Film permit: Meaning in Film Production

Film permit

Definition

A film permit is official permission from a local government or its film office to film at a specific place on specific dates. It spells out what the production may do: hours, equipment, parking, street or lane closures, special effects, and police or fire staffing. Getting one usually means an application, fees, a certificate of insurance, and several business days of lead time.

What a permit actually allows

A permit is specific. A typical Los Angeles permit for the diner shoot lists the address, dates, the hours of activity, the number of trucks and where they park, whether the production may use the sidewalk for equipment, and any conditions such as "no filming on the street after 10 PM" or "fire safety officer required for rain effects near power." Anything not on the permit isn't allowed. If the 1st AD decides at 4 PM to add a shot in the street, the permit has to be amended first, and some offices can't do that the same day.

FilmLA says a physical copy of the permit has to be on location during filming, so the location manager keeps one on set.

Two cities side by side

	City of Los Angeles (via FilmLA)	New York City (MOME)
Who issues	FilmLA, a nonprofit that coordinates permits for the City and County of LA and other jurisdictions	Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment
Lead time	Minimum three full business days before the first activity date	Plan ahead; fee waiver reviews take up to 3 business days
Insurance	$1,000,000 liability for filming, City of LA and FilmLA as additional insured	Required for permitted productions
Fee	Application fee plus per-service charges on FilmLA's schedule	$500 per consecutive 14-day period

Sources: FilmLA City of Los Angeles requirements and NYC MOME. Both change, so check before each shoot. The Los Angeles and New York City permit guides go deeper.

The steps, in order

Lock the location and get the owner's location release if it's private property.
Ask the broker for a certificate of insurance naming whoever the permit office requires.
Submit the application with the site plan: where trucks, base camp, and equipment go.
Pay fees and book any required police, fire safety officers, or monitors.
Receive the permit, then handle neighborhood notification and parking postings as the office directs.
Put the permit number and any conditions on the call sheet.

Mistakes that shut shoots down

Permits that don't match what's happening on the day cause the most trouble: more trucks than permitted, filming past permitted hours, or effects not listed. The next problem is timing, with insurance certificates arriving after the deadline. Some productions skip the permit on small shoots; the risks are covered in filming in public without a permit. Outside LA and NYC, start with the local film commission, which can tell you who issues permits for a given address.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to film in public?

It depends on the city and on what you bring. New York City, for example, requires a permit when you use equipment beyond a handheld camera and tripod, need parking for production vehicles, or use prop weapons or stunts. A few people with a phone on a sidewalk often fall outside permit rules, but check the local film office.

How much does a film permit cost?

It varies widely. New York City charges $500 per consecutive 14-day period for a permit. In Los Angeles, FilmLA publishes a fee schedule with an application fee plus charges for notification, monitors, and fire safety officers. Check the current fee page before budgeting.

How far ahead should I apply?

At least the minimum the office requires, and earlier for anything complex. FilmLA requires three full business days for City of Los Angeles location permits, and street closures or effects can take much longer.

Does a film permit replace a location release?

No. The permit comes from the government. A private property owner's permission comes from a location release or agreement. Filming inside a private building with trucks parked on the street often needs both.