City Guide Filming in Cedar Rapids, IA
Production Permit Fees
- Film Permit Minimum Cost: To be determined by the Special Event Committee
- Film Permit Application Fee: To be determined by the Special Event Committee
Minimum Insurance
- A combined single limit of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence of bodily injury and property damage and $2,000,000 aggregate
- Name the city of Cedar Rapids as an additional insured
Additional Permits
Discounts
About Cedar Rapids
The city of Cedar Rapids lies in Eastern Iowa on both banks of the Cedar River and is a flourishing space for arts, culture, entertainment, and filmmaking. Located about twenty miles north of Iowa City, Cedar Rapids is home to the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, the Iowa Cultural Corridor Alliance, and several other top theatres and museums that make it an amazing destination for art-based and history-based productions. The city is also the birthplace of well-known actors like Elijah Wood and Ashton Kutcher.
Film production in Cedar Rapids dates back to the mid-20th century. In the years and decades that followed, the city hosted a wide range of producers who used different city areas for documentaries, feature films, comedy films, and television shows. Every filmmaker leaves this city with a memorable experience thanks to the hospitality of the residents and the support received from the permit management agency. The picturesque locations in the city also contribute to what makes Cedar Rapids an attractive filmmaking hub. Check out filming locations in Cedar Rapids now on Giggster.
Some of the top projects filmed partly or wholly here are Starman (1984), Miles from Home (1988), Charcoal Skies (2022), Holy Ghost (2014), Incident at Oglala (1992), Amelia 2.0 (2017), The True Story of Alexander the Great (2005 Video), and Scoring (1979). Some exterior shots for the movie Cedar Rapids (2011) were also taken in the city.
Do I Need a Filming Permit in Cedar Rapids?
If you wish to film in Cedar Rapids, the nature of your project will determine if you need a film permit or not.
Based on the provisions of Cedar Rapids’ filming regulations, you may not need a film permit in Cedar Rapids if you will shoot production under these conditions:
Filming for your own personal or private use. Filming breaking news as an electronic or print news media company employee. Filming on private property, and your actions will not touch any public property or obstruct public spaces like streets or parking lots. Filming without the use of special effects, lighting, setups, or stunts.
On the other hand, you will need a film permit if these apply to your production:
Filming in public areas like sidewalks and roads. Filming with special effects or pyrotechnics, and stunts. Filming in an area that requires traffic control or street closures. Filming with the use of firearms, props, actors in police uniforms, or weapons. Filming with drones.
Permit Management in Cedar Rapids
The City Manager’s Office
All applications for a film permit in Cedar Rapids are approved or denied by the City Manager or the City Council. The Special Event Committee is the team of city staff put together by the city’s leadership to manage requests and applications for permits to conduct special events and shoot production in Cedar Rapids. To be eligible for a film permit, Cedar Rapids filming laws require a filmmaker to submit their request at least sixty days in advance of the production date.
Submit the film permit application to the Special Event Committee via email and include the following documents along with your application:
A site map/plan.
A Street closure plan/request.
A Temporary No Parking request.
A Traffic control/barricades plan/request.
A severe weather contingency plan.
Certificate(s) of insurance that aligns with the city’s production insurance requirements.
The Special Event Committee assists filmmakers with other production services and contacts in Cedar Rapids. However, it is primarily the responsibility of the filmmaker to reach out to agencies like the Fire Department and the Police Department to find out their requirements for additional permits and approvals. If you have any questions, a representative on the Special Event Committee is always available to respond to your inquiries.
There may be additional requirements to comply with before the start of production. For instance, you may be required to notify the residents and business owners within the vicinity of the filming location in Cedar Rapids. If you are a student filmmaker, you may be qualified for some exemptions as well, so reach out to the City Manager’s office to find out the conditions that apply to your student production.
What Insurance Do I Need in Cedar Rapids?
Before you can be issued a permit to shoot a film in Cedar Rapids, you must provide an approved certificate of liability insurance to the City Manager’s Office.
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 Cedar Rapids?
As a renowned art and culture hub in Eastern Iowa, Cedar Rapids is home to lots of structures and places that promote the cultural heritage of the region. These locations also double as great places for film production in the city. Check out places in the city like Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre, the Paramount Theatre, the African American Historical Museum, the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library, and Grant Wood Studio.
