City Guide Filming in Lincoln Park, Chicago, IL
Production Permit Fees
- Filming Permit Fee - $250 per day per location
- Student Film Permit - $25 per day per location
- Police Officer - $50 per hour. Minimum 6 hours
- After 8 hours – must be paid at 1½ times normal rate
- Police Sergeant - $65 per hour. Minimum 6 hours
- After 8 hours – must be paid at 1½ times normal rate
- Squad Car - $150 per day. Traffic control only
- Fire Safety Officer - $65 per hour
- Engineer - $50
- Fireman - $45 Minimum 6 hours
- After 8 hours – must be paid at 1½ times normal rate
- Barricades - $5 per day per barricade
- Unreturned Barricades - $65 each
Minimum Insurance
- General Liability
- Employee Liability
- Workman Liability
Additional Permits
Discounts
About Lincoln Park, Chicago
Chigaco has been a magnet to filmmakers for decades. While the neighborhood of Lincoln Park hasn't featured in all of the hundreds of movies made in the city, it's certainly seen more than its fair share of cinematic moments.
This affluent neighborhood has plenty of unique features that make it easily recognizable for screen audiences. You don't need to have set foot in the Bissell Street district, been window shopping in the Clybourn Corridor, or had a picnic in the public green space it's named after, Lincoln Park, to know you're in a Chicago neighborhood.
Thinking Lincoln Park, or even Chicago itself, is only suitable as a filming location for gangster movies is a misconception. Yes, there have been a good few gangster movies filmed here, but there's also been plenty of other films that fall in genre categories as far removed from them as the Chicago Syndicate is to Poltergeist III.
One of the neighborhood's main attractions that has also made plenty of on-screen appearances is the Lincoln Park Zoo. Kissing A Fool, Adventures In The Sin Bin, and Detective's Club are just three that the zoo has featured in.
Law and order was back in force in 1993 when some of the scenes in The Fugitive were shot on Wisconsin Street, then in 1997 movie My Best Friend's Wedding, just one of a dozen in the genre, brought a touch of romantic comedy to Lincoln Park.
Lincoln Park really is a Chicago neighborhood that has some incredible filming locations to offer. Save yourself hours of scouting around by taking a quick look at filming locations available in Lincoln Park on Giggster. Don't get too carried away and rush over there without checking out the Chicago filming guidelines, though. Once you're in the know about the filming regulations, you'll be fully prepared to film in not just Lincoln Park but the rest of Chicago too.
Do I Need a Filming Permit in Lincoln Park, Chicago?
If you're going to be filming for commercial purposes on what is classed as public property in Lincoln Park, including streets and sidewalks, then yes, you will need a film permit. You will also need a film permit if your production causes any interference with vehicle or pedestrian traffic or involves stunts and special effects.
The amount of time it takes to process a film permit depends on the complexity of your proposed shoot. If it's a simple one that doesn't involve street or sidewalk closures, the regular processing time is four days.
Should your shoot involve street or sidewalk closures, then the issuing authority requires a minimum of five days to deal effectively with your permit application.
Film shoots of a more complex nature which involve stunt work, the use of a drone, or any special effects, will take at least ten days to be processed. If your film shoot is likely to cause major disruption, you will also need to apply at least ten days before your estimated start date.
Low-impact filming activities such as b-roll that don’t involve street or sidewalk closures mostly don't need to be permitted. If you're unsure whether or not you need a permit, always check with the issuing authorities first before starting to film.
Applying for a filming permit to film in Lincoln Park is a relatively simple online operation. You will be required to complete three forms and return them via email, along with any other documentation requested.
Student Film Permits
Most student productions, unless they involve street or sidewalk closure, fall into the low-impact category. If your filming involves traffic interruptions or you'll be using special effects, then you will not only be required to obtain a film permit but also to have a police officer on set during filming. Student film permits are issued at a discounted fee.
Permit Management in Lincoln Park, Chicago
Chicago Film Office & Various
All film permits for Lincoln Park and for the majority of the other neighborhoods in the City of Chicago fall under the jurisdiction of the Chicago Film Office. There are three exceptions.
The Chicago Film Office does not issue permits for filming in the Chicago Parks District. Film permits for any of the beaches, parks, harbors, or botanic conservatories are managed by the Chicago Parks District. Special rules and regulations apply. You can find out more about those in the Special Requirements section of this article.
