New Permitting Process
**READ BEFORE SUBMITTING**
We are officially rolling out our new film permitting portal. This is the first version of the portal and it will continue to be updated accordingly. In the portal, you will create a username and password and it will keep track of your drafted permits and submitted permits. It will provide you with links to the permit applications according to the municipality that you are wanting to film in as well as the proper Certificate of Insurance information.
You will upload the filled-out permit application, proper Certificate of Insurance, and any relevant location maps, addendums, neighborhood letters, or drone op COIs. If there are any updates or questions, Brooke Hill with the Orlando Film Commission will reach out to you via the contact information you provided on the application. Please input the nearest exact location for the system to be able to help you properly. Follow it up with a map of your shoot if the location is unavailable in the location section. If a location is not found, Brooke will email you with the COI information if you don’t already have it downloaded.
Some municipalities require specific permit applications. You can find this information further down the page in the Insurance Requirements section. This permit is a general permit that covers *MOST* locations in Orange County, Seminole County, and Osceola County.
**If you are filming at a county, city, or state park, or any kind of state road, please email brooke.hill@orlando.org directly for assistance**
Insurance Requirements
Insurance requirements vary by jurisdiction. Through the permitting process, the Orlando Film Commission will outline the exact Certificate of Insurance (COI) requirements for the jurisdiction in which you will be filming.
Please note the minimum COI requirements for any project to film on public property include a general liability policy of $1,000,000 each occurrence, with the city or county named as additional insured.
Below you will find the COI requirements for many of the municipalities in Orange, Seminole, Osceola, and Lake Counties. Feel free to download the requirements that you need according to the municipality that you are filming in.
Orange County
Permit Applications and COI Requirements
Orange County
**Ordinance states permit requires 5 business days’ notice to process, 30 days for Orange County Parks**
COI Requirements – Orange County.pdf
PERMIT REQUIRED FOR PRIVATE PROPERTY FOR TEMP STRUCTURES. NO PERMIT REQUIRED FOR CREW OF 3 (PLUS CAST) OR LESS USING HANDHELD CAMERAS DEPENDING ON THE CONTENT OF THE PROJECT.
IF OVER 100, COMPLETE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PERMIT. Contact brooke.hill@orlando.org for this.
When the municipality is “Un-Incorporated Orange County”, then a permit application and COI specifically for Orange County is required. Please include all prevalent information such as dates and rain dates, times, exact location, and parking plan (map showing location, filming area, and parking plan), # of cast & crew, scene descriptions, any special equipment you’re planning on using, any County services needed for the shoot, and all other prevalent information for your shoot.
If the municipality falls under Orange County but is listed as something else, you will need a separate permit and COI according to the proper municipality:
City of Orlando
**Ordinance states permit requires 5 business days’ notice to process. Noise Ordinance: 10 PM – 7 AM**
COI Requirements – City of Orlando.pdf
PERMIT REQUIRED FOR PRIVATE PROPERTY ONLY FOR TEMP. STRUCTURES. Note: When filming in a neighborhood, notices must be given to the surrounding neighbors at least two days before the scheduled shooting date, and not after 7 PM
City of Apopka
**Ordinance states permit requires 5 business days’ notice to process**
COI Requirements – City of Apopka.pdf
NO PERMIT REQUIRED FOR PRIVATE PROPERTY FOR TEMP STRUCTURES.
City of Belle Isle
**Ordinance states permit requires 5 business days’ notice to process**
COI Requirements – City of Belle Isle.pdf
City of Edgewood
**Ordinance states permit requires 5 business days’ notice to process. Noise Ordinance 9 PM – 7 AM**
COI Requirements – City of Edgewood.pdf
City of Maitland
**Ordinance states permit requires 10 business days’ notice to process**
COI Requirements – City of Maitland.pdf
Town of Oakland
**Request two weeks’ notice to process**
Contact brooke.hill@orlando.org for permit application and COI information.
City of Ocoee
**Ordinance states permit requires 30 days to process a permit**
Contact brooke.hill@orlando.org for permit application and COI information.
Town of Windermere
**Ordinance states permit requires 14 business days’ notice to process. $100 permitting fee**
COI Requirements
Windermere Permit Application.pdf
PERMIT REQUIRED FOR PRIVATE PROPERTY
Windermere may ask for the following letters when applicable:
- Letter notifying any affected neighbors
- Letter of approval from homeowner (if filmed in a private residence)
- Letter from any neighbors affected by parking in the surrounding area
- Letter stating the production is not a pornographic film
City of Winter Garden
**Ordinance states permit requires 5 business days’ notice to process. Noise Ordinance: 9 PM – 6 AM. NO FILMING IN DOWNTOWN WINTER GARDEN THURSDAY – SUNDAY**
COI Requirements – City of Winter Garden.pdf
PERMIT REQUIRED FOR PRIVATE PROPERTY – TEMP STRUCTURES.