Cedar Rapids is also home to over 4,000 acres of green space and natural areas. Explore any of the parks in the city to find these picturesque spots with diverse equipment and facilities that may suit your unique production needs. Furthermore, there are various trail systems for additional outdoor film shoot opportunities. Other locations operated by the Parks and Recreation Department that you may find interesting include Old MacDonald's Farm, Noelridge Park Greenhouse and flower gardens, Tait Cummins Sports Complex, Ushers Ferry Historic Village, and Tuma Sports Complex.
Cedar Rapids has a dense network of roads and highways that offer brilliant views and backdrops for outdoor filming. Federal and state highways serve the city, criss-crossing various neighborhoods where filmmakers can stop to take beautiful shots or set up stages for longer production times. Feel free to schedule part of your production on US Highways 151, 30, and 218, or Iowa Highways 100 and 13, or major city intersections.
There are several historic districts in Cedar Rapids with buildings that display lots of architectural styles. The 2nd and 3rd Avenue Historic District, for instance, features buildings that represent the architectural styles of the 1890s to 1930s, including apartment buildings, single-family homes, and churches. American Foursquare and Craftsman homes of the 1910s and 1920s are abundant in the Redmond Park-Grande Avenue Historic District. B Avenue NE Historic District consists of mostly residential buildings, while the business areas are in the Cedar Rapids Central Business District. Other historic districts are the Bohemian Commercial Historic District and Oak Hill Cemetery Historic District.
Special Requirements in Cedar Rapids
Special Requirements in Cedar Rapids
If your film production in Cedar Rapids involves street closures, contact Traffic Engineering to get the contact of an insured traffic control contractor that you will hire to provide traffic control and barricade signage. In addition, you may require off-duty police officers for street closures and traffic control, so contact the Police Department thirty days in advance of the start of production to discuss your production.
Make adequate parking arrangements for crew and production vehicles and provide the parking plan with your application. Depending on the particular location of filming, you can arrange off-site parking with the help of Traffic Engineering, Park Cedar Rapids, or the Parks and Recreation Department, where applicable.
If you intend to film pyrotechnics or fireworks, submit an additional application to the Fire Department no later than sixty days before the start of filming. You will receive a permit that will allow the activity during production.
Cedar Rapids City Parks
If you need to film in city park pavilions, contact the Cedar Rapids Parks and Recreation Department to arrange for the location ahead of time.
State Parks and Wildlife Management Areas
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) manages state parks and wildlife management areas within and around Cedar Springs, e.g., Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area, Behrens Pond and Woodlands State Preserve, Palisades-Kepler State Park, and Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area. If you wish to film within any of these properties, reach out to the Iowa DNR for information about the film permit process and what you need to provide to make your scheduled production successful.
Eastern Iowa Airport
To shoot production in Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids, complete the Special Events Form and submit it at least two weeks before the production date. Include an approved certificate of liability and any other required documentation in the application. The Airport Director is responsible for approving requests to film at the airport. The permit fee is determined on a case-by-case basis. Contact the Airport Administration office for more information on what you need to do in preparation for filming at Eastern Iowa Airport.
National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library
If you wish to make use of space available within the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library (NCSML) for your production, complete the request form, and a representative of the NCSML will contact you. Feel free to call or email the NCSML for inquiries about how your production needs will fit and the requirements to fulfill ahead of time.
ImOn Ice
Book space in the ImOn Ice Arena for your production by completing the online form ahead of your scheduled filming date
What Does it Cost to Film in Cedar Rapids?
The Special Event Committee in Cedar Rapids notifies individual filmmakers about the costs associated with their production in the city. As part of the application process, the filmmaker agrees to pay all the required fees and costs incurred due to the filming activities. These could range from permit fees to location fees, fees for use of city equipment, services, personnel, etc.
Additional Fees
Depending on the nature of the shoot, additional permits might be necessary. For example, if your production involves road closures, special effects, fireworks, or stunts, you might need separate permits with additional costs.
Geographical Jurisdiction of Cedar Rapids?
