Film Locations Glossary
Night filming permit
What is a night filming permit?
Also called after-hours permit, or night permit.
A night filming permit is the authorization to work at a location outside normal daytime hours, usually with tighter conditions on noise, lighting, generator placement, and vehicle movements.
Many jurisdictions require additional neighbor consent for night work, sometimes a signed majority of affected residents. Because that consent takes time to gather, night exteriors are scouted and applied for earlier than day work.
Example
A 7pm to 5am exterior needs the night permit, a noise variance, and in many cities the signed consent of a majority of affected residents. The survey takes a week to gather, so the night is scheduled around the paperwork.
Figures are illustrative, chosen to show the mechanics rather than to quote market rates.
Where you'll see it
Applied for earlier than day work, because the consent requirement sets the earliest possible date.
Common mistake
Applying for night work on the same timeline as day work. The resident consent that night permits often require takes days to gather and cannot be compressed.
Related questions
- What is different about a night filming permit?
- Tighter conditions on noise, lighting, generators, and vehicle movements, and in many jurisdictions a requirement for signed consent from affected residents.
- Why are night exteriors scheduled so early in prep?
- Because the consent survey and the noise variance both have lead times, and together they set the earliest date the night can actually happen.