City Guide Filming in Boise, ID
Production Permit Fees
- Film Permit Fees - Unknown
Minimum Insurance
- Commercial General Liability Insurance - $1,000,000 per occurrence
- Bodily Injury - $2,000,000 per occurrence
- Property Damage - $2,000,000
- Workers Compensation – as stated by state law
- Commercial Liability Insurance - $1,000,000
Additional Permits
Discounts
About Boise
Boise is a city in the southwest of the state of Idaho that occupies a prime geographical position. As well as being an architecturally attractive urbanization, it's surrounded by the beauty of nature in the form of mountains, foothills, state parks, national forests, and nature reserves. Those are assets that have not gone unnoticed by filmmakers.
This Idaho city, which was founded in the second half of the 19th century, has made plenty of appearances in both Hollywood movies and episodic TV series. Boise has been a director's choice of filming location for over four decades, and while Boise's filming locations are often credited to the state rather than the city itself, it has featured in some notable movies.
Clint Eastwood was one of the silver screen's first A-listers to ride into Boise when he arrived in the city to film parts of the 1980-released Bronco Billy. The movie is a classic Eastwood film with lots of bar fights, the odd train robbery or two, and lots of cowboys eating dirt when he gets the better of them.
Back in 1988, the streets of Boise were blessed with the presence of none other than the legendary Richard Pryor himself. He played the part of a transport engineer in the movie Moving, who had to relocate to Boise for work reasons.
Boise exhibited its natural beauty in the 1989 movie Always, directed by Steven Spielberg. The Boise scenes starring Richard Dreyfuss, Holly Hunter, and the unforgettable Audrey Hepburn were filmed in the Boise National Forest.
One movie not so mentioned in current times but undeniably popular in its day that was partly filmed in Boise was the 1990 comedy-drama Ghost Dad, featuring Bill Cosby. There have also been plenty of B movies that didn't score any notable success and even more low-budget indie movies filmed in Boise that are really not worth mentioning.
If you're not sure if Boise is the right filming location for your production, have a look at the filming locations available on Giggster. It'll help you decide whether or not The City of Trees is where you want to be. If you decide Boise is a yes for you, then make sure you're aware of the filming regulations for the city and the state of Idaho before you plan your initial shoot dates. There are a few things you really need to be in the know about, so read on to find out what they are.
Do I Need a Filming Permit in Boise?
The state of Idaho, its capital Boise, and Ada County have in the past been known to be locations where you don't need a film permit. While most of Idaho and Ada County remain non-permitting film locations, that no longer applies to Boise.
From the 1st of January 2023, production companies are required to apply for a film permit if they want to shoot their production in Boise. Film permitting in Boise has been introduced because of an increase in interest from production companies to film there and some of those that have caused unwanted disturbances in the community.
There are times when you may not be required to obtain a film permit to film in Boise, and they are:
If yours is a student production You will be filming for a non-profit organization production You are filming a contest entry – but always check first with the permit issuing authority if your production truly does fall into this category.
When You Will Need A Film Permit
You will need to apply for a film permit if any of the following apply to the production you want to film in Boise: You want to film on public property You want to film on public property after normal opening hours You want to film between the hours of 10 pm to 8 am You want to film within a 300 feet radius of a private residence with a cast and crew of more than five Your film shoot will disrupt the normal flow of traffic on a road or sidewalk The production involves the use of prop weapons, stunts, or special effects The production involves car chases or staged vehicle accidents The production involves nudity or sex scenes that may be visible to the general public.
Permit Management in Boise
City of Boise City Clerk's Office
From the 1st of January 2023, the management of film permits for Boise comes under the jurisdiction of the City Clerk's Office.
The City Clerk's Office has introduced several different types of film permits based on the complexity of the production, whether the production company is a local one or whether you are filming for a contest.
Types of Film Permits In Boise
Low-impact filming
Medium-impact filming
High-impact filming
Annual low-impact film permit – available only to local production companies
Contest film permit – available only to productions for contest entries
To obtain a medium or high-impact film permit, you need to apply to the City Clerk's Office five days in advance of your proposed shoot date. For a low-impact film permit or a contest film permit, three days in advance is usually sufficient.
NB: As the issuing of film permits is a very new procedure in Boise, it's advisable to submit your application as soon as possible, at least during the first few months of 2023.