Cedar Rapids is bordered to the east and northeast by Bertram and Marion respectively. Ely and Western lie southeast, while Fairfax and Walford are located southwest of the city. Covington and Atkins border Cedar Rapids to the west and lie south of Palo and Shellsburg, which are northwest of Cedar Rapids. Municipalities north of Cedar Rapids include Hiawatha, Midway, Toddville, and Robins. Swisher is directly south of Cedar Rapids. Marion To obtain approval to shoot film on city property in Marion, submit your request or application for production to the City Clerk’s Office or via email. These are some of the requirements for filming in the city: If your filming activity will require the closure of streets, ensure you maintain a lane for emergency vehicles and do not obstruct driveway access to property owners adjacent to the filming location. If you wish to use street barricades, contact the Public Services Department, and pay a refundable deposit of $25. Obtain Emergency “No Parking” Signs from the Public Services Department. Comply with the city’s noise ordinance for the duration of the production. Contact the Police Department for necessary security personnel. Reach out to the Fire Department if you require medical personnel. Robins Certain facilities (such as the soccer and baseball field, community halls, and pavilions) in the city of Robins are available for use by production teams temporarily. If you wish to make use of any of these city properties for film production, complete the applicable request form for that facility ahead of time. The city’s parks, managed by the Parks and Recreation Department, are available as well. Atkins Any kind of commercial production that is scheduled to take place in the city of Atkins must first be approved by the Mayor or the City Council. As a first step, get in touch with the City Clerk to find out the film permitting requirements for the city and any other city services you may require for your production. North Liberty In North Liberty, the City Administrator is responsible for approving and denying all permit applications sent in by filmmakers. The City Administrator may also waive the application fee for non-profit organizations that wish to film in the city. If you plan to shoot production in North Liberty, complete the Special Event Permit at least four weeks before the scheduled production date and pay the application fee of $50. Your application will be reviewed by city staff. Additional considerations are highlighted below: You may need to pay a refundable cash deposit of $1,000. Insurance is required before you can shoot production in the city. Neighborhood notification is required before filming. Additional approvals may be required for street, sidewalk, or trail closures. Ely The City of Ely is proud to provide filmmaking opportunities across its four parks and public properties. Producers are encouraged to contact the Parks and Recreation Commission to discuss film production conditions and requirements as early as possible to ensure a smooth planning and production process. Newhall If you want to shoot production in the city of Newhall, contact the City Clerk or the Streets and Park Superintendent and discuss your planned filming project to determine the conditions you need to meet and the documents you must provide. Call as early as possible so that there is enough time to plan for the film shoot in the city. Bertram The township of Bertram has two beautiful park areas that are available for use by filmmakers. This municipality was founded in 1858 and welcomes production teams to use its grounds when seeking a peaceful small-town setting away from the hustle and bustle of big cities. Contact the City Clerk for information about permitting requirements and scheduling arrangements. Anamosa The Parks and Recreation Department in Anamosa welcomes filmmakers to make use of its facilities (e.g., the Lawrence Community Center) for production. Contact the Parks and Recreation Director or the Lawrence Community Center for more information about scheduling, reservations, and film production requirements. Johnson County To film on property owned or managed by Johnson County, complete the request form, and send out a notice to all property owners within five hundred feet of the proposed filming location. As part of your request, include the following: An application fee of $250. A cover letter with the details of your production. A site plan/map. A severe weather plan. A parking plan for your personal and production vehicles. Iowa County If you wish to film on county highways in Iowa County, complete the application form and submit it to the Highway Department and Sheriff’s Office for review and approval. Include a vehicle parking plan in your application as well as a signed indemnification and hold harmless agreement and proof of liability insurance.
Outreach in Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids’ filming regulations do not expressly state that filmmakers must notify the folks in the neighborhood where filming is scheduled. However, it is good practice to conduct outreach before production commences or before any kind of setup starts in the area. Make sure to notify the business owners and residents in writing and include details of the project and your contact information so that the host community can reach you for questions and concerns. Send out the notifications two days before you arrive.
Community Management in Cedar Rapids
In addition to conducting outreach in the Cedar Rapids neighborhood where you wish to film, a good step is to set up a channel of communication with the community leadership to ensure that general concerns are received through the appropriate medium. Moreover, this does not preclude having one-on-one conversations with locals where necessary to address concerns. Attend public meetings or community events too to show your involvement in the community’s development.
Conclusion
Cedar Rapids is the second largest city in Iowa, and that says something about what to expect when planning to shoot production there. With filmmaking dating back to the late 1950s here, production teams have taken advantage of the wide variety of settings within the city to create amazing productions.
From business areas with state-of-the-art structures to residential locations within historic districts, parks and trails in picturesque natural settings, and various outdoor settings, Cedar Rapids indeed lives up to its reputation in the film production industry.
If you wish to film here, send your application to the Special Event Committee designated by the City to assess production requests and ensure compliance with Cedar Rapids’ filming laws. You will need proof of insurance as well as some other supporting documents and approvals for your production permit to be issued.