Letter in Lieu of Permit

I affirm that by clicking the "Download Letter" button below that my activity meets all of the criteria that I checked above and will occur only on exterior public property owned by the City of New York. If I use the letter for activity that requires a film permit or on other property, I may be subject to a fine or other penalties.

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THIS IS NOT A FILM PERMIT OR FILM PERMIT APPLICATION AND DOES NOT PROVIDE PARKING PRIVILEGES

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To Whom It May Concern:

The Film Office at the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment ("MOME") issues permits for certain motion picture and still photography activity on most exterior property owned by the government of the City of New York ("City") under NYC Charter Section 1301(1)(r) and Title 43, Chapter 9 of the Rules of the City of New York ("MOME Film Permits").

Please be advised that a MOME Film Permit is not required if the production activity meets all criteria below:

☑Filming (using motion or still cameras to capture motion or still images) will be performed with hand-held devices. Hand-held devices include (a) motion or still cameras or other equipment that are held in the filmmaker's or photographer's hands and always carried with the filmmaker or photographer while filming and (b) tripods used to support motion or still cameras.

☑Filming takes place on a City sidewalk, City park pathway or walkway of a City bridge, and (i) a width of at least 8 feet is always kept free for pedestrian use if the total width is 16 feet or less (ii) half the width is always kept free for pedestrian use if the total width exceeds 16 feet.

☑If filming is in a City park, it takes place on a park pathway. Other areas, such as playgrounds, basketball courts, baseball fields, tennis courts, pools, buildings, etc. may require the Parks Department's approval; please check the Parks Department website.

☑Filming will not occur in the traffic lanes or curb lanes of city streets and will be contained to a City sidewalk, a City park pathway or a walkway of a City bridge only.

☑Filming will not involve activity that violates law, creates a safety hazard, and/or involves exclusive use of any part of a City sidewalk, City park pathway or walkway of a City bridge. "Exclusive use" means a physical, verbal or other assertion that a part of a City sidewalk, City park pathway or walkway of a City bridge will be used solely for filming activity for any amount of time.

☑Filming will not involve the use of any props that are not hand-held, including bicycles or other vehicles.

☑Filming will not involve actual or simulated weapons, police uniforms, reenactment of a crime on City property or other activity that would require the presence or approval of the NYPD Movie/TV Unit, or use of special effects (including pyrotechnics), use of prohibited wild animals, or use of drones.

☑Filming will not occur on a date and time and in the location covered by another permit.

If the holder of this letter is engaged in filming activity that does not require a MOME Film Permit as described above, the holder of this letter may be allowed to film or photograph on City property as available. It is the responsibility of the holder of this letter to ascertain that the property they wish to use is City-owned.

Note: MOME does not have jurisdiction over private property, property owned by other government entities such as MTA or Port Authority, or State or Federal property. Filming on such property is subject to the applicable government entity's rules and may require a different permit. Please contact the Film Office at (212) 489-6710 about MOME Film Permit requirements.