City Guide Filming in Charleston, SC
Production Permit Fees
Minimum Insurance
- General Liability - $1,000,000
- Bodily Injury - $1,000,000
- Property Damage - $1,000,000
Additional Permits
- McLeod Plantation Historic Site Fees
- 7am to 9am -$100 per hour
- 4 pm to 6 pm - $100 per hour
- After 6 pm - $200 per hour
- Special Effects Permit Fees
- Motion Picture SFX Permit - $500, valid for a year
- Additional Insurance Required By The CCAA
- General Liability Insurance - $2,000,000
- Property Damage - $1,000,000
- CCAA Fees For Filming At Charleston Airports
- Permit Application Fee - $150 non-refundable
- Damage Deposit - $1000 - refundable
- Airport Personnel - $50 per hour
- CCAA Location Fees
- Cast & Crew of 6 - $200 up to 2 hours
- Additional hours - $100
- Cast & Crew of 7 to 15 - $500 up to 2 hours
- Additional hours - $150
- Cast & Crew of 15 plus - $1000 up to 2 hours
- Additional hours - $200
- Student Fees - $0 for up to 2 hours
- NB: Students must provide proof of study and school insurance
Discounts
About Charleston
Charleston is a city in South Carolina that has played a significant role in American history in many ways. While the dark days of Charleston's involvement in the slave trade are over, the antebellum houses of the wealthy plantation owners remain a stark reminder of the past, as does Rainbow Row, the historic commercial area of the Colonial era. And luckily for filmmakers, Charleston is only two hours away from another powerhouse location, Savannah in Georgia.
This port city on the state's North Atlantic coastline was also influential in the outcomes of the American Revolution and the Civil War. Charleston is steeped in history, and maybe that's what has attracted filmmakers in droves to use Charleston as a filming location over the years. But then again, maybe not.
They may also have been attracted by the city's great year-round climate and the incentives offered to production companies by the authorities of South Carolina.
Weather, incentives, and history aside, filmmakers have flocked to Charleston, and in the decades from the 1990s to the 2020s, it's been the filming location for over 30 movies.
Many of those movies have been notable productions and garnered awards for their directors or cast members. Here are just a few.
Memorable films from the 1990s:
Die Hard With A Vengeance
The Jackal
The Corndog Man
Paradise
And from the 2000s:
The Patriot
Cold Mountain
Halloween
The In Crowd
The Notebook
If you've found that short list of amazing movies inspiring and are starting to consider Charleston as the ideal location for your production, you're heading in the right direction for success. Look at the filming locations in and around Charleston available on Giggster, and you'll soon be convinced you're making the best choice.
Once you've finished patting yourself on the back for making a good decision, the next thing you should be asking is - are there filming regulations in Charleston? The answer is yes, so read on to find out what you need to know before you start shooting.
Do I Need a Filming Permit in Charleston?
There are only a few occasions when you will need a permit if you're filming in South Carolina. They are:
When you'll be using special effects or explosives during the shoot
If you require road closures or want to encroach on public rights of way
When you want to film in any Charleston County park or recreation area
When you want to film on any Charleston County state property
Permit Management in Charleston
City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs & Others
While it's a good idea to make yourself and your upcoming production known to the South Carolina Film Office, Charleston, and Charleston County are two of the very few places in the state that they don't manage the permitting for. They can still prove helpful on matters like incentives or pointing you in the right direction for hiring crew or filming on federal property.
To be able to film a commercial production anywhere in Charleston and Charleston County, the first step is to contact the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs.
The City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs is located at:
75 Calhoun Street
Suite 3800
Charleston
SC 29401
The best way to make initial contact is to email the OCA with a brief introductory explanation of your project. The email address is on the City of Charleston's OCA or the South Carolina Film Commission webpage.
Should you want to film in any park that falls under the jurisdiction of the Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission, contact the Parks Manager by email. You can do this via the CCPRC website.
