City Guide Filming in Sandy Springs, GA
Production Permit Fees
- Film Permit Minimum Cost: $100 per day
- Film Permit Application Fee: To be provided during the application
Minimum Insurance
- Personal injury
- Property damage
- General liability
- Statutory workers’ compensation
Additional Permits
Discounts
About Sandy Springs
Sandy Springs lies in Fulton County, Georgia, and is just a few miles north of Atlanta, which adds to its allure as a production-friendly place. After all, you would expect this city, considered an inner-ring suburb of Atlanta, to also share in the spirit of the “Hollywood of the South.” Choosing to film in Sandy Springs has lots of benefits, ranging from the beautiful and diverse locations that abound in the city’s neighborhoods to loads of amenities and resources available to support filmmakers in their craft - be it development, post-production, or everything in between.
Whatever it is that production teams may have in mind, whether it's corporate videos, documentaries, feature films, music videos, commercials, TV series and programs, movies, or even student film projects, Sandy Springs offers great opportunities to bring them to life. When you add to that the financial incentives that you get for filming in Georgia, you will see just why you shouldn’t bother resisting the urge to bring your cast and crew here.
Giggster helps with finding the perfect location(s) in Sandy Springs for your shoots, so why not take advantage of that? In case you are wondering if the city lives up to the hype, know that companies such as Coca-Cola, Costco, Dominos, and Johnsonville Meats shoot commercials here regularly. Besides, movies like Tag and The Three Stooges, as well as shows like The Vampire Diaries, The Righteous Gemstones, and The Real Housewives of Atlanta were filmed in Sandy Springs. Find your own Sandy Springs filming location now on Giggster!
Do I Need a Filming Permit in Sandy Springs?
If you are in Sandy Springs on vacation and are filming with your own camera for personal reasons, you won’t need a permit from the city because filming and recording for personal use is not expected to cause any disruption or disturbance to public spaces/facilities in the city. If in doubt about whether your personal filming activity will require a permit, reach out to the Permits and Revenue Office for clarifications just so you are not in violation of any Sandy Springs filming guidelines.
On the other hand, filmmakers who are in Sandy Springs for commercial filming purposes must secure a film permit before they can get their cameras rolling. Where additional permits may be required because of the nature of the film production, the filmmaker will be notified so as to be in compliance with Sandy Springs filming laws.
Public spaces
you won’t need a permit from the city because filming and recording for personal use is not expected to cause any disruption or disturbance to public spaces/facilities in the city
Commercial filming purposes
filmmakers that are in Sandy Springs for commercial filming purposes must secure a film permit before they can get their cameras rolling
Permit Management in Sandy Springs
Permits and Revenue Office
The Permits and Revenue Office is the designated office in charge of issuing and managing film permits in Sandy Springs. Filmmakers can apply for film permits either by using the online portal - Build Sandy Springs - or by scheduling an appointment with designated personnel at City Hall who will offer assistance with the application. Filmmakers who use the online portal not only get to submit their application(s) but can also make required payments and track the status of their application(s).
As a rule, all film permits must be submitted at least five days before the planned date of production. The various city departments will review the application to determine if there are conditions that would necessitate the involvement of more agencies in the project. For instance, if the film production will cause disruptions to public streets, parks, sidewalks, or rights-of-way, then additional recommendations will be made for the project to be able to run smoothly. In addition, filmmakers with projects that involve the use of tents, fireworks or some other special effects will need to contact the Fire Marshal’s Office.
What Insurance Do I Need in Sandy Springs?
To obtain a film permit in Sandy Springs, the filmmaker must meet the following production insurance requirements by providing a certificate of insurance that covers
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 Sandy Springs?
Step into Sandy Springs and explore the beautiful filming locations within the city, from modern office buildings to busy streets, picturesque Southern homes, and plenty of resplendent vegetation, all of which add unique color to sets and film shoots.
The abundance of trees in the city has won Sandy Springs several recognitions, and if you add to that the wildlife, parks, and natural areas within the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, you will find that there’s probably no better place for your production if these settings are required.
Sandy Springs has a vibrant downtown area that features business settings, restaurants and shops, green spaces, and a host of apartments and residential buildings, which are really great as filming locations. In addition, besides the highways that pass through the city and the major streets and freeways, some other parts of the city feature forests and winding, hilly roads as well.
The view of the skyline that “King” and “Queen” buildings in Sandy Springs offers is another top filmmaking attraction here.
