City Guide Filming in South Bend, IN
Production Permit Fees
- Film Permit Minimum Cost: Determined by the Special Event Committee.
- Film Permit Application Fee: $50
Minimum Insurance
- General liability of at least $700,000 per occurrence and $1,000,000 aggregate
- Automobile liability of at least $700,000 per occurrence and $1,000,000 aggregate
Additional Permits
Discounts
About South Bend
The city of South Bend in Indiana is the county seat of Joseph County, and it lies on the southernmost bend of the Joseph River for which it is named. Settlers arrived in the area in the early 1800s, and it was eventually established as a city in 1865. Filmmaking did not begin until the 1930s when the city’s economy started to grow, in many ways due to the river access, which brought many industries to South Bend.
South Bend is close to Indiana’s border with Michigan (just five miles north) and lies just west of Mishawaka. As a top entertainment hub in the region, South Bend is popular for its annual festivals, such as the South Bend International Festival and the South Bend Reggae Festival. Outdoor recreation enthusiasts also love the city for its abundant picturesque spots that offer pristine connections to nature. Filmmakers love that about the city, too, and never pass up the opportunity to shoot production here.
Since the first film was shot here in South Bend in 1931, the city has been going strong as a choice filming destination. You will find some of the best filming locations in South Bend on Giggster. Moreover, feel free to check out projects filmed here like Rudy (1993), The Other Fellow (2022), The Eden Theory (2021), Knute Rockne All American (1940), The Looking Glass (I) (2015), Crowning Jules (2017), Room 441 (2020), I Hate My Brother (2016), The Girls of Summer (2020), and The Execution of Julie Ann Mabry (2009).
Do I Need a Filming Permit in South Bend?
tain kinds of production do not require a film permit in South Bend. For instance, you may not need a permit for your project if you are filming for personal reasons and will not use any city or public property. Additionally, you may not require a filming permit if you intend to film only on private property in the city and will not disturb the public. Members of the news media may not require film permits for live coverage of news or happenings in the city as well.
Permit Management in South Bend
Special Event Committee
In South Bend, the Special Event Committee is the body responsible for reviewing applications for special events and film productions, and issuing permits for such projects in the public right-of-way or on city property. The members of the Special Event Committee include a Mayoral designee and a representative of each of the following departments – Police, Fire, Streets, and Public Works.
To start the application process, a filmmaker should complete the Special Event Application form and submit it via email or physically at the Public Works Service Center in the city. Supporting documents for the application are listed below:
The application fee.
A description of the project.
A site plan and/or route map.
A traffic plan.
An Emergency Safety Plan.
A proposed Cleanup Plan.
A security plan.
The notification letter to the residents and businesses that will be affected by the planned production, if applicable.
A certificate of insurance that complies with the city’s production insurance requirements.
A signed hold harmless agreement.
Per South Bend’s filming laws, any application received less than thirty days before the planned production date will not be treated. Ideally, filmmakers are advised to submit the film application sixty days before the filming date to avoid paying a late submission fee.
What Insurance Do I Need in South Bend?
South Bend’s filming guidelines require every filmmaker that wishes to shoot any form of production requiring a permit in the city to present a copy of a certificate of insurance that complies with the production insurance requirements documented in South Bend’s Ordinance. To comply with this requirement, the certificate of insurance must cover the following policy and be submitted no later than two weeks before the planned production date:
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 South Bend?
There are a wide variety of filming locations in South Bend to choose from for indoor and outdoor film productions of any scale. The city is home to several museums, theatrical buildings, residential and business settings, streets and roads, parks and zoos, rail lines, and an airport, to name a few. Filming here is a pleasurable experience.
History buffs have several filming locations to choose from in South Bend. The South Bend Museum of Art, for instance, is home to hundreds of antiques and features about South Bend and the Michiana region. The History Museum, home of the Northern Indiana Historical Society (established in 1867), is the place to learn about the history of northern Indiana and features the Oliver Mansion (built in 1895).
Moreover, filmmakers will find automobiles and wagons that tell the story of the Studebaker Corporation’s history in the Studebaker National Museum in the city. Choice antiques here include the carriages of Presidents Grant, Harrison, McKinley, and Lincoln. What’s more, the nearby Snite Museum of Art at the University of Notre Dame contains 29,000 works of art.