City of Winter Park
**Ordinance states permit requires 7 business days’ notice to process. Noise Ordinance: Residential – 7:30 PM – 7:30 AM & Commercial – 10 PM – 6 AM**
The City of Winter Park requires for any production to submit permits through their own permitting portal online. You can find that here.
COI Requirements – City of Winter Park.pdf
Seminole County
Permit Applications and COI Requirements
Seminole County
**Ordinance states permit requires 5 business days’ notice to process, $75 Permit Fee**
COI Requirements – Orange County.pdf
PERMIT REQUIRED FOR PRIVATE PROPERTY FOR TEMP STRUCTURES. NO EXEMPTION FROM NUMBER OF CAST/CREW OR HANDHELD CAMERAS
When the municipality is “Un-Incorporated Seminole County”, then a permit application and COI specifically for Seminole County is required. Please include all prevalent information such as dates and rain dates, times, exact location, and parking plan (map showing location, filming area, and parking plan), # of cast & crew, scene descriptions, any special equipment you’re planning on using, any County services needed for the shoot, and all other prevalent information for your shoot.
If the municipality falls under Seminole County but is listed as something else, you will need a separate permit and COI according to the proper municipality:
City of Altamonte Springs
**Ordinance states permit requires 5 business days’ notice to process**
COI Requirements – City of Altamonte Springs.pdf
PERMIT REQUIRED FOR PRIVATE PROPERTY FOR TEMP STRUCTURES. $50 PERMIT FEE
City of Casselberry
**Ordinance states permit requires 21 days’ notice to process**
Contact brooke.hill@orlando.org for permit application and COI information.
City of Lake Mary
**Ordinance states permit requires 5 business days’ notice to process**
COI Requirements – City of Lake Mary.pdf
City of Longwood
**Ordinance states permit requires 5 business days’ notice to process**
COI Requirements – City of Longwood.pdf
PERMIT REQUIRED FOR PRIVATE PROPERTY FOR TEMP STRUCTURES
City of Oviedo
**Ordinance states permit requires 14 business days’ notice to process**
COI Requirements – City of Oviedo.pdf
PARKS & RECREATION REQUIRES 10 BUSINESS DAYS AND HAVE THEIR OWN FACILITIES USE FORM TO FILL OUT ON-SITE
City of Sanford
**Ordinance states permit requires 5 business days’ notice to process**
COI Requirements – City of Sanford.pdf
City of Winter Springs
Contact brooke.hill@orlando.org for permit application and COI information.
Osceola County
Permit Applications and COI Requirements
Osceola County
**Ordinance states permit requires 5 business days’ notice to process**
COI Requirements – Osceola County.pdf
PERMIT REQUIRED FOR PRIVATE PROPERTY FOR TEMP STRUCTURES
When the municipality is “Un-Incorporated Osceola County”, then a permit application and COI specifically for Osceola County is required. Please include all prevalent information such as dates and rain dates, times, exact location, and parking plan (map showing location, filming area, and parking plan), # of cast & crew, scene descriptions, any special equipment you’re planning on using, any County services needed for the shoot, and all other prevalent information for your shoot.
If the municipality falls under Osceola County but is listed as something else, you will need a separate permit and COI according to the proper municipality:
City of Kissimmee
**Ordinance states permit requires 5 business days’ notice to process**
COI Requirements – City of Kissimmee.pdf
Parks Private Rental Application.pdf
PERMIT REQUIRED FOR PRIVATE PROPERTY
City of St. Cloud
**Ordinance states permit requires 14 business days’ notice to process**
COI Requirements – City of St Cloud.pdf
PERMIT REQUIRES NOTARY
Town of Celebration
**Ordinance states permit requires 7 business days’ notice to process**
Contact brooke.hill@orlando.org for COI information. Please see which entities your project will cover on the Celebration Parcel Map:
Celebration Special Permit Conditions.pdf
Celebration Special Events Policy.pdf
Celebration Filming Special Permit.pdf
PERMIT REQUIRED FOR ALL FILMING ACTIVITIES
Lake County
Permit Applications and COI Requirements
Lake County
**Ordinance states permit requires 10 business days’ notice to process**
COI Requirements – Lake County.pdf
PERMIT REQUIRED FOR PRIVATE PROPERTY FOR TEMP STRUCTURES.
Send permit application and COI to: LakeEvents@lakecountyfl.gov
When the municipality is “Un-Incorporated Lake County”, then a permit application and COI specifically for Lake County is required. Please include all prevalent information such as dates and rain dates, times, exact location, and parking plan (map showing location, filming area, and parking plan), # of cast & crew, scene descriptions, any special equipment you’re planning on using, any County services needed for the shoot, and all other prevalent information for your shoot.