Special Requirements in Sandy Springs
Sandy Springs Parks
Filmmakers who wish to make use of any of the 16 city parks spanning over 950 acres in Sandy Springs must complete the Recreation & Parks Film Production on City Parks Application form, which the Recreation & Parks Department will use to assess whether the filmmaker requires a permit or not for the production. The application form must be sent in at least two weeks before the planned date of production and filmmakers should note that none of the city parks will be closed because of the film production.
If a permit is required, the Department will notify the permittee as such and request the associated fee(s). Where a permit will not be required, the Department will simply pass on the rules about filming in the park(s) to the filmmaker. If the filmmaker intends to film for more than one day at any city park, and, in addition, either requires the closure of parking lots, the use of amplified music and sound, or filming in extensive park areas, they must arrange a meeting with the Recreation & Parks Committee at least one week before the production date.
Filming in Sandy Springs parks costs $400 per day for the filming of not more than 4 hours, and $800 per day for filming that is more than 4 hours.
MARTA
The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) offers mass transit services in Sandy Springs and presents commercial filming opportunities to film producers. In order to secure the permit to film on MARTA’s rail rapid transit or bus lines in Sandy Springs, a filmmaker must abide by the following requirements:
Submit a Film & Photography Request Form to the Communications Office at least 30 days prior to filming;
Meet the production insurance requirements that cover personal injury, property damages, and liability, as well as workers’ compensation;
Provide a detailed filming schedule;
Be prepared to hire an off-duty MARTA Police offer (for security reasons) for the duration of the project;
Pay the filming costs ahead of the production (minimum of $500 per hour personnel/property use fee);
Submit the production scripts for review and approval.
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area
The Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (NRA) is open to filming activities, but it’s not all filmmakers that require a permit here. If you intend to film in outdoor areas and are part of a team of not more than five persons, with filming equipment that can be easily carried around (excluding small tripods for cameras), you won’t need to contact the National Park Service for a permit ahead of your activity. Filming in conditions that are different from these requires you to write to the Superintendent at least 10 days before your filming date. The Superintendent will thereafter determine if your activity can take place in the NRA and if you require a permit for it or not.
The Special Park Uses Program Coordinator is available to provide clarifications about filming in the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area if required.
Public Schools
Filming is allowed in the public schools in Sandy Springs, all of which are operated by the Fulton County School System. Filmmakers who wish to film in these schools are required to reach out to a Facility Rental Officer of the Fulton County School System via email using Filming and Production Inquiry in the subject line. In addition, film companies can search for their desired school facility, verify if it’s available, and manage their reservation using a dedicated online system called School Dude.
What Does it Cost to Film in Sandy Springs?
The permit fee for filming in Sandy Springs is $100 per day. If you intend to film in a facility or park owned by the city, you will be required to pay a $500 Sanitation Bond. More information about the filming rates is provided by the City’s Revenue Department and available during the application process online at Build Sandy Springs. Payments are best made using credit or debit cards; however, this comes with a 5% surcharge.
Additional Fees
The City of Sandy Springs is a film-friendly destination and welcomes special events, including filming and commercial photography. In addition to the Sanitation Bond and permit fee for filming here, you might have to pay for city amenities and resources used for filming or the services provided by the city departments during your shoot. Moreover, some entities may require permits to shoot on private property and others do not.
Always check for restrictions, rules, and permitting for your desired filming location, whether it’s a private or a public area. Permit applications and payments of fees must be done well in advance to avoid production delays.
Geographical Jurisdiction of Sandy Springs?
Sandy Springs is bordered to the south by the city of Atlanta and to the west and north by the Chattahoochee River. Beyond the Chattahoochee River to the west and north are Cobb County and Roswell respectively. Dunwoody and Brookhaven lie east and southeast respectively. Interstate-285 runs from east to west across the city while Georgia 400 runs in the north direction, almost parallel to Roswell Road – the main street in the city connecting Roswell to Buckhead in Atlanta.
Atlanta
The Office of Film and Entertainment manages the film permitting process in the city of Atlanta – the Hollywood of the South. Here, those who are filming activities such as demonstrations, protests, and rallies taking place on public property do not require a permit. However, every other filmmaker has to reach out to the Office of Film and Entertainment for a permit before going about their business. Student permits are issued too.
As for turnaround times, a film permit can be ready within 24-48 hours, however, the Film Office recommends that filmmakers apply for their permit as soon as possible, simply because some permits require longer processing times than others. For instance, if your project requires that a street be closed, then your permit application must be submitted at least five business days before the start of filming. In addition, there’s a rush fee that is associated with applications made less than 72 hours before the start of filming.