As a top entertainment venue in the region, South Bend is home to various performing arts theaters that are adaptable for film productions. A good example is the Morris Performing Arts Center which houses the Broadway Theater League and the South Bend Symphony Orchestra. The South Bend Civic Theater, with its main stage auditorium and “black box” studio theater, is another popular spot in the city. Other spots are the State Theater, Legends of Notre Dame, and the historic Birdsell Mansion.
The South Bend Parks and Recreation Department manages more than fifty parks in the city, in addition to mountain bike trails, golf courses, hiking trails, and a nature center. Even more, the twenty-three-acre Potawatomi zoo – the second oldest zoo in the state of Indiana – is home to more than four hundred animals. Other picturesque areas to explore nature's beauty here are the Potawatomi Greenhouses and the Ella Morris and Muessel-Ellison Botanical Conservatories.
Here in South Bend, filmmakers love the outdoors because of places such as the East Race Waterway – a boating and water sports arena, the bicycle routes, the grid-patterned streets, as well as the national and state highways that connect different parts of the city and nearby municipalities. The railroad system and airport in the city offer additional filming opportunities too.
Special Requirements in South Bend
South Bend City Parks
If your film production in South City will require you to close a city park, you will be required to complete a City of South Bend Venue Parks and Art (VPA) park or pavilion event application in addition to the city’s special event application. Reach out to the VPA for inquiries on how to go about your application.
Amtrak
If you wish to shoot production on the Amtrak bus line that passes through South Bend, reach out to and make prior arrangements with Amtrak’s Real Estate Department to obtain necessary approvals and permits. Contact them as early as possible to ensure you get all you need before your production starts.
South Bend International Airport
Any inquiry about film production at South Bend International Airport should be directed to the Vice President of Marketing and Air Service Development via phone or email. Alternatively, filmmakers can complete the online contact form.
Greyhound
If you plan to film at the Greyhound station or on the Greyhound buses serving the city, you must obtain permission from the company by contacting the marketing department at least one month before the date you intend to commence production.
St. Joseph County Public Library
To conduct any commercial filming activities within St. Joseph County Public Library, a filmmaker must make a request no later than fourteen days in advance of the production date. Contact the Venue and Events Coordinator if you have any questions or inquiries. These are some of the conditions and requirements for filming in the Public Library:
The library is available for filming between 9 am and 11 pm. Requests to film outside these hours attract additional fees and must be received at least fourteen days before the start date.
There are no guaranteed parking spaces, so filmmakers must make necessary parking arrangements for the production.
A certificate of liability insurance with the following coverage is required for production:
General liability of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate.
Name St. Joseph County Public Library as additional insured.
Provide the certificate at least fourteen days before the start of filming.
The security personnel fee is $30 per hour.
Facility fees are according to the fee schedule of the Library.
Indiana University South Bend
Before a filmmaker can conduct production activities on the South Bend campus of Indiana University, they must complete a Filming Production Agreement, and it must be approved by the Office of the Vice President & General Counsel, Indiana University Studios, and the University’s Office of Insurance, Loss Control, and Claims. Additional requirements are as follows:
The filmmaker is responsible for all costs incurred by the University from the production activities and must remit such payments within fourteen days of receiving the invoice.
Provide a certificate of insurance no later than five business days before production begins and ensure it covers the following:
Worker’s Compensation in line with statutory limits and Employers Liability of $100,000.
Comprehensive general liability of $1,000,000.
Automobile liability of $1,000,000.
Ivy Tech Community College
If you wish to use a facility at Ivy Tech Community College for production, send in your request at least three weeks before the event (but not earlier than six weeks) via email. Prepare to present a certificate of insurance with general liability of not less than $1,000,000 per occurrence and $3,000,000 aggregate that names Ivy Tech Community College as an additional insured. You must also indemnify and hold harmless Ivy Tech and its staff from all claims and damages that may arise from the production. You will also agree to pay all the expenses incurred from the production.
Indiana Parks
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) welcomes filmmakers to carry out production activities within the state’s parks, nature preserves, wildlife areas, and places managed by the DNR. For such activities, a filmmaker must first obtain a permit by following the application process below:
Contact the property at the desired filming location no later than ninety days before the production date to discuss your project details.
Send your request by email to the DNR and include the summary of the production, the number of crew and equipment, and other relevant project information.
Complete and sign the DNR Commercial Film and Photography Agreement and return it to the property manager.
Provide any other additional information requested by the property manager.
What Does it Cost to Film in South Bend?
