Who Decides Walk of Fame Stars: What the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Really Does in Los Angeles

Maybe you called City Hall about a cracked terrazzo star or you’re a small business on Sunset wondering who organizes ribbon cuttings. In Hollywood, a lot of the high‑profile questions people ask the City are actually handled by a private nonprofit located in the neighborhood. Here is the practical, street‑level version of what the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce does, what it does not do, and exactly who to contact for the everyday situations residents, visitors, and businesses run into around Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street.

So who approves Walk of Fame stars, and what are the costs?

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce runs the nomination and selection process for the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Each spring there is a defined window for submissions. For the Class of 2027 cycle, the Chamber accepted online nominations from April 1 to May 15, 2026, and charged a $275 application fee per nomination. A selection committee reviews all submissions in June, and approximately 24 to 30 names are chosen for the following year’s installations after a Board vote by the Chamber and a final City review step through the Board of Public Works.

If a nominee is selected and agrees to the honor, a separate sponsorship payment is required to fund the star itself and long‑term maintenance of the landmark. For the 2026 cycle, the published installation cost was $85,000, paid to the Hollywood Historic Trust. That cost covers the casting and installation of the terrazzo star, production of the public ceremony, and continuing upkeep of the Walk of Fame. The fee is assessed to the sponsor, which is often a studio, label, network, or fan organization rather than the honoree.

Attending a Walk of Fame star ceremony is free. There are no tickets and no admission fees; members of the public line up near the designated location on Hollywood Boulevard or Vine Street. If you are planning to watch a ceremony at Ovation Hollywood, the retail complex at 6801 Hollywood Blvd., center hours run 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sunday–Thursday and 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Friday–Saturday. The on‑site security line is (323) 468‑2270 for non‑emergencies during your visit. If you need parking and will also visit JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles inside the center, that venue offers a $3 validation for up to 4 hours in the LADOT garage when you visit its exhibitions or shop.

One more process detail that trips people up: although ceremonies happen on City sidewalks, the Chamber’s selection decisions are its own. The City’s role is administrative and engineering‑related for the street work itself, including the public‑works permit for the cut, pour, and placement. There is a designated contractor authorized by the Hollywood Historic Trust for that installation work, which proceeds after the City’s permits are in hand.

Where does licensing for the Hollywood Sign and Walk of Fame imagery live?

Separate from the Walk of Fame selection process, the Chamber manages trademark licensing connected to two of Los Angeles’ most recognizable icons: the Hollywood Sign and the Hollywood Walk of Fame star design. If you want to use either image for commercial purposes such as advertising, product packaging, or branded merchandise, the Chamber is the rights holder you contact to request permission and pay the applicable licensing fee.

Licensing is project‑specific. A national ad campaign, a limited‑run apparel line, and a feature film promotional poster are very different uses and are priced accordingly. The Chamber maintains a licensing desk to evaluate requests and issue approvals when they meet brand and use standards. The point here is practical: if a commercial creative includes the Sign or the official star mark, budget time and money for a Chamber license rather than assuming generic “stock photo” rules apply.

The Chamber’s trademark program exists alongside separate organizations involved with upkeep of the physical places themselves. The City of Los Angeles owns the land under the Hollywood Sign and manages access through its departments, while the Hollywood Sign Trust stewards the structure. On the Walk of Fame, the Hollywood Historic Trust handles day‑to‑day maintenance and the installation contractor. The Chamber’s bylaws tie these efforts together by appointing trustees to both trusts, creating a throughline from licensing and ceremonies to preservation work.

What does the Chamber actually offer local businesses?

For business owners, the Chamber functions like a neighborhood‑focused professional association. Its office at 6255 W Sunset Blvd., Suite 150, Hollywood, CA 90028 keeps 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The main line is (323) 469‑8311. Staff organize issue‑based committees, host mixers and briefings, and publish district development maps so members can plan hiring, leasing, and marketing around what is actually being built in Hollywood.

Membership is tiered, and the application spells out current dues. Entry‑level Business Partner membership is listed at $520 per year with a $50 one‑time processing fee. Higher tiers include Community Partner at $940, Community Leader at $1,800, and Community Investor at $5,000, each adding benefits such as visibility in the online directory, committee eligibility, or event discounts. If you are deciding whether to join for a year, those are fixed dues you can budget for rather than a fluctuating “market rate.”

Programming is steady and very local. Recent “signature events” have included a State of the State luncheon and an Economic Development Summit centered on Hollywood projects and employers. The Chamber also operates the Hollywood Community Foundation, which since the early 1990s has made more than $1 million in grants to neighborhood nonprofits and recognizes dozens of civic leaders annually at its Heroes of Hollywood program. That funding track is relevant if your organization runs youth arts, public‑space, or small‑business training initiatives in the Hollywood area.

One confusing boundary worth underscoring: the Chamber is not the City’s permitting office. It does not issue business tax registrations, building permits, or film permits. Where the organization is strong is convening public safety briefings with LAPD Hollywood Division, answering “who at City Hall handles this” questions for members, and advocating on legislation through a standing legislative action committee. If your problem is a missing stop sign, you will still need to go through the City’s service request and transportation channels; the Chamber can help you navigate, but it is not the authorizing agency.

Who do I call for cleaning, safety, filming, or Walk of Fame issues on Hollywood Boulevard?

Many day‑to‑day concerns fall outside the Chamber and are handled by other local partners. Use this side‑by‑side to reach the right desk the first time.

