Naperville

About Naperville

Naperville is a city that lies within DuPage and Will Counties in Illinois. It is located about 28 miles west of Chicago in the Chicago metro area. For tourists, entertainment buffs, and filmmakers, Naperville is a popular destination for several reasons — several concerts happen here featuring many musicians. Also, the city hosts the Naperville Independent Film Festival every year, bringing filmmakers from within and outside the region together.

Naperville is home to parks, forest preserves, residential and business areas, museums, historic buildings, and other spots for filming different productions. If you wish to know what Naperville offers, feel free to check out some of the projects filmed in whole or part within the city limits. Examples are Contagion (2011), Utopia (2020), The Dilemma (2011), Gringo (2018), A Family Man (2016), Super Size Me (2004), Long Way Round (2004 – 2010), My Life (1993), The Lucky Ones (2007), and A Christmas Witness (2021).

Schedule your next production in Naperville and find the location that suits your needs in the city using Giggster.

Do I Need a Filming Permit in Naperville?

In Naperville, any form of commercial film production is categorized as a Special Event, and therefore, a filming permit in the city is considered a Special Events Permit.

Not all film production activities in Naperville require a permit. For instance, according to Naperville’s filming laws, if your production is for non-commercial use and will not cause any form of impact on the public, you will not need a permit for such a filming activity. Moreover, you do not need a film permit to film actual news events or stories in the city. Other groups that do not require a film permit for production are schools, places of worship, or businesses filming on their premises for training, family, or educational purposes.

On the other hand, you must obtain a film permit before production if you intend to film on city property and your activities will impact the public. Such activities include closing streets, sidewalks, parking facilities, and other public property. You need a film permit if your production requires certain areas to be designated as No Parking or Tow Zones.

Depending on the nature of your production, you may require additional permits for your project. This may mean you must complete extra applications, such as a Tent Permit, Amplifier Permit Application, or Fireworks Permit Application.

Permit Management in Naperville

The City Council

In Naperville, the City Council approves all Special Events Permit applications, including filming permit applications. However, you will not submit the permit application directly to the City Council. Instead, the city’s Special Events Coordinator receives all Special Events permit applications on behalf of the City Council. The Special Events Coordinator and a Special Events Team review the application and present recommendations to the City Council for approval.

As you plan to submit the Special Event Permit application, you also need to include some other documents so that your application will be treated without delay. These include:

A certificate of insurance that complies with the city’s film production insurance requirements.

A completed and signed hold harmless agreement.

Evidence of notification to residents and businesses impacted by the filming activity.

What Insurance Do I Need in Naperville?

Naperville’s filming guidelines state that every filmmaker who intends to shoot production in the city must provide a certificate of insurance at least 30 days before the start of production and include an insured endorsement page that names Naperville and its staff as additional insured.

If deemed necessary, the City Council will request additional insurance for the production and notify the filmmaker to provide it before the permit is issued. If you are a student filmmaker or a non-profit organization, contact the Special Events Coordinator to find the insurance requirements applicable to your proposed production.

Liability Insurance

The insurance must have a liability with a general aggregate amount of $2,000,000.

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 Naperville?

Here in Naperville, filmmakers get to choose where they want to set up their gear because filming locations are abundant and diverse. The city is home to historic places, landmark features, parks, forest preserves, schools, shopping and business settings, residential areas, libraries, museums, and so much more. One of the most popular features in Naperville is the Moser Tower and Millennium Carillon, one of the largest in the world.

In the Naperville Historic District, more than 500 buildings typify the local architecture and cultural heritage. These buildings offer producers plenty of options for shoots and backdrops. If you fancy filming at a local landmark in the city, check out the Old Nichols Library. Naper Settlement is another place where you will find a lot of history about the city.

