When a Permit Is Required 

A permit is required for filming if equipment or vehicles, as defined in the rule, are used or if the person filming asserts exclusive use of City property. Equipment does not include hand-held devices (such as hand-held film, still, or television cameras or videocameras) or tripods used to support such cameras, but a permit would be required in certain situations when the person filming asserts exclusive use of City property while using a hand-held device.

Anyone wishing to apply for a permit for shooting in the five boroughs should use the new online permit system. Among other information, applicants will be asked to provide their contact information, duration of project, proof of insurance, and other relevant production details for a required permit.

Effective July 11, 2010, a new project account application, when submitted in connection with a required permit, shall be accompanied by a non-refundable fee of $300.00, paid in the form of a certified check or money order* and made payable to "New York City Department of Finance."

*Effective November 1, 2011, payment may be made by credit card, corporate check or personal check. Money orders and certified/bank checks will no longer be accepted.

For purposes of clarification, a “New Project Account application” must be submitted in any of the following instances:
i) in connection with a new project which has never before submitted an application,
ii) in connection with a television series (in a new season) which has previously submitted an application for a prior season, or
iii) in connection with an project which has previously submitted an application but has completed the continuous photography associated with that application and desires to re-commence photography.

An applicant may make a request for a waiver of the fee, which shall accompany the application when submitted. MOFTB shall have the authority to waive such fee where the applicant is able to demonstrate unreasonable hardship.

When a Permit Is Not Required

A permit is not required for filming that uses hand-held cameras or tripods and does not assert exclusive use of City property. Standing on a street, walkway of a bridge, sidewalk, or other pedestrian passageway while using a hand-held device and not otherwise asserting exclusive use of City property is not an activity that requires a permit.

In addition, activity that involves the filming of a parade, rally, protest or demonstration does not require a permit except when equipment or vehicles are used. The rules also provide that press photographers, who are credentialed by the New York Police Department (NYPD) do not need to obtain a MOFTB permit.

Optional Permits 

When a permit is not required, it is possible to apply for an optional permit. A person wishing to apply for an optional permit would present much of the same documentation as someone seeking a required permit (e.g. request for dates, times and locations and contact information). Liability insurance is not required in connection with an optional permit. Sometimes there has been confusion as to whether or not a permit is required. As a result, and as an accommodation to filmmakers, MOFTB has routinely issued permits in those instances where a permit is not required. The rules are consistent with this longstanding practice. The optional permit remains free of charge.

Liability Insurance 

Liability insurance is needed for those who obtain a required permit. However, when an applicant can demonstrate that obtaining the required insurance would impose an unreasonable hardship, MOFTB may waive the need for liability insurance. In addition, student filmmakers can meet their liability insurance obligations through coverage under their school's insurance program.

Filming in a DCAS Property 

When a production requests to shoot in DCAS properties, which includes various City buildings, such as the Manhattan and Brooklyn Municipal Buildings, all Borough Halls, and City and State Courts, a fee of $3200 shall accompany a permit submitted to the Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting. The fee should be in the form of a certified bank check or money order, payable to the New York City Department of Finance. Please note that this form of payment should be made separately from the new application fee. For additional information, click here.

History 

MOFTB first published proposed permit rules in the City Record on May 25, 2007, held a public hearing regarding the rules on June 28, 2007, and received extensive comments through August 3, 2007. MOFTB then republished the rules for comment on October 30, 2007, received additional extensive comments, and held another public hearing on December 13, 2007. The rules went into effect August 2008. The rule amendment proposal was first published for comment in the City Record on May 3, 2010, and a hearing was held on June 3, 2010. The final version of the rule amendment was published in the City Record on June 11, 2010.

Click here to read the rules as they were published in July 2008. To view a question and answer document explaining the permit rules, click here. Click here to read the rule amendment in its entirety.