# Blue Cloud Ranch revises fees and adds Hillside Village set to boost local LA productions *The Santa Clarita-based ranch updates its pricing for the first time in seven years and unveils a new traditional hamlet set within its 250-acre, 30-Mile Zone property.* **Section:** Entertainment **Tags:** Entertainment, Industry, Blue-cloud-ranch, Santa-clarita, Film-production, Location-fees **Reading time:** 3 min Blue Cloud Movie Ranch announced a comprehensive overhaul of its location fees – the first revision in seven years – and introduced a brand-new Hillside Village set, according to a release on [Creative Handbook](https://www.creativehandbook.com/us/industry-news/blue-cloud-movie-ranch-releases-revised-rates-and-introduces-a-new-set). The ranch, which spans more than 250 acres inside Santa Clarita’s Movie Ranch Overlay Zone, now offers a two-tier pricing system that scales with crew size and the footprint of a production, a move the staff says is designed to keep filming in the Los Angeles area. The updated fee schedule lists a base 12-hour day rate of $1,000, which includes two 4-seat Kubotas and a 2-hole restroom, and adds city fees that typically range from $500 to $750 depending on the scope of the shoot. Overtime is charged at time-and-a-half for the first two extra hours and double time thereafter, while any required water-truck driver fee is billed directly to the production, as detailed on the ranch’s official [filming rates page](https://www.bluecloud.com/filming-rates). ## REVISED FEES · Revised fee structure aims to keep productions local The new two-tier model replaces the flat rates that had been in place for the past seven years. Under the revised system, smaller crews pay a lower per-day charge, while larger footprints – such as those needed for expansive action sequences or multi-location shoots – incur a higher tier fee. Blue Cloud’s management emphasized that the streamlined structure is intended to make the ranch more financially accessible for independent filmmakers and mid-budget series that operate within the 30-Mile Zone, thereby reducing the incentive to travel farther afield. Blue Cloud staff reiterated their commitment to the local industry, noting that the ranch’s mission is to help creators “dream any dream they can dream.” The inclusion of city fees in the quoted range reflects typical municipal costs for permits, traffic control, and public-service fees, while the overtime policy mirrors standard industry practice. By bundling essential equipment – two Kubota utility vehicles and a portable restroom – the ranch hopes to simplify budgeting for producers and encourage more projects to stay within the Los Angeles production ecosystem. ## At a Glance - **PROPERTY SIZE:** 250 acres - **LOCATION ZONES:** 30-Mile Zone and Santa Clarita Movie Ranch Overlay Zone - **NEW SET:** Hillside Village – traditional hamlet village - **BASE DAY RATE:** $1,000 for a 12-hour day (includes two 4-seat Kubotas and one 2-hole restroom) - **CITY FEE RANGE:** $500-$750 depending on production scope - **OVERTIME RATES:** Time-and-a-half for first 2 hours, then double time ## NEW SET · Hillside Village adds versatile backdrop to Santa Clarita The newly opened Hillside Village set is described as a “traditional hamlet village nestled in a picturesque valley, surrounded by rolling hills and natural scenery.” The set is part of the ranch’s broader portfolio of over 100 purpose-built locations, which already includes military compounds, international villages, hangars, caves, mountain outposts, and open-desert terrain, as highlighted on the [Santa Clarita Film Commission site](https://film.santaclarita.gov/2026/06/08/blue-cloud-ranch/). The 250-acre property sits squarely within both the 30-Mile Zone and the Movie Ranch Overlay Zone, offering productions a wide array of backdrops without leaving the core LA studio belt. Blue Cloud promotes a “streamlined permitting process” and a knowledgeable staff to assist with logistics, and the Hillside Village can be toured via an interactive map on the ranch’s website. While no additional images of the set are currently available, the description suggests a versatile environment suitable for period dramas, family comedies, or any story requiring a quaint, rural village feel. The addition of this set expands the ranch’s ability to stand in for locations around the world, reinforcing its reputation as one of Southern California’s most adaptable production destinations. ## Curator's Note Blue Cloud’s fee overhaul and the Hillside Village addition give LA-based filmmakers a cost-effective, high-quality alternative to out-of-state ranches. By aligning pricing with crew size and bundling essential equipment, the ranch lowers barriers for indie and mid-budget projects, helping retain talent and spend within the region’s creative economy while expanding the visual palette available to storytellers in Santa Clarita. --- Curated by VIBES News Desk · Published 2026-09-17 Source: https://www.curationsla.com/vibes/2026-09-17-blue-cloud-ranch-revises-fees-and-adds-hillside Cite as: CurationsLA, "Blue Cloud Ranch revises fees and adds Hillside Village set to boost local LA productions", https://www.curationsla.com/vibes/2026-09-17-blue-cloud-ranch-revises-fees-and-adds-hillside (published 2026-09-17). License: CC-BY-SA-4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Structured manifest: https://www.curationsla.com/vibes/2026-09-17-blue-cloud-ranch-revises-fees-and-adds-hillside/manifest.json