If you want to film in any state parks or historic parks in Charleston or Charleston County, contact the Chief of Operations of the South Carolina Parks, Recreation, and Tourism organization.
When your film shoot requires road closures, apply to the South Carolina Department of Transport for an Encroachment Permit.
None of the above permitting departments and organizations publish a minimum processing time for film permits, so make sure you apply well in advance to avoid delays and disappointments.
Before using any special effects during your film shoot, you should have a Motion Picture Special Effects Display permit. You can learn more about the application process and who issues the authorization in the special requirements section of this guide.
What Insurance Do I Need in Charleston?
The exact amount of insurance coverage you'll need for filming in Charleston depends on the size of your cast and crew and the project's complexity. As a general guide, the South Carolina Film Commission requests that all film production companies operating in the state have:
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 Charleston?
Put the name of any filming location in a hat, pull one out, and guaranteed, you'll find its match in Charleston. This is one South Carolina city that exceeds all expectations where filming locations are concerned.
What has to be mentioned first are the historic filming locations. Plenty of antebellum mansions provide filming backdrops, and they have well-cared-for grounds.
Wander down East Bay Street, and you'll be back in the Colonial days when you reach Rainbow Row. Explore the French Quarter and the Battery neighborhood, and you'll come across one of the few places in the U.S. with cobbled streets. If they're not historic enough, then there's also the McLeod Plantation Historic Site and the Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site that will transport you to a different era.
Spot Charleston's early 20th century, 12-story hotel, and you might consider swapping your script to do an American version of The Best Marigold Exotic Hotel or even a remake of the popular '80s TV series Hotel, based on the book by Arthur Hailey. Either would be a box office success.
In truth, it's challenging to get away from historic locations in Charleston or historic movie moments, but head to Charleston Harbor, and you'll leave the past behind. Charleston Harbor is a magnificent installation on the Intracoastal Waterway from where there are incredible views of the Arthur Ravenel Jr Bridge.
There's also a deluxe resort with a yacht marina, a fishing pier, an enormous pool deck with its tiki bar, and every imaginable luxury facility, including spas and water sports. It's a different world from the rest of Charleston.
The internal filming locations in Charleston are as diverse as the exterior ones. A quick scout around, and you'll discover ranch houses with private pools, cottages surrounded by shady trees, and a mansion that's been given a complete renovation to bring its décor bang up to date.
There are diverse event spaces, a state-of-the-art brewery with a bar that wouldn't be out of place in a futuristic sci-fi scene, and even a more traditional, bodega-style drinking hole. Art galleries complete with paintings, photography studios complete with equipment, gyms, yoga studios, well, you name it, and Charleston's got it. Need a luxury yacht, a woodland nature reserve, or a Steve McQueen-style vintage Triumph motorcycle? They're all in Charleston, just waiting for you.
Special Requirements in Charleston
Filming At The McLeod Plantation Historic Site
If you choose the McLeod Plantation Historic Site as a filming location and want to film using anything other than a hand-held camera, you will need to contact the park office in advance. The site is managed by the Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission.
Filming hours are restricted, and different fees are charged depending on what time you want to film. Unless other arrangements have been made with the park office, the regular filming times are from Tuesday to Sunday between 7 am and 9 am or after 4 pm. Filming is occasionally permitted after 6 pm but incurs a higher fee.
Filming At Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site
To be able to arrange filming at Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site, you will need to contact the Public Relations Office of the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism. They will usually respond to all inquiries made via the official website within 24 hours. Each project is dealt with on a one-to-one basis, and while you will incur fees, they will be decided once your project has been assessed.
Filming With Special Effects
Before you can film using special effects, pyrotechnics, or any type of explosives, you will need to obtain an SFX Permit. SFX permits are issued by the South Carolina Fire Marshal and should be applied for at least 15 days in advance of the estimated shoot date. If you don't apply within the correct timeframe, then the permit fees are doubled.
The state of South Carolina requires that anyone operating with pyrotechnics has to be in possession of the correct license. The license can be from a different state but will be validated by the Fire Marshal before an SFK permit is issued.
