City Guide Filming in Staten Island, NY
Production Permit Fees
- Film Permit Minimum Cost: Free
- Film Permit Application Fee: $300
Minimum Insurance
- Comprehensive general insurance of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence
Additional Permits
- Oversized Vehicle Permit
- Permit for pyrotechnics, fire effects, and explosions
- Special requests
Discounts
About Staten Island
The geographical location of Staten Island in New York City is one of the interesting things about the borough. It is removed from other parts of the city and shares no land borders with the other boroughs like Brooklyn. However, that does not in any way prevent it from sharing in the film production fame that New York City is known for.
Staten Island is home to some of the best filming locations in the region, and that’s evidenced by the sheer number of movies, TV shows, ads, and other kinds of commercial projects that have used the borough as a backdrop for their production. It’s not uncommon to spot production trucks in the borough’s neighborhood. After all, filming in this borough dates back to 1902.
It’s quite hard to resist the urge to head over to Staten Island for a project. Why? The Borough President and the entire leadership team actively encourage and assist filmmakers with access to the Island for film production and other commercial production activities. When you consider New York City’s tax break for filming and the abundant locales that provide unique production settings, you will get why Staten Island is a giant in the film production space.
In case you didn’t know, projects such as The Godfather (1972), The Blacklist (2013), City on a Hill (2019), Goodfellas (1990), Fringe (2008–2013), Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), Boardwalk Empire (2010–2014), Gotham (2014–2019), The Greatest Showman (2017), and Ocean's Eight (2018) were shot in Staten Island. Find a location for your next production in Staten Island now using Giggster.
Do I Need a Filming Permit in Staten Island?
According to Staten Island’s filming laws, it is not all film production activities in Staten Island that require a film permit. Furthermore, even though some film projects do not require a permit, a filmmaker may decide to apply for an Optional Permit for such activities. Additionally, you may choose to obtain a Letter in Lieu of Optional Permit for filming in Staten Island under certain conditions when you do not need a permit. Still, there are certain filming activities that a filmmaker must obtain a permit for before engaging in them.
Student permit
Student permits are for student filmmakers duly registered in an accredited institution
Fire permit
Fire permits are required by producers who intend to use pyrotechnics, special effects, or fire during filming
Permit Management in Staten Island
Office of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting
The New York City Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting (OFTB) is the agency that issues and manages film permits for production in the borough of Staten Island. In addition to film permit issuance, the OFTB also offers free police assistance and location access to filmmakers in the borough. Any film permit issued by the OFTB to a production company will usually come with free parking privileges.
As a first step, you must arrange a Pre-Production meeting with the OFTB to review your project details and schedules. The meeting will have representatives from the OFTB and relevant agencies in attendance. Ideally, you should schedule this meeting about three weeks before the date of filming. However, the latest date is five business days before filming.
After the Pre-Production meeting, you are ready to apply for the permit to film in Staten Island. You must submit your film permit application at least two business days before the start of filming. Some projects require up to four business days to process e.g., complex ones that require the involvement of the NYPD Movie and TV Unit. So, the earlier you submit your application, the better.
Before proceeding with the online film permit application for Staten Island, other requirements for an OFTB permit to are as follows:
Pay the non-refundable application fee of $300.
Submit the certificate of insurance at least 48 hours before you apply.
Notify the members of the neighborhood where filming will take place.
There are additional considerations when applying for a film permit here. For instance, if you will be filming in a location where you need prior approval, you must indicate the information on the permit application. The OFTB can provide one form of support or the other with such locations.
As a student filmmaker, you must provide your student ID as part of your application for filming in Staten Island.
What Insurance Do I Need in Staten Island?
If you do not require a permit to film in Staten Island, you will not need liability insurance either. However, if you require a permit, you must provide liability insurance. The only possible exception is if you can demonstrate that getting the insurance will impose on you an unreasonable hardship. In that case, the OFTB may waive the insurance requirement.
The production insurance requirement for Staten Island is a certificate of insurance that provides at least $1,000,000 comprehensive general insurance per occurrence. The insurance policy must name the City of New York and its employees as additional insured. Furthermore, the policy must be valid for the entire duration of production.
The OFTB must receive your certificate of insurance well before you submit your film permit application. As a result, the Film Office expects you to provide the certificate of insurance via email at least 48 hours before you apply for the permit. Additionally, the certificate must be sent by your insurance broker. The OFTB does not accept insurance certificates directly from filmmakers or production companies.
As for students, their school insurance will suffice for the production. Note that the school’s name must be the same as that on the student’s ID card and letter of attestation.
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 Staten Island?
In Staten Island, you will find more locations for filming than you can imagine. The borough is home to beaches, parks, open spaces, private homes, bustling urban streets and roadways, museums and attractions, restaurants and shops, indoor and office spaces, hotels, old and historic buildings, churches, college campuses, and lots more.
In the North Shore part of the borough, filmmakers enjoy visiting the St. Paul's Avenue-Stapleton Heights Historic District and St. George Historic District for Victorian architecture housing styles that are prevalent. Moreover, Staten Island’s Art District is in this part of town as well. What that means is that there are plenty of places to explore here while finding the best place to set up for a shoot.
Staten Island is nicknamed the borough of parks because there are lots of parks in the borough – city parks and state parks. Some of the more common parks in the borough are Silver Lake, Clove Lakes, High Rock, and Greenbelt. Besides, tourists and filmmakers know Moses Mountain and the breathtaking view that’s up there.
Some of the historic buildings and museums of interest to filmmakers in Staten Island are Mount Loretto, Historic Richmond Town, Goodhue Center, Fort Wadsworth, Kreischer Mansion, Alice Austen House, The Italian Cultural Foundation at Casa Belvedere, Tibetan Museum, Staten Island Museum, Richmond County Bank Ballpark, Staten Island Zoo, and Snug Harbor Cultural Center.
