City Guide Filming in Chelsea, NY
Production Permit Fees
- $300
Minimum Insurance
- $1,000,000
Additional Permits
Discounts
About Chelsea
Chelsea is a classic New York City neighborhood that lies in the western end of Manhattan and has a mix of residential buildings, business and industrial spaces, numerous art galleries, and entertainment hotspot areas that make it attractive to people from far and near. Here, you won’t run out of things to do, whether as a resident, a tourist, or a visitor looking to do some business. For filmmakers, Chelsea has long been a well-known community because filming began in the neighborhood before the First World War. Film records put the first major production in the neighborhood – a short documentary- as far back as 1912.
When you arrive here for your film shoot, you will be greeted by the townhouse-lined streets, apartment blocks, and large industrial buildings, as well as a host of historic landmarks and production studios that present diverse filming opportunities. Some of the popular productions filmed in Chelsea include Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The Blacklist, Law & Order, Léon: The Professional, American Gangster, The Other Guys, You've Got Mail, 9½ Weeks, and Spin City. You can find a filming location that’s exactly what you need in Chelsea – all you need to do is use Giggster.
Do I Need a Filming Permit in Chelsea?
Only some filmmakers are required to get a film permit in Chelsea. You require a film permit for any kind of production made for commercial reasons in Chelsea, particularly if you will have/do any of the following:
Filming with equipment like boom mics, bounce-boards, etc.
Film projects that require parking privileges for production vehicles.
Requiring exclusive access to or use of public facilities like city buildings or municipal property.
Filming with actors that will wear a police uniform.
Filming with stunts or special effects and/or pyrotechnics.
Filming with prop weapons or prop vehicles.
On the other hand, you do not require a film permit in Chelsea if you are a tourist recording videos while exploring the neighborhood; a member of a news media team with proper credentials; or a casual photographer. Also, if you will be filming under any of the conditions below, you do not require a film permit in Chelsea:
The production equipment is a hand-held camera, a piece of hand-held equipment, a camera on a tripod, and/or hand-held props.
You will not assert exclusive use of any public property.
You will not make use of prop vehicles or weapons or perform stunts during production.
Your actors will not wear police uniforms during production.
You will not require parking privileges for your production vehicle(s).
When your production falls under the no-permit-required category, you may still opt for an Optional Permit. For that, you need to fax an application for the Optional Permit to 212-262-7677 and provide a fax number that the Optional Permit will be sent back to, otherwise, you will have to pick it up at the Film Office. Another option you may choose to explore is the Letter in Lieu of Optional Permit if you so desire. You may choose to carry this letter with you during production but will not be required to pay the film permit application fee or present proof of insurance.
For students that wish to shoot in Chelsea, there is a dedicated student filming permit guideline that contains all the requirements and helps student applicants with the application process.
Permit Management in Chelsea
Office of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting
The Office of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting is the designated agency in the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment that issues film permits to production companies that intend to film on location in Chelsea. The Office of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting, shortened to Film Office or OFTB, has the resources and experience to help filmmakers with production requests. They provide additional services that aid the film-permitting process in Chelsea:
Free police assistance during production.
Coordination and consultation with key city agencies and units as well as the NYPD Movie & TV Unit.
Free access to most exterior locations in the neighborhood.
Free parking privileges for production vehicles.
Support with the contact information of agencies that control filming locations outside the jurisdiction of the OFTB.
Every filmmaker that knows that they must get a permit before shooting production in Chelsea must first arrange for a pre-production meeting with the Film Office three weeks before the date filming starts. The meeting must take place no later than five days before the date that production will commence. Any filmmaker that does not comply with the film guidelines puts their production at risk. It is only after the pre-production meeting is done that the producer can proceed to apply online for their filming permit.
The Film Office can issue a permit within 48 business hours of application, meaning that every filmmaker must apply at least two business days in advance of the start of filming. However, more complex productions require a longer turnaround time as the NYPD Movie & TV Unit will consider such complex projects before the permit is issued. Therefore, the Film Office recommends that filmmakers with complex productions apply three to four business days ahead at least. The best case is to apply as early as possible.
The Film Office needs the online permit application, a non-refundable application fee, and a certificate of insurance, and requires the filmmaker to notify the neighborhood where filming is set to take place. Student filmmakers also require insurance from their institution but are exempt from the application fee upon showing acceptable documentation: a student ID card, a letter from the school with the date(s) of filming, and the signature of a school representative.
