By Sanaa Fickes, Owner of XOHH Events
Apartment suite patio at XOHH Events in the Hollywood Hills, featuring a lion-head fountain surrounded by greenery, with production lighting and filming equipment set up for a shoot.
Production insurance is an important part of booking a Los Angeles filming location. Providing the correct documentation early helps protect the production, property, and everyone working on-site while preventing last-minute delays.
Here is what productions should know before filming at XOHH Events.
What Is a Certificate of Insurance?
A certificate of insurance, commonly called a COI, provides evidence that the production company carries active insurance coverage.
For filming at XOHH Events, the production must provide a certificate showing at least $2 million in liability coverage. The insurance must remain active throughout all approved preparation, filming, and breakdown dates.
Who Must Be Listed as an Additional Insured?
The production company remains the primary insured party. The certificate must identify the property address as the filming location and list the following as additional insureds:
Property address
Brad Fickes & Sanaa Fickes
The information must appear exactly as provided in the location agreement. XOHH currently requires a certificate of insurance and does not separately request an additional-insured endorsement.
Productions should give these requirements directly to their insurance broker to ensure the certificate is prepared correctly.
Must Every Crew Member and Vendor Be Listed?
Individual cast and crew members do not need to be named separately. The production company is responsible for confirming that its insurance and any required workers’ compensation coverage apply to its team and planned activities.
Independent vendors should carry appropriate coverage. XOHH may request separate documentation when a specialty contractor or higher-risk service is involved.
Are XOHH’s Requirements the Same as FilmLA’s?
No. The filming location and permitting authority have separate insurance requirements.
XOHH’s requirements protect the property and its owners. FilmLA and the City of Los Angeles have their own requirements connected to the film-permit process.
According to FilmLA’s film-permit guidance, proof of liability insurance is required before FilmLA can coordinate and release a film or still-photography permit. Requirements may change according to the jurisdiction, location, and planned activities.
Productions filming within the City of Los Angeles should also review FilmLA’s current City of Los Angeles filming requirements.
For more information, read our guide:
Do You Need a Film Permit to Film on Private Property in Los Angeles?
Do Specialty Activities Affect Insurance?
They may. Drones, animals, stunts, special effects, generators, prop weapons, heavy equipment, or other specialty activities must be disclosed before booking.
These activities may require additional insurance, permits, documentation, or approval. Productions planning aerial footage should review FilmLA’s current commercial drone filming requirements.
When Should Insurance Be Submitted?
Because some productions book only a few days before filming, the certificate of insurance should be submitted when the location agreement is signed.
At signing, the production must also submit:
The initial 50% venue payment
The refundable security deposit
The completed certificate of insurance
The remaining 50% is due one week before filming. For short-notice reservations made fewer than seven days before the shoot, all required documents and payments must be completed before property access, as stated in the agreement.
Is the Security Deposit Part of the Insurance?
No. The refundable security deposit and production insurance serve different purposes.
The security-deposit amount is provided in the location agreement. It is fully refunded within three days following the production, provided there is no property damage, excessive cleaning, overtime, or other outstanding charge.
XOHH Production Insurance Checklist
Before production access, confirm that XOHH has received:
The signed location agreement
The initial payment and security deposit
A certificate showing at least $2 million in liability coverage
Coverage for all scheduled production dates
The property address as the filming location
Brad Fickes and Sanaa Fickes as additional insureds
Information about specialty vendors or activities
Any applicable permits
Prepare Early for a Smoother Production
Insurance does not need to make a small production unnecessarily complicated. Providing complete information when booking gives the production and venue time to address questions before the crew arrives.
Every project is different. XOHH reviews insurance, access, equipment, parking, and logistical needs according to the size and scope of each production.
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This article provides general filming-location information and is not legal or insurance advice. Productions should confirm coverage with their insurance broker and verify current requirements with FilmLA or the applicable jurisdiction.