A certificate of insurance is required as part of the film permit application, and this must cover a liability of at least $1,000,000 with the city listed as additional insured. The application fee for the film permit in Atlanta is $100 ($25 for students) while filming permits cost $300 per month ($150 flat for students). Additional fees are billed for rush applications, changes to issued permits, on-site services, and parking.
Cobb County
The Office of Economic Development in Cobb County is responsible for issuing permits to film in any Cobb County facility or within unincorporated Cobb County. All permit applications must be submitted at least ten business days before the start of filming, and the nature of the application should be per filming location.
The permit application must be accompanied by acceptable insurance documents that list the county as additional insured, as well as a site plan. The Cobb County Fire Department stipulates the requirements for compliance with fire safety during the period of the filming.
A summary of the filming fees in Cobb County is presented below. Daily rates are for 12 hours. Permit Coordination Fee - $300 Expedite fee for requests that come in less than ten business days - $1,000 Change Order Fee - $100 per change Entire Road Closure - $500 per day County Facility Use Fee - $200 minimum per day Fire Department Professional Fire Watch Fee - $50 per hour (4 hours minimum)
Roswell
The Special Events Division manages the film permitting process in the city of Roswell and acts as the liaison between the filmmaker and the various city departments. All film permits must be submitted to the Special Events Division at least 48 hours before the start of filming for them to be processed.
Other filming guidelines to abide by to receive a permit to film in Roswell are summarized below: Students must have documentation from their supervisor verifying their studentship The filmmaker must provide comprehensive liability insurance or surety indemnity bond with the city listed as an additional insured: Personal injury minimum of $300,000 Property damage of $100,000 General liability insurance minimum of $1,000,000
Only production vehicles may be parked at the filming location. All other vehicles are to be parked off-location A letter of notification to the neighborhood where filming is set to take place is required Filming hours are from 7 am to 10 pm, except otherwise approved Roswell Fire Department’s approval is required for the use of special effects, pyrotechnics, etc. and appropriate fire personnel must be on hand during filming.
Dunwoody
To film in Dunwoody, you need to complete the Media Production Permit Application and send to the Licenses and Special Events Unit of the Department of Community Development along with the following documents:
Site Plan Application fee of $25 Letter of notification to the neighbors Sign Permit Application Certificate of Insurance Evidence of permission from the owner of the property to be used, or a Legal Agreement Filming in Dunwoody costs $100 per day, the Sign fee is $100, public facility and park rentals cost $500 per day, while Police services cost $55 per hour per officer (minimum of three hours). The filmmaker is responsible for contacting the Dunwoody Police Department to make arrangements for Police services.
Brookhaven
The film office in the city of Brookhaven is the Department of Community Development. The department issues film permits, coordinated with city and external agents, and ensures that the film permitting process in the city is smooth.
FilmApp is the application portal for a film permit in the city. For film production scheduled to take place in residential areas in the city, the application must be made at least 7 days before the filming date, while filming in other areas requires at least 48 hours.
Furthermore, the application must be accompanied by supporting documents, some of which include: The site, Clean-up, and Medical Support/First Aid Plans Proof of Neighborhood Notification Certificate of Comprehensive Liability Insurance Application and filming fees
Outreach in Sandy Springs
As per the filming regulations in Sandy Springs, every film production company must conduct outreach in the neighborhood where filming is to take place, and this must be prior to the commencement of filming. Filmmakers are to comply with this requirement by sending out letters notifying the residents and businesses that will be affected by the film project of the intended production activities. The letter of notification forms part of the documents that will be reviewed before a film permit is issued.
Community Management in Sandy Springs
Filmmakers are welcome to do their thing in Sandy Springs, and the hosts are certainly accustomed to having production teams in town. What always fosters a good relationship between the people of the city and the filming crew is an avenue of communication that allows one party to easily reach the other for requests, complaints, or the management of expectations. Moreover, leaving the filming location in a clean and tidy state after the production is complete always sets a good example.
Conclusion
The city of Sandy Springs is an attractive destination for commercial film production for lots of reasons such as its friendly residents, supportive film permits office, scenic and adaptable locations, as well as the financial incentives that filmmakers automatically get because they chose to film in a city in Georgia. Judging by the number of TV shows and commercials that have been shot in the city, you could definitely say that Sandy Springs is a fancied destination for production companies.
As a filmmaker, you can either schedule an appointment with a city representative at City Hall to discuss the details of your project or simply apply online, having all the required documents and fees ready. The Permits and Revenue Office liaises with most of the city departments whose services may be required during the course of the film project, while the filmmaker bears the cost. You can easily find any location of choice for your film shoot in Sandy Springs with Giggster, so there’s nothing stopping you from scheduling your next production here.