City Guide Filming in Camden, NJ
Production Permit Fees
- Film Permit Minimum Cost: $500
- Film Permit Application Fee: $175 ($25 for non-profits)
Minimum Insurance
- Insurance coverage for bodily injury of $500,000 per occurrence and $1,000,000 aggregate.
- Insurance coverage of $300,000 for property damage.
- The certificate of insurance must name the city of Camden as an additional insured.
Additional Permits
- Police and Fire Requirements: Filmmakers are responsible for reaching out to the Fire and Police Departments to obtain approvals where necessary.
Discounts
About Camden
The city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County in New Jersey and is one of the municipalities that make up the Delaware Valley metropolitan area. As a city, it has been receiving production crews since the 1920s, offering locations where several blockbuster movies and popular TV shows have been filmed.
The proximity of Camden to Philadelphia and the Greater Philadelphia area further enhanced its fame among those who fancy motion picture productions of any scale. Here, you can engage in student and non-profit filming as well as the production of feature films, documentaries, music videos, TV programs, short videos, and so much more.
Filming in Camden is a rewarding exercise for several reasons. In addition to the unbeatable filming locations in the city, like the Waterfront and Port of Camden, film production in Camden comes with certain incentives. Thanks to the New Jersey Film & Digital Media Tax Credit Program, filmmakers can stay within budget while filming here in Camden without compromising the quality of their project.
Some of the popular projects filmed wholly or partly in Camden include 12 Monkeys (1995), Live Free or Die Hard (2007), Stealing Home (1988), Fighting Back (I) (1982), Right Before Your Eyes (2019), The Burglar (1957), Sublime: Stories, Tales, Lies & Exaggerations (1998), and Dismissal Time (2022).
If you would like to add your production to the long list of successful projects filmed here in Camden, use Giggster to find the location that suits your needs.
Do I Need a Filming Permit in Camden?
The Camden filming regulations state that if you are in the city to film for personal use, you will not require a permit. That means recordings made to entertain yourself or your family do not need a film permit from the City. Moreover, if you are filming for news purposes or as part of an investigative reporting process, you do not require a film permit. Another filming that does not require a permit in Camden is that which is done for non-profit purposes or by non-profit organizations.
On the other hand, if you are in Camden to film for commercial purposes, you must obtain a permit before you commence your production. Therefore, ensure you do not film movies or any other kind of production in any location in the city without first obtaining a permit from the City for such activity or activities. If you fail to obtain a permit before such production, you will be breaking Camden’s filming laws and face penalties.
Contact the Bureau of License and Inspections if you are unsure whether your production requires a permit.
Permit Management in Camden
Bureau of License & Inspections
The Bureau of License and Inspections in Camden reviews and approves applications for licenses and permits in Camden, including film permits. The Bureau also enforces all the requirements for a film permit in the city so that all standards of public safety, health, and welfare are adhered to during production. However, the Bureau does not directly liaise with other city agencies on behalf of filmmakers. It is the responsibility of the filmmaker to reach out to applicable city agencies, like the Fire Department, to find out what they require based on the scope of the production and comply with the requirements.
To obtain a film permit in Camden, these are the things that a filmmaker must do:
Complete the film application and submit it to the Bureau of License and Inspections at least five business days before the date of production.
Pay the required fees for the application and film production.
Provide the certificate of insurance according to the city’s film production insurance requirements.
Complete a Hold Harmless Agreement.
Post a cash or maintenance bond in favor of the city.
Provide a parking plan for all the vehicles that will be used during production.
Obtain written approval(s) from the owner(s) of the property where filming is scheduled to take place.
Agree to have uniformed police officers and/or firefighters on hand during production if deemed necessary.
Depending on the nature of your production, you may apply for and be issued a short-term film permit or a conditional-use film permit in the city. You will need to indicate, during your application, if your production will involve any of the following:
Special effects or pyrotechnics.
Setting up temporary structures like tents and canopies.
Stunts, vehicle chases, or aircraft.
Disruptions to pedestrian or vehicle traffic.
Road closures or intermittent traffic control.
What Insurance Do I Need in Camden?
Before you can be issued a permit to film in Camden, you must first satisfy the production insurance requirements of the city.
The certificate of insurance must name the city of Camden as an additional insured.
Note that the certificate of insurance that you provide for your film production in Camden is subject to review and approval by the Office of Risk Management. If you need to have more insurance coverage because of the scope of your production, the Office of the Risk Manager will let you know.
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 Camden?
In Camden, there are different places available to film production teams to set up their gear and shoot films. These spots range from tourist attractions to historic landmarks, schools, universities, a port, parks and gardens, streets, roadways, etc.