While Lincoln Park Zoo may be part of the park area of Lincoln Park, it isn't managed by the Chicago Parks District. You can find out more about film permits for the zoo in the special requirements section below.
Should you wish to film on public transport, stations, or stops in Lincoln Park, or Chicago itself, you will need to apply to the Chicago Transit Authority for a film permit.
What Insurance Do I Need in Lincoln Park, Chicago?
The statutory liability insurance requirements stated by the Chicago Film Office for filming in Lincoln park are.
You will be required to name the City of Chicago and its employees as additionally insured using the correct wordage. Consult with the Chicago Film Office before purchasing coverage to ensure you use the correct wording, or your certificate may not be accepted.
The Chicago Parks District will also require you to have the same general liability coverage but name the Chicago Parks District as additionally insured. In addition, you will need to provide an endorsement document from your broker stating the certificate covers any property damage that may occur.
Although it's not a requirement to get a filming permit in Lincoln Park, it's always good to ensure you have property damage coverage even if you're filming on private property and not in the city parks. Accidental damage can turn out to be expensive.
When your student production requires you to have a film permit, then you will need to have insurance. The Chicago Film Office recommends requesting a copy of the Certificate of Insurance from your place of study, which should cover your filming activities. If in any doubt, consult with the film office and your school before submitting your film permit application.
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 Lincoln Park, Chicago?
One of the most outstanding features of Lincoln Park is its varied architecture. In this Chicago neighborhood, you'll come across streets lined with Victorian-era homes as well as streets lined with skyscrapers. There are great spots on Clark Street and Lincoln Avenue where you can get the best of both worlds, old and new, as well as capture Downtown Chicago in the background. If that doesn't lend some interesting diversity to your scenes, then nothing will.
The neighborhood of Lincoln Park isn't just about old and new architecture. This Chicago neighborhood is only separated from Lake Michigan by the extensive acreage of the city's public park area, Lincoln Park, and the stretch of water known as South Lagoon. Along that same shoreline are several beaches, including Fullerton Beach and North Avenue Beach, where there's also a pier. It's one of the most scenic spots in the city and ideal for b-roll skyline shots.
As a prominent natural feature of this neighborhood, Lincoln Park is worthy of a mention in its own right. The seven-mile-long park covers a staggering 1,200 acres. It’s home to several of the city's museums and also contains a variety of sports fields, including a nine-hole golf course, boating marinas, landscaped areas, a historic lily pond, and an enormous conservatory. With the right script, you could shoot an entire movie in the park and still have some filming locations left over.
It's hard for the interior locations available in Lincoln Park to compete with the external ones, but they somehow manage to. In Lincoln Park, there are some amazing places that range from classy homes with Victorian-style décor to ones with private libraries that even Abraham Lincoln would look at home in.
You'll come across business-type locations such as event spaces, nail salons, and bars with the capacity to house live music performances. There's even a 19th-century apothecary and dental surgery, as well as a theater and an outdoor cinema. Whatever genre of script you're working from, you're bound to find the right filming location to suit the scenes in Lincoln Park.
Special Requirements in Lincoln Park, Chicago
Code Of Conduct
While you are filming in Lincoln Park, aside from area or property-specific special requirements, you will be required to abide by a code of conduct issued by the Chicago Film Office. The two-page document outlining the code of conduct is downloadable from the CFO website. It should be distributed to all members of the production company's cast and crew before filming begins.
Some of the main points in the code of conduct are:
Production noise levels must be kept to a minimum.
Pyrotechnics and fake gunfire can only be carried out between 9 am and 10 pm and must be supervised by either a qualified police officer or someone from the Chicago Fire Department.
Crew members should wear identity tags at all times.
All trash should be removed and disposed of correctly at the end of each day's shoot.
Filming In Chicago Parks District
Before you can film on any property that comes under the jurisdiction of the Chicago Parks District, not including Lincoln Park Zoo, you will need to apply for a permit. If you are unsure whether the filming location you’ve chosen is part of the Parks District or the city, you can check on the map published on the CFO website, email the Media Department of the Chicago Parks District, or give them a call.