Filmmakers that submit their film production application sixty days before the filming date (or earlier) are required to pay a non-refundable application fee of $50. Applications received between fifty-nine to thirty days before the production date must be accompanied by a fee of $100. Cost recovery fees are assessed for every scheduled production in South Bend, depending on the city services used during the project. While the application is being assessed, the Special Event Committee will provide the filmmaker with an estimated Cost Recovery Invoice to be paid before the project starts. All payments can be made by card or check to the city of South Bend.
Additional Fees
There might be local taxes or additional fees imposed on filming activities that need to be accounted for in your budget. To get accurate cost estimates and understand specific requirements, it's advisable to consult with local film commissions, and production service companies or seek advice from professionals who have previously filmed in South Bend.
Geographical Jurisdiction of South Bend?
St Joseph River flows through South Bend from the eastern end of the city and turns north near the city center into Lake Michigan. Notre Dame is the municipality that lies directly north of South Bend, while Roseland and Georgetown also lie between the city and the boundary with Michigan. Granger lies northeast, while Mishawaka borders the city to the east. Ardmore is the municipality directly west of South Bend, while Westfield and Lydick are just about a mile west. The municipality that lies south of South Bend is Gulivoire Park, while Woodland and Crumstown are southeast and southwest respectively. Notre Dame In the unincorporated community of Notre Dame, filmmakers are welcome to shoot production within the University of Notre Dame. The University’s Office of Public Affairs and Communications (OPAC) coordinates applications and requests for film shoots within the University premises. Filmmakers are to contact the Assistant Vice President, who will assign a staff member to assist with the permitting process. The filming fees are determined based on the size and scope of individual projects. The following are required: The movie script. The locations requested. The date, time, and duration of the shoot. The number of people participating in each day's production The type of activity to be filmed. The list of project-related vehicles and equipment. The sizes and composition of the production's structures. A certificate of insurance that covers comprehensive general liability insurance and names the University of Notre Dame as additional insured. Mishawaka The Parks and Recreation Department in the city of Mishawaka welcomes filmmakers to apply for a permit to film in a city park. To obtain the permit, complete the application form and send it via email to the Parks Department. Applications are treated on a first-come, first-served basis, so you should apply as early as possible. Additional considerations for the permit are highlighted below: Provide a certificate of insurance with a liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 per occurrence naming the city of Mishawaka as an additional insured no later than two weeks before the date of production. If you require streets or sidewalks as part of the production, present a letter to the Board of Public Works at least three weeks before the production. There are special rules that apply to filming within city parks in Mishawaka. Some of these conditions are presented below: Prohibited activities include fireworks, projectile items, alcohol, and weapons. Obtain prior permission for amplified sound equipment from the Board of Public Works by submitting a noise ordinance variance request. Parking is allowed only in designated areas. The city of Mishawaka Police Department may require a police officer to be present during production. Niles To shoot a commercial film production in the city of Niles, complete and submit the event application form at least sixty days before the first day of filming and include the following: A certificate of liability insurance. An application fee of $75 (late submission is $100). A description of the project. A traffic control plan. A site map. A description of the site services (Police, Amplified sound, etc.). St. Joseph County Parks St. Joseph County Parks are available for film production, and filmmakers must complete and submit a request form if they intend to film within the park’s area. As a first step, reach out to the Park Office to get information about availability. Here are some considerations to bear in mind: Amplified sound must not exceed 75 decibels nor disturb park users. Facilities are available until 11 pm. Fires are not permitted except with prior approval.
Outreach in South Bend
South Bend’s filming regulations require every filmmaker that intends to use or close public streets and/or sidewalks in the city to notify the business owners and residents in the area before the start of production. The filmmaker must present the production concept to the affected stakeholders in the filming area and distribute the notice accordingly. This notification or door hanger must describe the purpose of the production, the scheduled dates, and production times.
Community Management in South Bend
As you prepare to shoot production within South Bend’s neighborhoods, prepare to engage the folks in the area, particularly those that will be directly affected by your production activities in the community – parking, filming, meals, etc. You can affect the locals positively through one-on-one conversations (where allowed), public relations in designated forums, or compensation if required and welcomed. This set a good example for future filmmakers to follow by strengthening the connection between the production team and the community.
Conclusion
South Bend is one of the cities in Indiana with a rich entertainment and filmmaking history. Here, the Special Event Committee oversees all applications for special events and film permits as they work with city agencies to determine the requirements that filmmakers need to meet for a successful project. Per South Bend's filming regulations, a filmmaker must apply for the permit sixty days before D-day and pay an application fee, provide acceptable insurance documents, submit the necessary documentation, and notify the community. After that, what awaits is a delightful experience.