LA Mayor Slashes Filming Fees to Boost Hollywood

Bass announces 70% drop in daily filming costs at Griffith Observatory and reopens LA Central Library to production crews

Mar. 12, 2026 at 11:52pm

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In a bid to stop Hollywood production from leaving Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass has announced a 70% drop in daily filming fees at the iconic Griffith Observatory, from $100,000 to $30,000. Bass also revealed that the Los Angeles Central Library, closed to film crews for over a decade, is reopening its doors to productions. The moves are part of the mayor's broader "Executive Directive 11" aimed at revitalizing the battered entertainment industry and creating more union jobs in the region.

Why it matters

Los Angeles has long been considered the entertainment capital of the world, but in recent years, high costs and red tape have driven more film and TV production to other states and countries offering better incentives. This policy shift by Mayor Bass is an attempt to stem that tide and keep the industry, and its well-paying union jobs, in LA.

The details

The new filming fee structure effectively rolls back costs at the Griffith Observatory to 2008 levels, a move aimed at making the iconic location more affordable for productions. In addition to the Observatory, the LA Central Library, closed to film crews for over a decade, is also reopening to productions. The city is also speeding up permit review times at the Port of Los Angeles and instructing the LAPD to require fewer expensive police details on some shoots.

  • On March 5, 2026, Mayor Karen Bass announced the new filming fee reductions and the reopening of the LA Central Library to productions.
  • The new $30,000 daily filming fee at the Griffith Observatory represents a 70% drop from the previous $100,000 fee.

The players

Karen Bass

The Mayor of Los Angeles who announced the new filming fee reductions and reopening of the LA Central Library to productions as part of her broader effort to revitalize the entertainment industry in the city.

Adrin Nazarian

A Los Angeles City Council member who said the new policies send a message that LA is welcoming filmmakers from around the world to come tell their stories in the city.

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What they’re saying

“Working hand-in-hand with the industry, today we are making filming easier and more affordable in Los Angeles – the entertainment capital of the world.”

— Karen Bass, Mayor of Los Angeles (nypost.com)

“Making locations like Griffith Observatory and our beautiful Central Library available for filming sends a message, not just to the L.A. film community but to filmmakers around the world. We're extending an invitation. Come to L.A. We've got stories to tell and fantastic locations like this to film them in.”

— Adrin Nazarian, Los Angeles City Council member (nypost.com)

What’s next

The city will continue to monitor the impact of the new filming fee reductions and work to further streamline the permitting process in order to attract more productions to Los Angeles.

The takeaway

Mayor Bass's moves to slash filming fees and reopen iconic LA locations to productions are a clear attempt to stem the tide of Hollywood production leaving the city in recent years. By making it more affordable and easier to film in LA, the mayor hopes to keep the entertainment industry, and its well-paying union jobs, firmly rooted in the entertainment capital of the world.