City Guide Filming in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Production Permit Fees
- Film Permit Minimum Cost: Free
- Film Permit Application Fee: Free
Minimum Insurance
- $1,000,000 Comprehensive General Liability
- $300,000 Automobile Liability
- Workers’ compensation and Employer’s liability
Additional Permits
Discounts
About Fort Lauderdale
The city of Fort Lauderdale just north of Hollywood, in SE Florida, is well-known for its beaches, and beyond that, is a favored destination among filmmakers for its beautiful climate and locations that are great for filming. With records of filming in Fort Lauderdale dating back to 1919, you can tell that the city has been welcoming filmmakers for a long time. What’s more, Fort Lauderdale still maintains its reputation as one of the top places in Florida to go with your cast and crew because you are always in for a fantastic production experience all through the duration of your project.
Popularly known as the Venice of America, Fort Lauderdale’s inland waterways welcome film production teams to explore its different beautiful locations that cater to the desires of filmmakers. Moreover, the folks in the city are an interesting and fun bunch, further adding to how film crews feel welcome and at home in Fort Lauderdale. Add to that the fact that the process of securing film permits in the city is generally hassle-free, and you will see why lots of stakeholders in the film industry fancy bringing their projects to this coastal city. Little wonder why about 300 permits are issued to filmmakers to do their business here on a yearly basis.
Some of the projects that were filmed here include Happy Gilmore featuring Adam Sandler, Out of Sight with George Clooney and Jenifer Lopez, as well as the Johnny Depp and Al Pacino movie Donnie Brasco. The TV series Graceland was also filmed here in Fort Lauderdale. So, if you’re planning a feature film, TV series, commercial, music video, documentary, or another film project, Fort Lauderdale is one place to seriously consider. To help you make up your mind on how fitting Fort Lauderdale will be for your production, check out some of the amazing locations in the city on Giggster.
Do I Need a Filming Permit in Fort Lauderdale?
For you to be able to film in the city of Fort Lauderdale, and the Greater Fort Lauderdale region as a whole, you need a permit, especially if your project is for commercial purposes. According to the filming laws in Fort Lauderdale, all film production projects that will take place in/on city locations or properties require a permit, meaning that you need to contact the permit management office before you get your camera rolling. To be clear, to film in a residential area in the city, you first need to secure a film permit. On the other hand, if you intend to film in a private area or building, you may not need a permit, but it’s always best to check with the owner of the private property or area.
Whenever a film project comes with special requirements such as the use of firearms, animals, generators, helicopters, pyrotechnics, drones, tents, etc., additional permits may be required. This is usually because the property to use during the filming may demand such a special permit.
Permit Management in Fort Lauderdale
Broward County Film Commission/Film Lauderdale
The agency that manages and issues film permits in the city of Fort Lauderdale is the Broward County Film Commission. Film permits used to be issued by Film Lauderdale for film productions in the city, however, the Film Commission now runs the process for all the municipalities in Broward County. In addition to providing film companies with the permit they require to film in Fort Lauderdale, the Film Commission also provides a host of other services that assist film producers with their projects. These include:
Helping the cast and crew to find suitable accommodation(s);
Providing suggestions on locations, sound stages, and production offices;
Offering site tours;
Providing referrals when production services are requested;
Introducing local contacts.
In addition to these services that the Film Commission provides, if you request it, the Commission will provide the contact information of city services (like the Police or Fire Departments) that you may need for your project. Broward County Film Commission makes the film permitting and production process across 26 municipalities seamless!
As a requirement for you to get your film permits without delay, you need to submit your permit request and any other supporting document(s) at least three business days before the film shoot date. In some cases, you may need to do that up to seven business days ahead, so contact the Commission to know what would apply to you due to the scope of your project.
What Insurance Do I Need in Fort Lauderdale?
In order to secure the film permit you need for your production in Fort Lauderdale, you need to provide a Certificate of Insurance as part of your application for the permit.
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 Fort Lauderdale?
Movie producers know that Fort Lauderdale is blessed with abundant spaces that are perfect for use as backdrops and film locations. For instance, the beaches in the city alone have welcomed lots of players in the movie industry because of how fitting they are for shoots. Moreover, the downtown offices in the city are ideal for shooting office scenes and have been used for such for a long time.
Another reason no film production company should overlook Fort Lauderdale as a film production hub is because of the various architectural masterpieces that the city boasts. Here in the city alone, you’ll find diverse architectural styles ranging from Spanish/Mediterranean to Oriental/Asian, Mission, Italianate, High-tech/Futuristic, Gothic, Georgian, Foursquare, English Cottage, Colonial, Cape Cod, Arts & Crafts/Craftsman, Art Deco, and Antebellum. What a treat!
For producers that are particular about making use of buildings constructed in a particular era, Fort Lauderdale features edifices that were built in the 1800s and 1900s which are still in good shape to date for use in films. For instance, the Fort Lauderdale History Center is home to an 1899 replica schoolhouse, the New River Inn (1905), King-Cromartie House (1907), as well as other historic buildings. Filmmakers interested in using structures representative of the 1920s to 1930s will find that Bonnet House, Lush Tropical Colorful Cottage, and Stache, to mention a few, perfectly fit the bill.
Other locations in the city that you’ll surely fancy whenever your script allows include fisheries, a beach house, estates, museums, hotels, streets, the Broward Sheriff's Office Closed Jail & Training Facility, cinemas, parks, tunnels, highways, etc. Las Olas Boulevard, in particular, stands out as one of the most unique places in the city, having been named at one time as the most architecturally authentic, unique, and eclectic shopping and dining district in South Florida.
Special Requirements in Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport
In addition to the permit that the Film Commission issues to production companies to film in Fort Lauderdale, filmmakers require the approval of the Broward County Aviation Department (BCAD) for commercial filming within the premises of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. The unit that coordinates and manages this approval is the BCAD’s Office of Public Information.
