City Guide Filming in Racine, WI
Production Permit Fees
- Permit Application Fee: $25
Minimum Insurance
- General Liability: $1 million
- Workers’ Compensation: As per state requirements
- Automobile Liability: $1 million for “owned,” “non-owned,” or “hired”
- Aviation Insurance Coverage: $5 million
- UAS/Drone Insurance: $2 million
Additional Permits
- Police & Firefighter Monitoring: Organized by the production itself, but with the assistance of the special event (public event) division
Discounts
About Racine
The City of Racine is brushed ever so softly by the waters of Lake Michigan, whose shore borders the city's eastern boundary. The sight of the meandering Root River nearby is also a treat for the eyes, especially at the break of dawn. Racine is the fifth biggest urban center in the state and has also been ranked as "the most affordable place to live in the world" by a Demographia International Housing Affordability survey. The city is also home to many prominent architects (and their works) who have contributed greatly to its scenic beauty — Arthur Guilbert, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Edmund Bailey Funston are prominent names. The city’s economy is highly diverse, and major corporations and businesses operating here include the Western Publishing Factory, Mitchell-Lewis Motor Company, Dremel Corporation, and S. C. Johnson & Son, manufacturers of cleaning products.
Hollywood productions have, for long, had their eye on Racine, which is about half an hour south of Milwaukee. Numerous titles, such as Normal, The Paint Job, October Moon, Imposter, New Day, Safe Inside, The Sanguinarian, Ronan, Misfit Heights, In the Land of Canaan, and 5 Dark Souls, have featured Racine’s cityscape and landmarks. If you, too, are looking for a couple of fine filming venues, generally light regulations, and a cooperative local administrative framework, you can’t go wrong with Racine – not to mention the iconic sights! But before you begin, why not brush through a brief read about the filming guidelines in Racine? It’ll save you a ton of time later down the road and make things a whole lot easier when you’re in town. Also, when you’re in town, feel free to explore the exciting cityscape at your leisure, don’t feel rushed to find the perfect filming venues in Racine, as you can simply check them out on Giggster.
Do I Need a Filming Permit in Racine?
Filming crews do need to get a Racine film permit before they can film in public. If you’re planning to film outdoors, reach out to the concerned authorities and make the preparations beforehand, including the part where you get a permit for your filming activities. This, of course, won’t be necessary if you’re filming indoors or within the confines of a privately owned property. In such cases, you only need a permission letter from the property owner/manager. However, if you’re planning to use public property or need assistance from local departments, getting a permit is necessary as per the filming guidelines in Racine. Here are some other permits that you may need on top of a filming/special event permit:
Permit Management in Racine
Racine Public Events Division
Any filming activity (or any other activity for that matter) will be considered a public event by the Racine Public Events Division if, among other things, it involves a significant number of participants/attendees, if a neighborhood park or other public space is to be used for it, or if any street or lane has to be blocked. Feel free to reach out to the Racine Public Events Division, operating under the Parks and Recreation Department, to see if your event qualifies as a public event before starting with the application process. If it does, then you must submit your application, via email, to publicevents@cityofracine.org. You can also visit the office in person at City Hall Annex, 800 Center St., Rm. 127 Racine, WI 53403, or call them at 262-636-9131 for detailed instructions.
If you encounter problems securing film permits in Racine, you can also reach out to Film Wisconsin, a state-level filmmaker resource and assistance organization. Film Wisconsin is dedicated to helping filmmakers get the best out of their efforts in the state; you can check out their guide on getting a permit for filming for more detailed insights.
While there are no tax incentives for filming in Wisconsin, unlike in states like California, you do get a ton of other perks for being here, such as complete support from the local and state-level organizations, access to all the resources you may need, access to numerous eye-candy venues, and much more. You can also check out Film Wisconsin’s FAQ section to get some additional information.
Lastly, while you won’t be able to secure any benefits via tax incentives, there are a ton of grants that you can benefit from! Also, many grant programs are designated specifically for female filmmakers.
What Insurance Do I Need in Racine?
