Film Locations Glossary
Film permit
What is a film permit?
Also called filming permit, or location permit.
A film permit is the authorization from a local authority to film at a specific place, on specific dates, under specific conditions.
It typically requires proof of insurance, a site plan, a description of activity, evidence of neighborhood notification, and a fee, and it commonly arrives with conditions on hours, parking, noise, and traffic. Filming without one where it is required risks a shutdown rather than a fine.
Example
A two-day exterior application carries the site plan, insurance certificate, activity description, evidence of neighbor notification, and a fee. It comes back approved with conditions: no work before 7am, generators at the north end, and a fire safety officer for the smoke effect.
Figures are illustrative, chosen to show the mechanics rather than to quote market rates.
Where you'll see it
Applied for by the locations department, with lead times set by the jurisdiction, not the schedule.
Common mistake
Applying on the production's timeline rather than the jurisdiction's. Lead times, notice periods, and consent surveys are fixed, and the earliest possible shoot date is set by the slowest of them.
Related questions
- What do you need to apply for a film permit?
- A site plan, proof of insurance, a description of the activity, evidence of neighborhood notification where required, and the fee.
- What happens if you film without a permit?
- A shutdown rather than a fine, in most jurisdictions, plus the loss of the location and damage to the production's standing with that authority.