As a guide, the process to follow before you can film in the airport is summarized below:
Submit your application for the film permit to the Film Commission. The Commission will send a copy of the documents to BCAD;
Fill out the BCAD Film Worksheet and send it to the Public Information Office via email;
If the film request and worksheet are approved by BCAD, you will be notified, and thereafter you will schedule a walk-through at the airport to assess issues such as safety, security, parking, and electrical power needs.
Where necessary, you may need to hire one or more off-duty Deputies to handle airport security and crowd management, depending on the scope and size of your production. Moreover, in cases where you will be needing the services or use of airport spaces or facilities under the control of airlines or tenants, you need permission in writing from those particular agencies before you can do so.
Port Everglades
Port Everglades is one of those places in Fort Lauderdale highly rated for its intriguing backdrops for movie sets and locations in the city. To film here, you need additional approvals besides the film permit that the Broward County Film Commission will provide you. What you need to do after you have secured the permit from the Film Commission to send a written request via email to the management of Port Everglades indicating the details of your production company and film project.
When Port Everglades receives your request, they thereafter send it to appropriate agencies (like Port Security, US Coast Guard, Border Protection, etc.) for review so that possible concerns can be identified. Where there are concerns, you will be notified so that you can work them out. If there are no red flags, every member of your crew will submit to a background check by the Broward Sheriff’s Office for you to be given visitor’s access for the filming activity.
Bonnet House
At least four film projects (movies and TV series) have used the historical Bonnet House in Fort Lauderdale as a primary filming location, simply because the structure is open to commercial photography and filming. To film here, you need to make a reservation ahead and confirm the availability of the building via email. The entire 35-acre property is available to cast and crew and comes with space for catering setup and parking for vehicles and trailers. Filming fees start at $500 for five hours for a crew size of fewer than five people.
What Does it Cost to Film in Fort Lauderdale?
Film permits in Fort Lauderdale, and all other municipalities that the Broward County Film Commission oversees through its film permitting process, are free of charge. The Film Commission does not charge location fees for filming in the county-owned parks in the city. Where film production teams are willing, the Parks Foundation accepts donations, but this is not mandatory. For properties within Fort Lauderdale that are not owned by the city or county, filmmakers may have to pay fees for permits or locations depending on what the property stipulates. So, it is advisable to get in touch with the owner(s) to know what their specific fee requirements are.
Additional Fees
Although film permits in Fort Lauderdale are free, keep in mind that the production bears financial responsibility for the cost of any additional municipality or county services needed. Specific permits may be necessary, depending on the nature and scope of the project and the municipal or county property on which you film.
Geographical Jurisdiction of Fort Lauderdale?
Fort Lauderdale sits on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean which lies to the east of the city with its seven-mile-long beach area. The city has an unusual geographical boundary with its northwestern part mostly disconnected from the rest of the city, being bordered to the west by Tamarac and to the south by Oakland Park. The larger portion of the city, away from the northwestern section, sits south of Wilton Manors and east of Roosevelt Gardens and Broadview Park. The major cities bounding Fort Lauderdale are Pompano Beach to the north and Hollywood to the south.
Hollywood
Whenever you apply for a film permit in the city of Hollywood, the office that will process your application is the Broward Office of Film & Entertainment. However, it is up to the City of Hollywood Office of Communications, Marketing and Economic Development to approve or decline your film permit. In essence, both offices work together to ensure that all film producers are in compliance with the applicable city filming regulations before a permit is issued.
Although no fee is charged for the film permit in Hollywood, there may be some costs associated with certain services that you may require as part of your film project, especially when you factor in the scope and scale of the project, as well as the location(s) you intend to use. Such fees include parking fees, facility rental fees, city park fees, fire inspection fees, generator usage fees, Police service fees, etc.
Before you apply for a Hollywood filming permit, you will need a Certificate of Insurance of at least $1,000,000 Comprehensive General Liability. Your application must be submitted to the Film Office at least five business days before the filming date, and you will need to provide neighborhood notification letters for approval to distribute to all the people within 500 feet of the film production site. Where you require the service(s) of law enforcement, you will have to apply for a police permit ($100) and pay at least $35 per hour for each officer that you hire.
Outreach in Fort Lauderdale
All film production companies are required by Fort Lauderdale filming laws to reach out to the members of the community where the filming is set to take place and notify them ahead of the production. Typically, the city’s requirement in this regard is that the production team distribute letters to the residents and businesses as early as possible. To assist with this process, the Film Commission offers a sample Filming Notice Letter which the filmmaker can obtain by contacting the Commission.
Community Management in Fort Lauderdale
Notifying the folks in the community about the film project ahead of commencement is the first step towards creating a welcoming environment for the cast and crew. However, there are more things to do to ensure that, for the duration of the production, there’s a good relationship between the production team and the hosts. These include keeping a line of communication open between the residents and the film company, engaging the community via public events and meetings, and, of course, keeping the filming locations in a good and clean shape during and after production.
Conclusion
To film in Fort Lauderdale is always remarkable because of what the city offers in terms of prime locations, hospitable residents, available production resources and services, and a fully supportive city and county government. It’s always nice to find what you need to make your production absolutely perfect, especially when these come along easily too. Fort Lauderdale offers that. There’s no way any filming crew leaves Fort Lauderdale feeling like they had a less-than-satisfactory experience.
The fact that the city, since 1986, has been home to the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival should confirm to you just how much filming is valued and welcomed here. For the residents of the city, the film industry is one of the major institutions that contribute to their essence not only on an economic level but also on a cultural level. Visit Fort Lauderdale with your crew and experience top-tier filmmaking.