All filmmakers must have adequate production insurance to protect against even the harshest possibilities of filming. Accidents don't give a forewarning, they can come out of nowhere. And when they do happen, the damages can pile up quickly. Economic losses, pain compensation, reimbursement for emotional trauma, and other damages can make the total loss enormous.
You need to be able to compensate the victims in the event of an accident, and even if one is not likely to happen, you are still required to be prepared. Thus the higher the chance of an accident (and the higher the expected damage from that accident), the higher your insurance coverage requirements. Movies featuring dangerous stunt sequences, car chases, aircraft maneuvering, and pyrotechnics are naturally required to get additional coverage. We have summarized the basic production insurance requirements in Racine as follows:
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 Racine?
Putting aside our discussion on the filming laws in Racine for a moment, let’s take a look at the numerous venues in the area, especially those in the vicinity of Lake Michigan. Racine boasts several iconic tourist destinations, such as the Racine Zoo, Racine Art Museum, and Racine Heritage Museum. But other than these, you can also film in fully equipped and optimized production studios. The Unique Film Studio and Sound Stage, for instance, comes equipped with all the filming and recording devices you'll need, and with just a couple of adjustments, you can make the studio exactly what you want it to be. The Mid-Century Modern Creative Photo/Production Studio might be a better fit for a more dated theme as its historic look sets it apart from the rest.
Other examples of perfectly equipped and ready-to-use filming studios are the Big Practice Space, Video & Photo Studio, and the Contemporary Natural Light Studio, both of which offer different looks but are both well-lit with perfect contrast. Another option is the Huge Production Warehouse which is spacious enough to avoid any claustrophobic feelings, and yet enclosed, and thus lit thoroughly (and evenly) by the lights installed. There are numerous other spacious venues for recording, such as the White Storefront Space, Creative Warehouse Space, and the West Town Gallery/Loft Space.
Why keep your feet anchored on the ground when you have an amazing lake to explore? Try the Pontoon Boat Rental for your filming project to explore the allure and charm of Lake Michigan.
Coming back to dry land, you also have formal themed filming venues available for rent, such as the Spacious Office Lobby and the Office Kitchen Space, both of which can fit well for a script involving such a setting. The Office Kitchen Space is perfect for filming a cooking show.
Want to go all in and explore the Lake Michigan area lifestyle for your film? Then the Lakefront House is ideal. It has a homey and cozy feeling, and it is fully furnished and beautifully set up to offer the best sets in every room. Another residential venue of equal caliber is the Waterfront Home, equipped with a pool, a hot swim spa, and a fire pit.
There are a ton of filming venues out there, and the best part is that you don’t have to scout for them manually. Just give Giggster a chance. Scroll through our listings and make an informed decision based on all the visuals, descriptions, and reviews provided.
Special Requirements in Racine
Filming In Local School Districts
You can get conditional permission for your filming activities in the local school district premises, such as the Bull Early Learning Center, Wadewitz Elementary School, and Washington Park High School. Here’s how you can approach this matter:
Arrange for an in-person meeting with the school board.
Present your film’s theme and setup to the school board, just enough to give them an idea of what the project deals with and how their school premises become relevant here
Share details of the anticipated filming activities.
Discuss both the availability of the school’s premises and the site fee for your filming project.
Get general liability insurance coverage of $1,000,000 and workers’ compensation coverage.
Filming In Neighborhood Parks
The local Parks and Recreation Department manages all green areas and parks in the city, such as Pierce Woods Park, Greencrest Park, Belle City Park, Pritchard Park, and Lockwood Park. If you plan on filming here, you must:
Decide whether you need exclusive access to the park premises or not.
Whether or not you’ll have to block certain rights of way when using the park.
With this information, approach the department and see if the park is available as per your schedule.
If so, get a quote for the site fee.
Hire a parks department official, if needed.
Notify the residents and nearby affectees two business days before you start filming.