When you submit a film permit application to the Boise City Clerk's Office, you will be expected to provide the following information:
Details of the production company – name, contact number, email, and physical address
Type of production and its title
Details of the cast and crew, plus any other person who will be involved with the production
Dates and times you propose to film
The locations where you want to film
Details of any part of the production that may cause disruption in the community
A comprehensive list of vehicles and equipment to be used
Details of stunt work, pyrotechnics, car chases, or anything else deemed relevant
A street plan if road or sidewalk closures apply
Plan for any cleanup operation that may be required
At the time of publishing this article, the City Clerk's Office had not standardized the application process. However, there will be a standard form you will need to complete, so when you're ready to apply, the best thing to do is contact the City Clerk's Office for a copy. They have yet to state whether submissions will be via an app, need to be faxed, or can be submitted by email.
If, once your application has been received at the City Clerk's Office, it's deemed to be extra complex or possibly disruptive to the community, you may be asked to attend a one-on-one meeting with the Special Events Team to discuss the production.
What Insurance Do I Need in Boise?
The Boise City Clerk's Office has set in place specific requirements for production companies where liability insurance is concerned so the answer is yes, you will need insurance to film in Boise.
Any production company applying for a film permit must be in possession of insurance that covers the entire duration of their film shoot. The insurance must be issued by a broker licensed to provide insurance services in the state of Idaho.
If you can’t meet any of these requirements, you’ll need to explain in writing why you can’t meet the requirement to the Office. They will determine if the shoot can go ahead without the necessary insurance.
Note that these requirements are minimum requirements. Larger and more complex shoots may require additional insurance which will be determined by the Office.
What Kind of Filming Locations Are Available in Boise?
Some of the most outstanding filming locations in Boise are natural ones. There's no denying the city streets have film appeal, but when you start exploring spots like the Boise River Greenbelt, you'll see there is a whole different kettle of fish.
Starting with filming locations actually in Boise, though, you'll be surprised, and probably delighted, to come across places like the Old State Penitentiary. This castle-like structure dates from the late 1800s and, as a film set, would serve multiple different purposes.
Downtown Boise is where you need to be scouting if you want your scenes to include skyscrapers with a mountain backdrop or the State Capitol Building, which from a distance, is reminiscent of the one in Washington, DC.
Boise has some great parks, including Julia Davis Park, Camel's Back Park, and Ann Morrison Park, which is also backed by the undulating foothills that surround the city. If you're looking for older architecture, then you need to have a look around the neighborhood known as The North End.
When you need a classy outdoor commercial center with stores and eateries for your actors to socialize in, you need to be in Hyde Park on 13th Street, as it has all of those and more. Boise isn't short of quality sporting facilities either. The city can boast several golf courses, natural warm springs, and a state-of-the-art public swimming pool.
For scenic urban areas, you won't go far wrong with the Boise River Greenbelt. The River Greenbelt is a park area with over 30 miles of trails that reaches from Boise to the city of Eagle. You'll also find sections of the river there that have been made into artificial white water sites, so if you need to get your actors doing some exciting canoeing, you now know where to go.
Special Requirements in Boise
Code of Conduct
In accordance with the new ordinance concerning film permits in Boise, the City Clerk's Office will be instigating a code of conduct. The code of conduct has been adopted from another city with strict filming regulations, and all production companies will be expected to abide by it.
You will need to request a copy of the code of conduct from the City Clerk's Office before you begin filming and distribute it to all members of your cast and crew. By issuing the code of conduct, the City Clerk's Office hopes to prevent any more disruption to the community caused by disrespectful production companies.
Filming At Boise State University
While they may welcome filming on the campus of Boise State University, when it's for commercial purposes, you need to obtain prior permission. They will, in fact, ask you to apply for a filming permit. You will need to address your application for a film permit to the University's Office of Communications and Marketing.
They usually only give permission to film if your activities don't interrupt the normal campus proceedings or pose a danger to students, staff, or property. It's a good idea to communicate with the marketing department before planning on filming there.