All commercial filming on Chicago Parks District property incurs fees. Here are some examples of what you might be expected to pay:-
Chicago Parks District Fees
CPD Film Permit Application Fee - $35
Small Crew Filming (1 to 5 crew members)
$315 per day per location
Security Deposit - $200
Medium Crew Filming (6 to 12 crew members)
$510 per day per location
Security Deposit - $200
Large Crew Filming (13 to 20 crew members)
$1,150 per day per location
Security Deposit - $520
Major Crew Filming (over 21 crew)
$2,150 per location per day
Security Deposit - $5,200
Student Filming
$45 per location per day
Security Deposit - $0
Filming In Lincoln Park Zoo
To be able to obtain permission to film in Lincoln Park Zoo, you will need to contact the zoo's Public Relations Department at least two weeks before your estimated shoot date. If you're granted permission, then the fees you will need to pay will be decided by the Public Relations Department and will depend on the number of locations and complexity of the filming.
You can expect to have to pay a minimum of:
Location Fee - $2,000 for the first hour
Additional Hours - $500
Student Or Small Crew Filming - $350 per hour
Filming On Public Transport
If you want to film on trains or buses or at a station, you will need a filming permit from the Chicago Transport Authority. They will even hire a specific train car or bus for your production and supply you with farecard replicas for props if you require them.
The first step you'll need to take is to contact the CTA Film Coordinator. This should be done at least two weeks before your estimated shoot date. They will arrange a pre-production meeting during which you'll be given an estimate of the cost your filming will incur.
What Does it Cost to Film in Lincoln Park, Chicago?
Pretty much all aspects of filming in Lincoln Park involve a fee of some kind or another. The City of Chicago is a popular filming location, and the authorities are well-organized in relieving production companies of their budgets to maintain the city's economy.
Additional Fees
Some areas within Lincoln Park, such as gardens, historic sites, or particular landmarks, may have additional location fees. It's crucial to contact the Chicago Park District or the specific department responsible for permits and filming permissions well before your planned shoot.
Geographical Jurisdiction of Lincoln Park, Chicago?
Lincoln Park covers an area of around three and a quarter square miles in the northeastern section of Chicago. It's a densely populated neighborhood and home to over 70,000 people.
Lincoln Park is bordered at its eastern extreme by the 2,000-plus acres of Lincoln Park and Lake Michigan. To the south are the neighborhoods of Old Town and Wicker Park, to the west is Bucktown, and to the north are Lathrop Homes and Lake View.
For clearer boundary markers, it's a good idea to take Diversey Parkway in the north, North Avenue in the south, and the Chicago River to the west as the neighborhood limits.
Should your filming location encroach into any of the neighborhoods surrounding Lincoln Park, you will still need to apply for a filming permit from the Chicago Film Office.
Outreach in Lincoln Park, Chicago
Conducting outreach is a requisite to obtaining a filming permit to film in Lincoln Park. The Chicago Film Office publishes strict guidelines as to how the outreach should be conducted, so it's essential to follow their guidelines in Lincoln Park.
You will be required to distribute a notification leaflet that has been formatted in a set way.
The notification must be printed with the production company's name, logo if it has one, business address, and contact number. The printout must state clearly that it is a filming notification. It should also state the following details:
Title of the production
Time and date of filming
Locations where signs for no parking will be placed
Traffic or sidewalk restrictions
When fake weapons or special effects will be in use
An example of a correctly formatted notification leaflet can be downloaded from the CFO website. Before distributing the notification, you must submit it to the film office for approval.
The CFO requires you to distribute the notifications at least 48 hours before the proposed shoot date and earlier if possible. If you're the one who is snowed under with pre-production problems, then this is a task you might want to consider delegating to a community manager.
Community Management in Lincoln Park, Chicago
Having a good community manager on your team can help take the weight of pre-production off your shoulders. They can take on the responsibility of distributing notifications to the community and businesses around the proposed shoot locations and deal with any queries or repercussions if they should happen.
Lincoln Park is a neighborhood of Chicago that has seen a lot of film production companies on its streets. While the residents may have become accustomed to seeing crews setting up and cast wandering around waiting to go on set, it doesn't mean they're always going to be tolerant of the situation.
Having a community manager around during filming will help prevent any delays caused by either curious or agitated bystanders. They'll be able to smooth out any problems before they reach warfare level, leaving you and the rest of the gang to get on with getting the job in hand done.
Conclusion
Lincoln Park is undoubtedly one of the best neighborhoods in Chicago to choose as a filming location. It has all the attributes you could ask for and more besides. It's not unusual to find distinct features so close together, such as beaches, lakes, parks, and amazing architecture, in a single city neighborhood, but it has to be said that Lincoln Park is definitely a cut above the rest.