If the municipality falls under Lake County but is listed as something else, you will need a separate permit and COI according to the proper municipality:
City of Clermont
**Ordinance states permit requires 5 business days’ notice to process**
COI Requirements – City of Clermont.pdf
PERMIT REQUIRED FOR PRIVATE PROPERTY
City of Eustis
**Ordinance states permit requires 5 business days’ notice to process**
Contact brooke.hill@orlando.org for permit application and COI information.
PERMIT REQUIRED FOR PRIVATE PROPERTY FOR TEMP STRUCTURES
Permitting Charges
The Orlando Film Commission serves as the liaison between productions and local jurisdictions, and is written into many city and county ordinances as the facilitating permitting and communications between the two. Productions need to approach only the Film Commission with any questions pertaining to filming.
Film permits are free in many jurisdictions throughout the Orlando region unless city, county or state services are required. These services include hiring of off-duty officers or fire employees and equipment, public works services, metered parking and some public parks. The city, county or state reserves the right to collect those fees before production begins. The jurisdictions that do have permitting fees are as follows:
- Altamonte Springs – $50 per permit processed
- Casselberry – $50 per permit processed
- Maitland – $75 per day to film
- Oakland – $500 per day to film
- Seminole County – $75 per permit processed
- St. Cloud – $25 per permit processed
- Windermere – $100 per permit processed
- Winter Park – $100 per permit processed and up to $500 per day to film
- Winter Springs – $25 per permit processed
- Lake County- $50 per permit processed
COVID-19 UPDATE
The Orlando Film Commission is permitting in all jurisdictions across the region. As you are defining your plans for production, please keep in mind the regional guidelines for re-opening. All permits submitted must include a plan to keep a safe set – keeping cast, crew and surrounding neighbors/business owners safe is something that should be in place with specific tasks designated for each crew member and built in accountability. Take a look at the download below for guidelines suggested by the state trade association Film Florida.
Even if a permit is not necessary, it is strongly encouraged to share all production plans with the Orlando Film Commission as we continue to track the work being done in the community and share with our government partners locally and at the state to encourage more support for our industry.
Please contact Brooke Hill at brooke.hill@orlando.org with any questions.
Law Enforcement
Orlando region law enforcement agencies promise to serve, protect and stay out of the director’s way! Determining whether one or more officers will be necessary depends on the impact of the production. Generally, when traffic control, pyrotechnics or crowd control is involved, officers are required. In addition, when production involves the use of firearms, weapon-type props or the portrayal of a crime, officers are required.
In 2020, the average rate for local city or county officers is $50 per officer, per hour, with a four-hour minimum. Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) officers are $75 per office, per hour, with a four-hour minimum. Through the permitting process, the Film Commission will assist in contacting and coordinating the appropriate law enforcement agency on your behalf. In most cases, production will be invoiced upon completion of the project.
Note: In the event of cancellation, the Film Commission requires 24 business hours’ notice to cancel any requested officers on a production’s behalf. Otherwise, the production will be responsible for agreed-upon officer payments or contacting the proper authorities directly to confirm cancellation.
Traffic Assistance
All types of traffic restrictions require a Maintenance of Traffic (MOT) plan and/or enough officer assistance to control and redirect traffic properly and safely. The Film Commission will communicate with the appropriate law enforcement agency and traffic engineering to determine the requirements for your request. As a general rule, traffic engineering departments favor the closure of major roads during off-peak hours (7 p.m. to 7 a.m., Sunday to Thursday). Roads that incur light traffic are easier to close during daytime hours and for longer periods of time. Please note that road closures and traffic change requests require a minimum of five business days’ notice.
Airport Guidelines
There are several airports of varying sizes in the Orlando region that can accommodate production requests. The Film Commission will assist you in determining which may be a good fit for your project and will assist you in contacting them directly.
Special FX
The Orlando Film Commission will do everything in our power to streamline your production, but regulations do exist. Special effects coordinators who plan to use explosives or fireworks, such as squibs, black powder charges and air mortars, must satisfy several requirements:
- The permit application must include a detailed explanation of the explosion and what substances are needed for the effect.
- Special effects explosions, whether audible or visible, large or small, must be carried out by a certified special effects technician. A certificate must be attached to the permit application.
- A certificate of insurance naming the city or county additionally insured for $5 million must accompany the permit.
- Additional requirements may exist dependent upon jurisdiction.
Environmental Protection
A number of activities, most of them seemingly harmless, can have a significant impact on natural systems and the environment. State law and policy mandate that the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) safeguard our natural environment through regulation and ecosystem management.
A number of activities, most of them seemingly harmless, can have a significant impact on natural systems and the environment. State law and policy mandate that the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) safeguard our natural environment through regulation and ecosystem management. The DEP provides assistance in permitting requirements, as well as contacts, liaisons and district representatives statewide. Call DEP Office of the Ombudsman at 850.245.2118.
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Locations
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