What Insurance Do I Need in Chelsea?
Before you can be eligible for a permit to film from the OFTB, you must present liability insurance that complies with the requirements of filming laws in Chelsea.
The Film Office must receive your certificate of insurance via email 48 hours ahead of your online permit application. Furthermore, you must ensure that the Company Name on your insurance certificate matches the one on your online application. Another production insurance requirement is that your insurance broker must be the one that sends the certificate of insurance to the Film Office. This is because the Film Office does not accept insurance certificates directly from individual filmmakers or production companies.
The certificate of insurance must list the City of New York as a certificate holder and cover a comprehensive general liability of at least $1,000,000. In addition, the certificate must include the dates the liability policy is in effect, and it must not be canceled or modified, except if the Film Office is notified in writing at least seven days in advance.
If you are a student, you can comply with the insurance requirements for your project by providing the insurance of your school and accompanying it with your student ID card.
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 Chelsea?
Chelsea is home to the Chelsea Historic District and a host of other beautiful structures that depict architectural styles such as the Greek Revival, Italianate, and Georgian styles. A good example is The Church of the Holy Apostles, built in the mid-1800s. The residential areas in the neighborhood have a blend of apartment buildings, townhouses, row houses, tenement buildings, and family houses that uniquely fit production requirements.
There are at least two production studios in Chelsea that offer good filmmaking opportunities in the neighborhood – Silver Screen Studios and Chelsea Studio. Chelsea Studio is the older of the two, as it has been operating since the early 20th century. Silver Screen Studios accommodates feature films, TV series, special events, commercials, and music videos in its production space that spans over four acres.
Madison Square Garden, The Museum at FIT, and Rubin Museum of Art are other popular spots in the neighborhood that attract production crews. What you will find in abundance here in Chelsea are gallery and photo studio spaces that can accommodate sets and quick setups in indoor locations. There are several restaurants and event venues in the neighborhood too. Chelsea has good outdoor areas such as parks, streets and intersections, and waterfront settings.
Special Requirements in Chelsea
City Parks
To film in a city park in and around Chelsea, complete the online request form (Parks Film Shoot Request Form), and you will hear from the park manager about five business days later. If your request to shoot in the park is approved by the park manager, you can apply to the Film Office and reference the park manager that approved your request. You will have to comply with all the permit requirements of the OFTB to get the approval you need. Once you do, take note of the NYC park rules and regulations on filming:
You must obtain prior approval before parking vehicles in the park’s perimeter.
Filming is not allowed in areas that will compromise the privacy of park patrons.
You must have clearance before setting up on park lawns.
Any cables or live wires that cross pedestrian paths must be safely installed and covered.
Directional signs for filming locations are not to be staked or posted on the ground.
All materials (including trash) that are brought into the park by the production crew must be taken out at the end of filming.
Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS)
To film in municipal buildings managed by the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS), a filmmaker must obtain permission from DCAS before applying for a DCAS Permit from the Film Office. Submit all the required forms and documents to the DCAS Special Events unit at least seven days before preparation or filming commences and include insurance that meets the following:
A general liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate.
Workers’ compensation insurance that aligns with statutory laws.
Name DCAS as additional insured.
Then, submit your DCAS Permit along with $3,200 (payable by bank check) to the Film Office. You will be required to pay the $300 OFTB application fee as well and comply with other OFTB film permit requirements as well. A complete bill for your production will be sent to you six to eight weeks after your production is complete.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)
To film on Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) property or in areas overseen by the MTA, you must send your request at least three weeks in advance of your scheduled date of production. The Special Events Unit treats all requests for commercial production on MTA property. These are the things to know when preparing to shoot on MTA property:
You must provide a letter of intent, a script, and a storyboard for your production.
The fees you will pay will depend on several factors, such as the nature and scope of your production, the number of MTA personnel required, the type of production equipment, and how long the filming will take.
You will provide insurance that covers the following (amounts vary per project):
General liability.
Auto liability.
Workers’ compensation.
Railroad protective liability (if required).
If you film near railroad tracks, everyone involved must take a track safety course.
You must abide by the safety instructions of the MTA during production.
Whitney Museum of Art
The Whitney Museum of Art welcomes filmmakers to carry out movie production, documentaries, TV productions, and other similar projects in the museum. Such filmmakers must agree to the provisions of the Museum’s Location Agreement, filming policies, and fees.
