· 3 min read
What productions need before booking.
Before a location can be booked, the production needs four things in place: every performer 18 or older with valid photo ID, the producer keeping the records required by 18 U.S.C. 2257, general liability insurance with a certificate sent before the shoot, and any film permits the shoot requires.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Laws and permit rules change and depend on the shoot, so confirm your own obligations with your counsel or the permit office.
1. Performers 18 or older, with ID
Every performer must be 18 or older and hold valid government issued photo ID. This applies to every booking at every home we list. When you send a booking request, you confirm this along with the other production requirements and sign with your typed name.
2. Records under 18 U.S.C. 2257
Under federal law, 18 U.S.C. 2257, anyone who produces visual depictions of actual sexually explicit conduct must check each performer's age with an identification document, keep individually identifiable records for every performer, and include a statement saying where those records are kept. The detailed rules are in the regulations at 28 C.F.R. Part 75.
These duties belong to the producer. Adult Content Locations provides locations only: we do not hire, contract with, manage or arrange performers, we do not produce content, and we do not keep records for performers. Under our booking terms, the production must create and keep the records the law requires, we may ask for confirmation before or during a booking, and we may cancel if we cannot confirm it. Have your counsel review your records process before your first shoot.
Many productions also use signed model releases and consent forms for every performer. Ask your counsel which documents your production needs.
3. Insurance
The production must carry its own general liability insurance for the full booking and send us a certificate of insurance before the first shoot day. We may ask that the certificate name additional insureds. Permit offices commonly ask for proof of insurance as well, so it helps to have your broker ready to issue certificates quickly.
4. Film permits
The production is responsible for any film permits the shoot requires. FilmLA processes film permits for the City of Los Angeles, unincorporated Los Angeles County and several other cities. FilmLA says permits are required for commercial filming in most areas it serves, and calls it a myth that no permit is needed when a production is entirely on private property. A FilmLA permit is not effective until the permittee submits evidence of general liability insurance.
Adult productions have extra steps. In the City of Los Angeles, a film permit for an adult film may not be issued unless the producer provides proof of a Los Angeles County public health permit, and the County Department of Public Health runs that permit under Measure B, approved by county voters in 2012. Our Los Angeles adult production compliance guide explains each step with sources. Check with your counsel or the permit office before you book, and send us a copy of any permit before the first shoot day.
What we ask for, and when
| Item | When |
|---|---|
| Production company, contact details, dates and people on set | With your request |
| Confirmation of the production requirements, signed with your typed name | With your request |
| Payment and deposit, as set out in your approval | After approval, to hold the booking |
| Certificate of general liability insurance | Before the first shoot day |
| Copy of any film permit | Before the first shoot day |
| Confirmation of age and records compliance | On request, before or during the booking |
House rules that come with every booking
- Stay within the crew limit for the home, cast and crew together.
- Use only the dates, times, rooms and areas in your approval.
- No smoking and nothing illegal in the home or on the property.
- No scenes visible to neighbors or from the street without written approval.
- Report any damage right away and leave the home as you found it.
The full text is in our booking terms, and common questions are answered on the FAQ page.
Find a home for your shoot.