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Filming in Mariposa County

No permit required for most productions on private land or public areas.

When no permit is required

  • • Filming on private property with owner permission
  • • Public areas without road closures, public-property encroachment, or large gatherings
  • • Small crews, hand-carried equipment, no exclusive site use

When a permit IS required

  • • Road closures for production use
  • • Encroachment onto public property
  • • Large gatherings affecting public use
  • • Activities requiring law enforcement or fire coordination

For these cases, the Film Commission coordinates directly with Mariposa County and the relevant agencies on your behalf.

State-level considerations

  • • CA State Highways / Caltrans: separate permit required (12+ business days advance)
  • • California State Parks nearby: separate process
  • • California Film Commission (film.ca.gov) coordinates state-property permits

What we provide

  • • Location scouting across Mariposa County: Yosemite Valley, Merced River, Hornitos, Mariposa downtown, Stockton Creek Preserve, and more (see /locations)
  • • Introductions to ranches, historic sites, and private landowners
  • • County agency liaison for permit-requiring activities
  • • Vendor coordination (lodging, catering, equipment, crew) via local network
  • • Base camp logistics in Mariposa for Yosemite-bound productions (significantly lower cost than in-park staging)

Key contacts

Yosemite Mariposa Film Commission
4996 7th Street, Mariposa, CA 95338
film@filmcom.ai | (209) 200-4140
Mariposa County government (road/encroachment questions)
info@mariposacounty.org | (209) 966-3222