Extensive park systems and forest preserve networks invite cast and crew to take shots in picturesque locations. The Naperville Park District manages parks, preserves, open spaces, playgrounds, and miles of trails in the city. Each of these is a unique filming location adaptable to different script requirements. Several other forest preserves are under the management of the Forest Preserve of DuPage County, and you can rest assured that they are no less attractive for production.

Naperville roads, freeways, rail lines, and corridors are also great filming locations. Rest assured, you will find your desired location here.

Special Requirements in Naperville

Naperville City Parks

If you wish to carry out commercial photography for documentaries, feature films, TV shows, student films, or any other form of commercial film production in a city park in Naperville, you must submit a photography permit request at least 30 days in advance of the planned activity to the Naperville Park District. The permit fee is $50 per month or $300 per year.

Accompany your permit request with the following:

A certificate of insurance that names the Naperville Park District as an additional insured and covers the following:

General liability insurance of at least $1,000,000.

Auto liability insurance of at least $1,000,000.

Commercial umbrella liability insurance of at least $1,000,000.

Workers’ compensation and employer’s liability of at least $1,000,000.

A signed indemnification and hold harmless agreement.

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

Before you can conduct a movie shoot in any forest preserve that is managed by the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County in Naperville, you must fill out an inquiry form to obtain a Special-Use Permit. Send in your application at least four calendar weeks before the date you intend to commence filming and pay the application fee as well as any other required filming fees. The application fee is $45.

When you submit your permit application, a representative will get in touch with you to discuss the details of your production and the logistics required for the success of your project. You can also contact Visitor Services if you have any questions.

You must provide insurance before you can film in any of DuPage County’s Forest Preserves. The certificate of insurance must name the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County as an additional insured and certificate holder and cover general liability of $1,000,000 and $2,000,000 general aggregate.

Forest Preserve District of Will County

Filming in a forest preserve within Will County requires a film permit. To obtain this permit, complete the application form and submit it via email to the Forest Preserve District of Will County at least two weeks before the date you intend to film. The cost of filming is $125 for a half day, $250 for a full day of filming, and $1,000 for a week of filming. After you apply for the permit, additional requirements, such as insurance, will be communicated to you.

Forest Preserve of Cook County

The Forest Preserve of Cook County (FPCC) welcomes filmmakers to submit permit applications to shoot scenes in the forest preserves that they manage. Accompany the application with the following:

A certificate of insurance that covers general liability of $1,000,000 and names the FPCC as an additional insured.

The film script.

The prop and equipment list.

The number and types of vehicles.

Payment of the filming fees.

A security deposit.

You must post a Filming sign before the commencement of filming and have a police officer on-site during production. The costs associated with filming on FPCC property are presented below:

Application fee - $25.

Rate for FPCC personnel - $45 per hour.

Commercials/TV shoots permit fee - $150 per hour (Security deposit - $500).

Feature film permit fee - $200 per hour (Security deposit - $1,000).

Student film permit fee – Free (Security deposit - $100).

Metra

Commercial filming activities are permitted in areas open to the public on Metra property in Naperville. If you wish to shoot production here, reach out to Metra with your proposal/request. If your request to film on Metra property is approved, you will need to sign a License Agreement, complete a hold harmless agreement, provide insurance, and pay all applicable fees in full before you start production. Be prepared to submit the application form at least 20 business days before filming and pay the $500 application fee.

DuPage Airport

The DuPage Airport Authority welcomes filmmakers to engage in commercial film production, such as ads, TV shows, and movies on its grounds. First, you must complete and submit the film permit application and pay the filming fees. You must also comply with the production insurance requirements and complete the indemnification and hold harmless agreement and submit them alongside the film permit application.

The insurance requirements are as follows:

General liability of at least $1,000,000.

Auto liability of at least $1,000,000.

Workers’ Compensation according to the statutory limits of Illinois.

Name the DuPage Airport Authority as additional insured.

