permit

• $160 - Application Fee (non-refundable)
• $292/day – 10 or fewer employees at film location
• $390/day – Over 10 employees at film location

City of Avalon Business License

• $134.75 good for calendar year

Still Photography Permits

• $136 per day

Vehicle fees (one time fees)

• $38 per day OR $379 per month

Drone Questionnaire

A Drone Questionnaire is part of the permitting process.

Upon review of the permit application, conditions and/or additional fees may be assessed for fire, sheriff or other community impacts.

Catalina Island is 76 square miles in size, while the City of Avalon covers 2.7 square miles total. The rest of the island is owned and operated by the Catalina Island Company and/or the Catalina Island Conservancy. Each of the three organizations invoices location fees for use of its property separately, with payment due as specified on the applicable invoice.

Catalina Island Conservancy Permits and Fees

Catalina Island Conservancy Filming Permit Fees

(as of July 1, 2024)

Catalina Island Conservancy Film Permit

• $325 Application Fee (non-refundable)
• $1,500 per day - 10 or fewer employees at film location
• $2,500 per day - 11-20 employees at film location
• $5,000 per day - 21 and over employees at film location

Security Deposit

• $2,500

Ranger

• $100 per hour, plus travel time from Avalon, 4 hr minimum (billed after conclusion of filming)

Car and Driver

• $225 per day, up to 8 hours

Site Representative

• $85/hr plus travel time to Avalon, billed after filming

Processing Fee

• 4%

Drone Questionaire

A Drone Qurestionaire is part of the permitting process.

Initial Contacts

City of Avalon Filming Information

For commercial or news/documentary filming and still photo shoots:

Jim Luttjohann, CEO, Film Liaison
Love Catalina Island Tourism Authority
P.O. Box 217, Avalon, CA 90704
310-510-7643 fax 310-510-7607
Email: jim@lovecatalina.com

Catalina Island Conservancy Filming Information

For commercial shoots and news/documentary shoots:

Jim Luttjohann, CEO, Film Liaison
P.O. Box 217, Avalon, CA 90704
310-510-7643 fax 310-510-7607
Email: jim@lovecatalina.com

Catalina Island Company Filming Information

Rudy Alvarez, Director of Sales
Catalina Island Company
P.O. Box 737, 150 Metropole Ave, Avalon, CA 90704
310-510-7430
Email: ralvarez@scico.com

Affiliations and Film Heritage

Celebrate Film On Catalina Island

Avalon hosts the annual Catalina Film Festival each September. This Southern California film celebration features coastal screenings and events on Hollywood’s Island and online. Each year the Catalina Film Institute is recognized for selecting 100+ award-winning films.

The Catalina Museum for Art & History honors Catalina’s film tradition through the Avalon Silent Film Showcase. Recognized as one of the world’s longest running annual celebrations of Silent Film, the event is held in May at the historic Avalon Casino Theatre, William Wrigley Jr.’s 1929 Art Deco Movie Palace.

Movies Filmed On Catalina Island

Catalina Island has been the setting for more than 500 motion pictures, documentaries, television programs and commercials over the past 90…

Catalina Island’s Hollywood History

Catalina Island has a long and interesting history dating back to the Spanish Empire. Catalina Island was once owed by William Wrigley, Jr. of Wrigley Chewing…

History

Catalina Island has a long and interesting history dating back to the Spanish Empire. Catalina Island was once owed by William Wrigley, Jr. of Wrigley Chewing…