Filming In Parks
Having to request permission to film in a park in Boise is nothing new. Any filming in Bosie's parks must be permitted by the city's Parks and Recreation Department and, apart from any rental charges, incurs the following fees:
Commercial Filming In Boise's Parks
Reservation Deposit - $100
Fee Per Hour - $135
Four Hours - $475
All Day - $885
Vehicle Utility Fee - $30 per day per vehicle
The normal hours for filming in Boise's parks are from sunrise to sunset. If you want to film outside of those hours, you will need to try to make special arrangements with the Parks Department. All fees due for filming in parks, rental, and permits, should be paid in full in advance of the proposed film shoot.
What Does it Cost to Film in Boise?
At the time of publishing this article, the City Clerk's Office had not set any standardized fees for any of the types of film permits they will be issuing from 2023 onwards. That doesn't mean fees don't apply, they do, but all applications are currently being treated on a case-by-case. If you want to calculate how big a hole filming in Boise will make in your budget, the best thing to do is speak to the City Clerk's Office before submitting a film permit application.
Additional Fees
The production must pay the fees and surety bond (if necessary) along with the permit application. The City Council establishes the fees for filming activities. Several fees may be required with the permit application including the processing fee, city property use fee, street closure or impediment of traffic fee, parking fees, and other City fees that are applicable to the proposed filming activities.
Geographical Jurisdiction of Boise?
Boise is a city with an urban spread that reaches over 85 square miles of the state of Idaho. Only one square mile of those extensive terrains is taken up by water. It is the most populated area of Ada County and Idaho and, with 250,000 residents, just places in the top 100 of the US's most populated cities. Those statistics don't include the city's metropolitan area, which has a total population of over three-quarters of a million people.
Boise lies in the base of an area known as Treasure Valley and is surrounded by mountains, namely the foothills of the Rockies and the Owyhee Mountain range. The territories of the city cover an irregular shape that is bordered to the northwest by the city of Eagle and Meridian.
To the south of Boise are the cities of Kuna, Mora, Pleasant Valley, and Blacks Creek. To the east, although not close enough to actually border the city, is Robie Creek and the expanse of the Boise National Forest. To the north of Boise are Collister and Hidden Springs.
Should your chosen filming location fall under the jurisdiction of the City of Eagle, you will need to contact both the city of Eagle and the Idaho Film Commission to find out what the film permit rules are. Currently, no film permit is required, but as with what happened in Boise, that doesn't mean new regulations may be brought into force at short notice.
If you decide you'd like to film some scenes in the nearby Eagle Island State Park, you will need to contact the Idaho State Parks and Recreation Department in person. You will then be able to liaise with the relevant park ranger who will assist you with your project.
Outreach in Boise
To date, the City Clerk's Office in Boise has not stated its requirements concerning production companies performing outreach. That said, though, as they now require production companies to apply for a permit if they will be filming within a 300-foot radius of residential or business properties, it's possible they will implement it as a standard requirement. They adopted their code of conduct from other cities, and outreach will undoubtedly follow.
Any production company considering filming in Boise should be prepared to conduct outreach. It will demonstrate to the City Clerk's Office that you're a responsible production company and that you care about the local community. Even if you only distribute the most basic of notifications detailing the name of the production company, what, when, and where you'll be filming, and give the locals time to react, you'll be miles ahead of some production companies that have gone before you.
Community Management in Boise
The City Clerk's Office in Boise is holding production companies filming in the city responsible for organizing crowd control. While you may not think your filming activities will draw multitudes, especially if you don't have an A-list cast, you will need to be prepared for all eventualities.
Having a community manager on your team means you'll have someone to deal with any accumulation of people that might block a sidewalk you don't have permission to interrupt the traffic on. They'll also be able to do invaluable promotional work for your production while they do it, and that can't be a bad thing.
Always remember that Boise, because of its non-permitting, has had problems with film productions in the past, so anything you can do to avoid repeating the same mistakes will win you big kudos from the permitting authorities. That is something that will be worth its weight in gold after you've won an Oscar and go back to Boise to shoot the sequel.
Conclusion
Boise may be new to the film-permitting game, but film permits have been introduced here for a reason. Try not to be one of the production companies of the past, but one of the future that helps build the film industry in the city to an acceptable level where they welcome cast and crew with open arms. Do that, and hopefully, they won’t hike the film permit fees too high, so they’re accessible for everyone, low-budget and Indie movies included.