The Camden waterfront is one of the popular tourist attractions in Camden that serves up fascinating backdrops with the USS New Jersey, the Adventure Aquarium, and the Freedom Mortgage Pavilion. If you fancy historic landmarks, check out places such as the Walt Whitman House, the Rutgers-Camden Center for the Arts, the Walt Whitman Cultural Arts Center, and the Camden Children’s Garden.
Camden’s transportation network is also very popular in the film industry, as lots of filmmakers have made use of bus lines and stations in the city for filming. Top among the facilities used here for production include NJ Transit, Port Authority Transit Corporation (PATCO), and Greyhound Lines.
If you are looking for school or healthcare settings for your shoot, rest assured that you will find what suits your requirements in Camden, as the city’s school district supports commercial production. Besides, filmmakers are welcome to film on university grounds in the city too.
Special Requirements in Camden
Rutgers University–Camden
If you intend to conduct commercial filming on property owned by Rutgers University in Camden, you must first obtain permission to film on university property and review the University’s guidelines on filming. If you plan to film on property owned by university-affiliated groups, you will be required to liaise with the property owners directly.
The insurance requirement for production at Rutgers University in Camden is a comprehensive general liability of at least $2,000,000 per occurrence of personal injury or property damage. You must also name Rutgers as an additional insured and provide the certificate of insurance with these requirements. You may require additional insurance if your project size warrants it.
As for the production costs, these fees apply to different types of production:
Full-day location fee (5 – 10 hours):
Major motion pictures - $6,000 per day per site.
Motion pictures, TV shows, commercials, and videos - $3,500 per day per site.
Documentaries – Treated on a case-by-case basis.
Half-day location fee (1 – 5 hours):
Major motion pictures - $3,000 per day per site.
Motion pictures, TV shows, commercials, and videos - $1,750 per day per site.
Documentaries – Treated on a case-by-case basis.
Port of Camden
The South Jersey Film Office Cooperative manages the film permits for filming at the Port of Camden. Reach out to them via email or phone for inquiries on how to secure the permit to film at the port in the city.
NJ Transit
If you wish to film on NJ Transit property in Camden, you must apply for a permit from the Real Estate and Economic Development Division of NJ Transit. Your application, in line with NJ Transit’s film policy, will be assessed based on the impact of your production on the transit service and either approved or denied. For a successful application, the following considerations are important:
Attend safety training classes by NJ Transit before the start of filming.
Provide insurance:
General liability of $5,000,000 per occurrence.
Workers’ compensation coverage.
Name NJ Transit and the State of New Jersey as additional insured.
Protective liability of $2,000,000 per occurrence and $6,000,000 aggregate if filming within 50 ft of the railroad right-of-way.
Request Alcohol Permits from the Division of Alcohol Beverage Control if required.
Provide permits from Camden for parking, fire, etc.
Submit a proposed parking plan.
Provide an evacuation plan for emergencies.
Pay the filming fees two days before production starts.
Schedule a walk-through of the filming location five days before production commences.
Greyhound Lines
To use Greyhound facilities or buses for commercial film production in Camden, you must first get permission by sending a request to the Marketing Department at least one month before your planned date of production.
PATCO Speedline
If you wish to film on Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA)/Port Authority Transit Corporation (PATCO) property in Camden, you must first secure a film permit from the DRPA Corporate Communications Department. Submit your request for a film permit at least 30 business days before the scheduled date of filming and comply with the following additional requirements:
Prepare to attend a pre-production planning meeting and participate in a Safety Training Class.
Provide evidence of insurance:
Commercial general liability insurance of $2,000,000 general aggregate and $1,000,000 per occurrence.
Automobile liability insurance of $1,000,000 per accident.
Workers' Compensation and Employer's Liability Insurance of $1,000,000.
Commercial Umbrella Liability of $5,000,000.
Owned or Leased Equipment Insurance.
An Additional Insured Endorsement of DARP and PATCO.
Waiver of Subrogation Endorsement.
Provide a detailed filming schedule.
Pay the filming costs stipulated by the Authority.
Sign an Indemnification Agreement.
What Does it Cost to Film in Camden?
Because filming in Camden is not free of charge, you will need to pay certain fees before you can roll out for production in the city. Some of the fees you will pay here include:
Additional Fees
In addition to these fees, you may be required to reimburse the city for any lost revenue due to your production. For instance, if the city was unable to earn parking meter revenue because of your production, you will be required to reimburse the city post-production. Furthermore, you will bear any costs associated with using third-party agencies or city department personnel during filming, especially if those services are required because of the scope of your filming.