Filming In Lake Michigan
Permits for filming in Lake Michigan are issued by the local governments of the cities bordering the lake, including Racine. If you plan on renting a couple of boats or kayaks and sailing in the lake's waters, you'll need an additional $1 million worth of watercraft liability coverage (on top of general liability and others). You can also participate in the Lake Michigan Film Festival for amateur filmmakers, which has been running for the past 24 years and offers prizes for the best films.
Filming In The Sanders Park Hardwoods State Natural Area
The Sanders Park Hardwoods State Natural Area, acquired a century back by the city of Racine, has ever since been declared a state property and is currently managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Sitting on Lake Michigan’s ancient terrace, this nature reserve is home to forests of white oak, red oak, white ash, black walnut, and basswood. You’ll also find 89 fern and flower species here and numerous elusive animal species as well. Filming permits for the Sanders Park Hardwoods State Natural Area are issued by the WDNR itself, and you’ll be subject to their rules and regulations when acquiring your permit and filming in the natural area.
Noise Regulations To Follow When Filming
According to the noise control ordinance in Racine, all forms of noise pollution are generally unlawful; you must avoid unnecessary noise/disturbance when filming (except for what is allowed under the terms of the film permit). The city does offer Temporary Noise Variance Permits, but only under special circumstances.
What Does it Cost to Film in Racine?
The filming regulations in Racine allow all departments and agencies involved to charge a fee for their services. You must pay for your permit, according to the extent of public property use, and for any services rendered by the local departments, such as the police and fire departments. First off, the Racine Public Events Division will charge you the following for permit issuance.
Additional Fees
Next up, you’ll also have to get quotes from the local departments for their involvement in the project, such as:
Also, note that all of the aforementioned fees are subject to change depending on the scope of your production efforts and the extent to which you plan on using public property for your project. If the costs seem overwhelming, you can also check out the various grant programs for filmmakers in Wisconsin to secure some financial relief for your efforts.
Geographical Jurisdiction of Racine?
The city of Racine occupies 15.66 square miles in Wisconsin’s Racine County. Milwaukee is roughly 22 miles to the north, and Chicago is 60 miles down south. Racine shares its eastern border with Lake Michigan; to the south lies Mount Pleasant, which stretches along the western boundary as well (sort of like cupping the city of Racine from two sides). To the north are the Root River and Wind Point.
Outreach in Racine
The Racine filming laws only require you to notify all affected individuals before you start filming in public. You must send notification letters with all the relevant details to the affected locals at least two business days in advance — mention the filming schedule, anticipated traffic disturbances, information on street/lane closure, your contact information, and any other pertinent information. Just be sure to get the draft approved by the Special Events Office first.
Community Management in Racine
Overall, the people in Racine are the warm and welcoming kind — they're a bit outdoorsy, and who can blame them? With so many recreation spots, restaurants, bars, and tourist spots dotted all over town, how is it possible to keep people from visiting these places and having a blast with friends and family? The filming regulations in Racine are also on your side. You'll be fine if you stick by the rules and don’t contribute to noise pollution or cause excessive disturbance in any other sphere.
Conclusion
Racine is an impressive place not simply because of its infrastructure and scenic beauty but also because of the city’s deep association with performance groups, galleries, music, museums, dance studios, theater, concerts, and special art events. The Racine Art Museum, a local landmark and tourist destination, houses no less than 4,000 articles displayed to the general public. Other than this, the city also has a tradition of large prom celebrations involving all high schools throughout the city, and this has been covered in a documentary (released in 2006) titled: The World's Best Prom. Another notable prom celebration, titled: A Night To Remember, is also celebrated for individuals with special needs.
As we have seen, the filming guidelines in Racine are simple and easy to follow, which means that you won’t run into any trouble when getting your permit and seeking cooperation from the local departments. Rest assured that the local departments will be highly cooperative and helpful when you need their assistance, albeit for a price. Restaurants, bars, patios, outdoor venues, studios, and so much more are just waiting for you and your film crew. You can find all sorts of venues in the city, and they are all impressive in their way. Plus, since you don't have to scout for venues manually, you'll save a ton of effort and time. Giggster can help you find the best properties for rent in the city (and nearby) for you to film in.
Let the filming begin!