NYC film permits

Do you need a permit?

MOME says you need a film permit if your production uses an equipment package, asks for parking privileges for production vehicles, wants exclusive use of City property, or involves prop weapons, prop vehicles, actors in police uniform, stunts, or help from the NYPD or FDNY.

You generally do not need one if you film with a handheld camera, a camera on a tripod or handheld items, and you are not claiming exclusive use of City property. Casual photographers, tourists and credentialed media are also exempt.

Inside a private location, like the lofts on this site, the city permit is not the issue. The building's permission and your COI are. The permit comes in once you put equipment, cable or vehicles on the sidewalk or street, or shoot exteriors with more than a handheld setup.

What it costs

The fee is $500 for each consecutive 14-day period of your project, or any part of one. It is non-refundable. A four-day shoot is one period. A six-week project is four periods, or $2,000. Fee waivers exist, and MOME says a waiver review can take up to three business days.

Timing

• Your broker should send proof of insurance at least 48 business hours before you submit an application for a new project.
• MOME usually reviews and processes permit requests 72 to 48 business hours before the shoot day.
• Times Square shoots: submit seven business days ahead.
• You cannot change project start and end dates after you submit, so include rigging, de-rigging and rain dates from the start.

Insurance MOME asks for

Commercial general liability of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence, in the name of the entity requesting the permit. You may also need to show workers' compensation and disability and paid family leave coverage. The certificate names The City of New York, including its officials and employees, as additional insured. See our COI guide for the exact wording.

How to apply

1. Get insurance on file with MOME through your broker.
2. Apply through the city's online film permit system at nyceventpermits.nyc.gov/film. Multi-day shoots need a separate permit for each shooting day under the same project account.
3. List every vehicle in the vehicle tab on your first permit request. MOME removes parking requests that have no vehicles listed.
4. Enter each location in shooting order. Shooting times between locations cannot overlap by more than two hours.
5. Write scene descriptions for every exterior, including props, extras, weapons and animals. Scenes with weapons, fights or crime scenes are covered by the NYPD Movie and TV Unit.
6. Tell the neighbors. MOME provides a sample resident letter and links to community board and council district lookups.

Parks, drones and other property

For a City park, get the Parks Department's permission before you submit the film permit application. State and federal parks, MTA property and Port Authority property have their own permit processes. Drone take-off and landing permits are reviewed separately by the NYPD with the Department of Transportation.