Location, location, location: FilmL.A. Inc. reports encouraging news that on-location filming in Greater Los Angeles increased 6 percent in 2016, making last year “the busiest year in recent memory” for local filming, with nearly 40,000 days of shooting in area locations.

According to the report released today by the region’s nonprofit film office, a surge in production between October and December of 2015 helped take filming to record levels. During those months, on location filming increased by 5 percent.

The report attributes much of the late-year increase to a surge in feature film production using L.A. locations, which increased 23 percent in the fourth quarter of 2016, to 1,322 shoot days. By the end of the year, the feature category had grown 12 percent, to 4,865 shoot days, the strongest year for feature film production in Los Angeles since California introduced its film and television tax credit program in 2009.

“It’s gratifying to see feature film work and related jobs returning to Los Angeles,” said FilmL.A. President Paul Audley in a statement.

Reporter Diane Haithman can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @dhaithman for the latest in L.A. business news.