Will County Highways

If you wish to film on Will County highways, you must obtain a Special Event Permit from the Will County Division of Transportation by applying at least 30 days before the date of filming and paying the permit fee of $50. In addition to the permit application, ensure you have approvals from other municipalities or agencies that have jurisdiction over the areas that are along the highway route.

What Does it Cost to Film in Naperville?

There are costs associated with film production in Naperville, and the Special Events Coordinator will notify you of the fees that apply to your production.

Additional Fees

If the City Council requires certain personnel to be on-site during production, like Police or Fire personnel, you will bear the cost of their services.

Geographical Jurisdiction of Naperville?

The city of Naperville lies within two counties and six townships. The two counties are DuPage County and Will County, while the six townships are Winfield Township, Milton Township, Naperville Township, Lisle Township, DuPage Township, and Wheatland Township. The municipalities west of Naperville include Aurora, Eola, Montgomery, and Boulder Hill. Plainfield is located south of the city, while Warrenville lies north. Lisle, Woodbridge, and Bolingbrook border the city to the east.
Aurora Film production in the city of Aurora is categorized as a Tier 5 event, and it requires a permit. A filmmaker must submit a permit application to film in the city at least 30 days before the intended start date and accompany it with the non-refundable application fee of $25. After applying for the permit, your request will be reviewed by different city departments, and you may be required to attend a meeting with the Review Team. You will be notified while the application review is ongoing if you need to obtain additional permits or provide additional information. The insurance requirement for film production in Aurora is as follows: Commercial general liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 general aggregate. Automobile liability of $1,000,000 per accident. Name the City of Aurora as an additional insured. If the City’s Risk Management Division deems higher insurance coverages necessary for your production, you will be duly informed. Schaumburg Park District Apply for a film permit from the Schaumburg Park District (SFD) to make use of their property for commercial film production. The SFD requires a filmmaker to submit the permit application at least two weeks before the desired filming date and pay the fees required for the production. Normal filming hours are from 8 am to 5 pm. There are additional costs for filming outside these hours (from $15 per hour to $25 per hour). Here are some of the production fees: Student filming or Filming with less than 11 crew - $50 per hour or $300 per day. Damage deposit - $200. Filming with between 11 & 25 crew - $150 per hour or $950 per day. Damage deposit - $1,000. Filming with more than 25 crew - $400 per hour or $2,400 per day. Damage deposit - $1,000. A certificate of insurance is required for all film production on the Schaumburg Park District property.

Outreach in Naperville

Naperville film laws require production teams to notify residents and businesses impacted by the production before the scheduled filming commences. The filmmaker may mail the notice to the affected residents and businesses or deliver it by hand. To comply with Naperville’s filming guidelines, a filmmaker must ensure that the affected members of the community receive the notification at least two weeks before any filming activities begin.

As for the specific people to be notified, the Special Events Coordinator will provide the filmmaker with a mailing list. However, the filmmaker must first send a copy of the notification letter to the Special Events Coordinator for review and approval before distribution.

Community Management in Naperville

The folks in Naperville are friendly and welcoming, so you shouldn’t experience any challenges with your production caused by the community. As a filmmaker, you have a role to play in creating a mutually beneficial relationship with the local community while filming is ongoing. Create time to participate in community events, attend public meetings, and open communication between your company and the community’s leadership and people. These will foster a good relationship with the hosts and create a positive experience for everyone.

Conclusion

Choosing to schedule a commercial film production in Naperville is a decision that always pays off because the city offers striking locations, amazing people, and a supportive film permit management team. Here in Naperville, you can be sure that you will get good value for your time and efforts and will look forward to your next production in the city.

The Special Events Coordinator is the city official who receives all film permit applications and reviews them with a team of Special Events representatives. Then, the City Council approves or denies the permit based on the recommendation of the Special Events Coordinator and the impact of the production on the community. The process takes about 30 days, and you can rest assured that you will be supported until you receive your film permit.

City Guide Filming in Naperville, IL

Production Permit Fees

Minimum Insurance

Additional Permits

Discounts