To obtain the permit, the production company must have general liability insurance coverage for at least $1,000,000, with the State of South Carolina and its Agents named as additionally insured.
Filming On Roads & Highways
Should your film shoot require the closure of any road or highway, then you will need to liaise with the District Engineer of the Highway Department or the South Carolina Department of Transport. You can do this using the online app for Encroachment Permits which you'll find on the SCDOT website. Be sure to read through the guidelines before making your application. There are no fees for an encroachment permit.
Filming At Charleston Airports
If your script calls for filming at an airport, then in Charleston, you'll have a choice of two. The Charleston International Airport and the Charleston Executive Airport. To film at either, you will need to apply for a permit from the Charleston County Aviation Authority (CCAA).
On the application form, you will need to complete a list of details about the production, which include:
The title of the production
Number of cast and crew
Location in the airport you want to film at
What type of equipment you will be using
If you will be using special effects
A permit for filming at the airport and the organization required for the actual event can take two weeks or more. You will also need to have additional insurance coverage as well as pay fees for the permit and use of the location.
Additional Insurance Required By The CCAA
General Liability Insurance - $2,000,000
Property Damage - $1,000,000
What Does it Cost to Film in Charleston?
The Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs does not publish any set figures for permit fees. Each project is assessed by the department manager on application. Other authorities in Charleston and Charleston County do publish set figures for permit fees, and they are as follows:
Additional Fees
Students must provide proof of study and a school insurance certificate to obtain the fee waiver.
Geographical Jurisdiction of Charleston?
Charleston is a higgledy-piggledy-shaped city that, in total, covers around 135 square miles of the South Carolina territories. Water takes up 15 percent of its area, including the Stono River, the Ashley River, and the Cooper River.
Charleston is divided into six main districts, each of which contains various neighborhoods. They are: Downtown West Ashley Johns Island James Island Daniel Island Cainhoy Peninsula
The city is the most populous in the state and has over 150,000 residents.
Charleston is bordered to the east by Mount Pleasant, to the northeast by the Francis Marion National Forest, and the towns of Woodville and Whitehall Terrace. To the north of Charleston is the town of Woodland and the Bonneau Ferry Wildlife Management Area.
To the northwest, the boundaries of Charleston meet with those of North Charleston. To the west are Rantowles and Wadmalaw Island, while to the south are Folly Beach and Folly Island. Should your chosen filming location fall outside of the jurisdiction but is still within Charleston County, then you will still need to approach the Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs for permission to film. If your chosen film location falls outside of the jurisdiction of Charleston County, then you will need to contact the South Carolina Film Commission with regard to permitting.
Outreach in Charleston
While the Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs doesn't publish permit fees, they publish their requirements where outreach is concerned for filming and special events.
The OCA expects production companies to distribute notifications to residents and business owners around the filming location 30 days before the shoot. The notification must contain information on the following:
The production company
The date of the shoot
The time of the shoot
The exact location of the shoot
If there are any street closures
If there will be special effects used
A contact person and number
You should submit a copy of the notification to the Office of Cultural Affairs. Outreach in Charleston doesn't end there. Fifteen days before the film shoot, you should distribute a reminder of the upcoming event to all the addresses you delivered the initial notification.
Community Management in Charleston
You can wear out a good pair of shoes doing outreach in Charleston. It can also take up precious time you could extend to something else. Save your shoes and your time by employing a community manager to do the job for you.
A good community manager will be able to take on the responsibility of the double notification distribution and deal with any questions or complaints that might arise. They'll also be able to act as a public relations person for the production while they do it, which can prove worth its weight in gold. A community manager spreading the production name before it hits the big or small screen is a way of getting some economic publicity, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
Conclusion
Charleston is a stunning filming location where you’ll find everything from antebellum mansions to historic sites to luxury marina resorts. Charleston is about as diverse a filming location as you’ll find in the southeast of the US, so make sure you use its versatility to the max.