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Towns and municipalities in “The Zone” are more likely to have formal permit requirements and there may be fees involved. Towns and municipalities outside “The zone” may have permit requirements as well, however requirements tend to relax as distance from New York City increases and population density decreases.

There are exclusive communities that do not allow filming at all, however this is the exception.

The point being made is that property owners and production alike should check with local government as to whether a property (whether it be municipally-owned or privately owned) under consideration as a filming location is subject to film permit requirements.

Property owners and production alike should understand and should be prepared to comply with any local filming or photography permit requirements as they may exist. Not only is it the right thing to do, but when you think about it it be could darn expensive to reshoot after being shut down for not having a permit!

The city clerk’s office or police department are good starting points for getting information regarding local film permit requirements.

Often a film permit will include require production to provide a certificate of insurance showing the municipality third-party additionally insured.

Sometimes “leafleting” or advising neighbors in writing of an intended shoot is a permit requirement.

Many permit requirements revolve around issues of impact on the community with regard to traffic congestion and safety, noise, and “general commotion”. Even a small photo crew, under certain circumstances, let alone a large production with a large crew, many vehicles and a lot of equipment can be potentially be very disruptive to neighbors or the area at-large.

Permit requirements very widely from town to town and can require as little effort as notifying the local police department or sending the town a letter of intent to multiple forms to multiple local government offices / agencies and fees of over $1000 per day.

Even if there is no formal permit required is usually advisable to contact the local government and police department, especially if a shoot is to take place on public property or has any potential whatsoever of being disruptive in any way.