Malibou Lake, California
producing at malibou lake
A private lake in the Santa Monica Mountains, minutes from the city — and a few things worth knowing before your shoot day.
the site-rep requirement
The governing body of the lake, the Malibou Lake Mountain Club, requires a site rep from the club to be present at all production shoots, regardless of size. The fee is $500 per day, paid directly to the club — it is not part of what you pay us, and we never collect it. We show it as an informational line in every estimate so you can plan for it.
The club needs at least 48 hours to arrange the site rep, so build that into your schedule. This is a lake-wide rule: if you see a listing at Malibou Lake that doesn't mention it, you'll still owe it, separately, before production.
permits
Most productions filming in this area fall under Los Angeles County / local jurisdiction permitting. Requirements vary by the size of your production, equipment, and whether you're working on private property versus common areas of the lake. We can point you to the right permit office when you inquire.
getting there
Malibou Lake sits in Agoura Hills, roughly 45 minutes from downtown Los Angeles and close to the Valley studios — near enough for cast and crew convenience, secluded enough that even your sound person will appreciate the quiet. There's room nearby for base camp and truck/Sprinter parking; each listing notes its own parking.
seasons & light
The lake reads differently through the year — golden-hour reflections off the water, blue-hour calm, and long summer evenings for balloon-light night shoots. When you inquire, tell us what you're after and we'll talk through timing.