Geographical Jurisdiction of Camden?
The western boundary of Camden is the Delaware River, while Philadelphia, in Pennsylvania, lies just across the river to the west. Pettys Island is located north of the city and is part of Pennsauken Township, which borders Camden to the north and northeast. The municipalities that are located east of Camden include Collingswood, Woodlynne, and Merchantville. Gloucester City and Oaklyn are situated south of Camden. The Cooper River flows through Camden.
Camden and Gloucester Counties
The South Jersey Film Office Cooperative coordinates film production services like permitting and scouting in the counties of Camden and Gloucester. If you wish to film on properties managed by either of these counties, reach out to the South Jersey Film Office Cooperative for inquiries and questions on how to apply.
Haddonfield
The office of the Borough Clerk issues film permits to filmmakers that wish to carry out commercial productions in the Borough of Haddonfield. As a filmmaker, you are required to apply for the film permit at least three days before the date you are scheduled to commence filming. The permit will suffice for indoor and outdoor filming for a maximum of ten days per location. If you plan to film news stories in the borough, you do not require a film permit. To obtain the permit to film in Haddonfield, fulfill these requirements:
Complete and submit the application form.
Pay the film permit fee of $100 per day for the first three days of filming and $50 for each subsequent day.
Provide proof of insurance with limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, and name the Borough of Haddonfield as an additional insured on the certificate of insurance.
Complete and sign an Indemnification and Hold Harmless Agreement.
Comply with the filming hours, which are from 8 am to 7 pm from Mondays to Saturdays.
Carry out your production activities in such a way that it causes minimal to no disturbance to the members of the public.
Notify the Fire Department and Police Department of your production 24 hours before filming begins, and allow the representatives of the Departments to inspect the filming location and production equipment.
Contact the Police Department if your production will require road closures, and prepare to have a Police Officer on hand during filming for traffic control.
Philadelphia
The Greater Philadelphia Film Office assists filmmakers with obtaining permits for filming in the city of Philadelphia.
If you wish to film in parks within the city of Philadelphia, you must apply for a permit from Philadelphia Parks & Recreation. The requirements for a Philadelphia “Parks and Rec” film permit are as follows:
Complete and submit the Media Permit Application at least ten business days before the start of filming. Submitting later than this will incur additional charges.
Pay the application fee (non-refundable $25).
Pay the required security deposit for your production (the minimum amount is $250).
Provide a certificate of insurance that complies with the requirements of the Office of Risk Management:
List the City of Philadelphia as additional insured.
Workers’ Compensation that aligns with statutory limits.
Employers’ liability:
$100,000 per accident.
$100,000 per bodily injury; $500,000 aggregate.
General liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate.
Commercial Automobile liability of $1,000,000.
If your production will require street closure, placement of equipment on streets, or full/partial closure of sidewalks, you need to obtain a permit from the City of Philadelphia Streets Department. Ensure you submit your permit application at least 20 business days before the day you intend to commence your activities.
Outreach in Camden
The filming laws in Camden require filmmakers to notify those affected by the production about the planned filming activities in their neighborhood. For residents and businesses within 150 feet of the filming location, the outreach requirement is that the filmmaker must send them a mailed notice of the planned production activities. Those residents and businesses within a 500 ft radius of the filming location only require posted notice of the scheduled filming project. Details on the notice will include the name and contact information of the production company, scheduled dates and hours of filming, the nature of the production, and any other relevant information.
Community Management in Camden
You can rest assured that you will benefit from the cooperation of the neighborhood(s) in Camden where you and your production team set up for filming. However, you also have a responsibility to them that will ensure your activities are not detrimental to their safety and welfare. Noise management, adherence to Camden filming guidelines, participation and engagement through public meetings and forums, feedback acknowledgment, and cleanliness are some ways you can keep things smooth for the entire duration of your production in Camden.
Conclusion
Since the late 1920s, when production companies set their sights on the city of Camden as a place to shoot commercial film projects, the city has been going strong and welcoming players in the movie industry. That is why the Bureau of Licenses and Inspections continues to oversee the film permitting process to ensure that filmmakers can comply with the city’s requirements and do their business safely and productively.
If you are considering filming in Camden, you will enjoy breathtaking locations and backdrops, access to production resources, and tax incentives if you come here with your cast and crew. The film permit requirements are straightforward, and the locals are also welcoming, so you have nothing to be anxious about. Simply find the location that meets your needs in Camden using Giggster and prepare for the exciting adventure that follows.