To start, submit an inquiry to the museum and send additional questions via email. The Museum requires filmmakers to provide certificates of insurance and have a member of the museum staff on hand for the entire duration of filming. As for the fees, the following apply:
The corporate fee of $5,000.
Licensing fee starts at $5,000 depending on the nature and scope of the production.
The location fee starts at $7,700.
Port Authority
Reach out to the Port Authority to discuss the details of your project and what you need before you fill out an application to shoot production on any Port Authority property. You may need to arrange a scouting visit during the initial conversation with Port Authority staff. The requirement is that you submit your request to film no later than 30 days in advance of the day you plan to start and pay a non-refundable fee of $250 with the application. Other requirements are as follows:
Prepare to cover other costs like personnel fees, location fees, etc.
Present a signed cover letter that contains an overview of the project.
Provide an Operations Plan.
Provide a Security Plan.
Provide Signed and Sealed Drawings and Code Analyses.
Present proofs of insurance liabilities as determined by the Risk Finance team and other applicable licenses and certificates.
Hoboken
The city of Hoboken lies just west of Chelsea, across the Hudson River, in New Jersey. The Local Film Commission is responsible for reviewing and approving film permit applications in the city. Filmmakers are required to complete the permit application form and submit it to the office of the City Clerk at least three days before the scheduled shoot date.
The permit and filming conditions in Chelsea are highlighted below:
The film permit fee is $700 for 14 consecutive days.
Proof of insurance:
$500,000 per occurrence of bodily injury per person and $1,000,000 aggregate.
Property damage, each occurrence, in the aggregate amount of $300,000.
An agreement to indemnify and hold harmless the city against all losses or claims.
Hire an off-duty city police officer during production as deemed necessary by the Local Film Commission.
Minimize interference with pedestrian or vehicular traffic during production and comply with Police directives for safety reasons.
Notify residents at least three days before the scheduled filming date.
Filming is not allowed beyond 11 pm.
What Does it Cost to Film in Chelsea?
Every new project application for a film permit in Chelsea must be accompanied by a fee of $300 (non-refundable). The fee is payable by credit card to the Film Office. If a filmmaker can demonstrate unreasonable hardship, they may accompany the application with a request for a waiver of the application fee. The Film Office reserves the right to grant or deny the waiver request. The Film Office provides access to film in most exterior locations in Chelsea free of charge, but there may be charges for using interior locations within the neighborhood. The filmmaker will be responsible for those costs, where applicable.
Additional Fees
The City of New York may require permits for filming in public areas. This includes areas like streets, parks, and other public spaces. Fees for these permits can vary based on the location, filming duration, and production size. Chelsea has iconic spots like the High Line or Chelsea Market that might require permits for commercial filming.
Geographical Jurisdiction of Chelsea?
Chelsea lies on the west side of Manhattan and is bound to the south by 14th Street, to the west by the Hudson River and West Street, to the east by Sixth Avenue, and to the north by 34th Street. Adjoining municipalities include Hell’s Kitchen and Hudson Yards (northwest), Midtown South and Garment District (northeast), NoMad and Flatiron District (east), West Village, and Greenwich Village (south).
Outreach in Chelsea
Chelsea’s filming laws require filmmakers to provide each resident and business that will be directly affected by the filming activity proper notification before filming starts. These include those within the vicinity of the filming area, parking area, meal area, or base camps. The outreach must be done at least 48 hours before filming starts. The Film Office provides a sample resident letter to guide filmmakers so that all the pertinent information relating to the permit can be included in the notification to the neighborhood.
Community Management in Chelsea
The neighborhood of Chelsea has a Community Board that actively shapes the local community, and this platform presents filmmakers with a good opportunity to contribute to the neighborhood and residents by engaging the board. Another effective community management strategy is direct engagement with the people through forums and meetings organized in the neighborhood. Filmmakers can make them accessible by providing a contact person for inquiries, suggestions, or complaints so that information can be received first-hand and properly managed to avoid issues with production.
Conclusion
It is well known that anyone that visits Chelsea and does not walk the High Line has an incomplete experience, and filmmakers do not miss out on that fun activity that offers breathtaking views of the New York boroughs, the Hudson River, and New Jersey cities just beyond. That’s just one of the things that makes time spent in Chelsea memorable, not to mention the fact that the neighborhood has good filming locations too. Simply check out the locations in Chelsea that fit your scripts using Giggster and reach out to the Office of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting for the permitting process, and you can rest assured that the rest of the process will be seamless and leave you planning your next project in the neighborhood.