Use this list to separate headline attractions from street operations. The Chamber manages the Walk of Fame program and the intellectual property around it. The Hollywood Partnership’s crews are the ones sweeping, power‑washing, and offering safety escorts. City departments control permits and traffic. FilmLA coordinates any filming that affects the public right of way.

Why the Chamber gets confused with City Hall and the BID

The organizations share geography and touchpoints, which is why the wires cross so often. The Chamber created the Walk of Fame in partnership with the City and has administered selections for decades. It also appoints trustees to the Hollywood Historic Trust and the Hollywood Sign Trust, giving it a formal role in how those icons are stewarded. At the same time, the neighborhood’s day‑to‑day cleanliness and hospitality services are delivered by The Hollywood Partnership, a business improvement district that is funded by assessments on commercial properties rather than City general funds or Chamber dues.

From a resident’s standpoint, the result is three different phone numbers for three different needs. Call the Chamber at (323) 469‑8311 during 9 a.m.–5 p.m. office hours for anything about nominating a star, ceremony logistics, or licensing the Walk of Fame star design or Hollywood Sign image for commercial purposes. Call the Partnership’s 24/7 dispatch at 567‑HLY‑WOOD to request a pressure wash, a hospitality escort for a visitor, or a cleaning crew to address a tagged utility box. Call FilmLA at (213) 977‑8600 if your project needs a permit to film in the street or on City property. You will save yourself a loop of referrals if you route to the right desk first.

Key things the Chamber does, with specifics you can use

When constituents ask what the Chamber “actually does,” these are the repeat answers we give, with real‑world details rather than generalities:

• Runs the Walk of Fame nomination portal and committee. In 2026 the window was April 1 to May 15 with a $275 application fee; the June committee typically selects 24–30 honorees for installation the following year.
• Coordinates ceremonies. Public attendance is free, with no tickets. Locations are announced in advance so businesses can plan for foot traffic.
• Manages trademark licensing for the Hollywood Sign and the Walk of Fame star design. Budget for a license if you are planning advertising, products, or other commercial uses that feature those marks.
• Operates as a membership organization for Hollywood employers and entrepreneurs. Current posted dues include $520 for the Business Partner tier, a $50 one‑time processing fee, and higher tiers at $940, $1,800, and $5,000.
• Maintains a physical office at 6255 W Sunset Blvd., Suite 150 with 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday–Friday hours and a published main line of (323) 469‑8311.
• Supports local nonprofits through the Hollywood Community Foundation. Over $1 million in grants have supported neighborhood programs since the early 1990s.

Reader Q&A

Can I attend a Walk of Fame ceremony without a ticket?

Yes. Walk of Fame star ceremonies are public events with no tickets and no admission cost. Plan to arrive early at the posted location on Hollywood Boulevard or Vine Street, and expect crowd control barriers and media platforms because the ceremonies are televised and recorded. That free access is distinct from the sponsorship fee a honoree’s backer pays for the star’s creation, installation, and maintenance.

What does it really cost to get a star on the Walk of Fame?

Submitting a nomination online carries a $275 application fee during the spring window. If the committee selects the nominee and the honoree agrees, the sponsor pays $85,000 to the Hollywood Historic Trust for the star’s fabrication, ceremony production, and long‑term upkeep of the Walk of Fame. Those are separate from any City permit charges related to the sidewalk work, which are handled through public‑works processes.

Who fixes a damaged or vandalized star: the City or the Chamber?

Report it through the Chamber’s Walk of Fame channels. Although the star sits in the City right of way, the Walk of Fame’s maintenance is funded through the sponsorship system and managed with the Hollywood Historic Trust. City crews do not repair the terrazzo star surface itself. The City’s role is to permit the sidewalk work.

Is the Chamber the place to call for street cleaning or a safety escort near Hollywood and Highland?

No. Street‑level clean and safe services are provided by The Hollywood Partnership, the area’s business improvement district. Its 24/7 dispatch number is 567‑HLY‑WOOD, and requests are free to the public because the program is funded by district assessments. The Chamber can help you find the right place to send an issue, but it does not dispatch crews.

Quick takeaways

• Walk of Fame submissions are centralized with the Chamber, with a $275 application and a spring deadline. If selected, the $85,000 sponsorship covers the star and long‑term maintenance.
• Public ceremonies are free. If you are watching at Ovation Hollywood, plan around center hours of 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Sun–Thu and 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Fri–Sat; JAPAN HOUSE offers a $3 parking validation for up to four hours when you visit.
• Licensing for commercial uses of the Hollywood Sign image and the Walk of Fame star design runs through the Chamber. Fees vary by project.
• For cleaning, hospitality, or a safety escort in the district, use The Hollywood Partnership’s 24/7 dispatch at 567‑HLY‑WOOD. It is not a City service and not handled by the Chamber.
• Businesses weighing membership can budget published dues: $520 entry tier plus a $50 processing fee, with higher‑tier options at $940, $1,800, and $5,000.
• Film on public property runs through FilmLA at (213) 977‑8600, not the Chamber. Expect insurance requirements and jurisdiction‑specific fees.

If you need one sentence to decide who to contact, use this: call the Chamber for stars and licensing, call the Hollywood Partnership for clean and safe, and call FilmLA or a City department for permits and street closures.

Published: September 10, 2026 · Reviewed by the Holywood editorial team