Being an island, the borough of Staten Island has vehicular bridges and a railroad bridge that connect it to neighboring municipalities. For production teams in town, that’s another plus for the borough in terms of filming locations.
Special Requirements in Staten Island
New York City Parks
To film in a New York City Park in Staten Island, you must complete the Parks Film Shoot Request Form. When you fill and submit the form, it goes to the applicable Park Manager for processing. The processing time for the park shoot request is at least five business days. If the Park Manager approves the film shoot, you will be notified, and then you can proceed to apply for a film permit from the Office of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting.
Some park rules to bear in mind in preparation for filming in a New York City Park in Staten Island are as follows:
Parking of vehicles is not allowed in city parks unless approved previously.
Posting directional signs for filming locations is prohibited.
All film shoot locations in the park must be kept clean and tidy after filming.
Filmmakers must obtain approval for extensive set-ups on park lawns.
Staten Island Ferry
As a filmmaker, you must obtain a permit from the Department of Transportation’s Staten Island Ferry Division before you can film on the Staten Island Ferry. The application is online and grants permission to film on regularly scheduled ferryboats as well as in the Whitehall and St. George Ferry Terminals.
Here are some of the general rules/conditions for filming on Staten Island Ferry:
Filming is not allowed during rush hours (6 am – 9:30 am and 3:30 pm – 7 pm on Mondays to Fridays).
Permit processing time is between three to five business days.
Access is only provided to public areas.
The cast and crew should not exceed twelve persons.
A film permit from the OFTB is also required for filming.
You must provide a certificate of insurance that lists the City of New York as additional insured before you will be issued the permit for filming. The combined single limit per occurrence of the commercial general liability coverage is at least $1,000,000. You will also need to complete a Film Release Form.
The filming rate is $100 per hour. The NYC Department of Transportation must receive payment at least three working days before the date of the permit application for the request to be considered. If you have any questions, reach out to the NYC DOT via email.
Department of Citywide Administrative Services Property
Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) Property in Staten Island includes Staten Island Public Buildings, Borough Hall, Costantino Judicial Center, Village Hall, Civil Courthouse, Family Courthouse, and Supreme Courthouse.
If you wish to film in any of these locations in Staten Island, you must apply to the OFTB for a DCAS permit and pay a $3,200 administrative fee to the New York City Department of Finance. Note that the $3,200 DCAS fee is separate from the $300 permit application fee to be paid to the Film Office. Moreover, there may be additional associated costs for the services of DCAS personnel during filming.
You must submit your application and supporting documentation at least seven days before the intended date of filming. Furthermore, the insurance requirement for filming on DCAS property is general liability insurance of $1,000,000 and $2,000,000 aggregate. In addition, you must name DCAS as an additional insured and provide evidence of compliance with Workers’ Compensation according to State laws.
A summary of the required documentation for a DCAS permit is as follows:
Activity Approval Form
Sample Letter of Intent
Prohibited Conduct Memorandum
Certificate of Insurance
Schedule A
Shooting Permit
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)
To film on any Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) facility or property in Staten Island, you must obtain permission from the MTA by submitting a letter of intent, storyboard, and script at least three weeks before the date of filming. The MTA requires the following insurance minimums as well:
General Liability
Automotive Liability
Workers’ Compensation
Railroad Protective Liability (if filming will involve a train or platform)
All members of the filming team that will work on or near tracks must take a track safety course as well.
Filming costs vary from project to project and depend on the nature of the production, MTA staff required, production equipment, and duration of filming. Address your inquiries and questions to MTA via email.
Gateway National Recreation Area
If your production falls under the category of Non-Low-Impact Filming in Gateway National Recreation Area, you will need a permit. For that, you need to complete the application form and pay the non-refundable processing fee of $100. You must also provide proof of liability insurance and name the United States of America as an additional insured.
What Does it Cost to Film in Staten Island?
Before you can get a film permit in Staten Island, you must pay a non-refundable fee of $300 while applying online. No fee is charged for police assistance, parking of production vehicles, and making use of public locations in Staten Island. During production, if some additional services are used, the filmmaker would be required to cover the cost of those services.
Additional Fees
The requirements and fees for filming in Staten Island, NY, depend on where the film shoot with take place. Although access to most exterior locations in the City of New York, including Staten Island, is free of charge, you may have to pay additional fees for filming in various city buildings available to productions as filming locations.
Once you have paid the film permit fee, you will be able to access many of New York City’s film-friendly locations, including the areas throughout Staten Island. An Optional Permit is free, and numerous small productions do not require permits at all.
Geographical Jurisdiction of Staten Island?
Staten Island is part of the city of New York but is geographically separated from the other four boroughs in the city as it does not share a land border with any of them. Staten Island also consists of other small uninhabited islands such as The Isle of Meadows, Shooters Island, Prall’s Island, Swinburne Island, and Hoffman Island. The nearby municipalities to Staten Island are the cities of Elizabeth, Bayonne, and Perth Amboy in New Jersey.
Bayonne
The Office of the Mayor issues permits for filming in the city of Bayonne. As a filmmaker, you must apply for the permit at least seven days before the scheduled date of filming. The requirements for a film permit in Bayonne are as follows:
- A certificate of insurance that lists the City of Bayonne (or a private property when filming on private property) as an additional insured with the following:
- Bodily injury of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence and $1,000,000 aggregate
- Property damage of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence
- Workers’ Compensation per statutory limits
- Agree to indemnify and hold harmless the City of Bayonne against any liabilities arising from the film production.
- Hire Police officers, Firefighters, and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) in the city when the Mayor deems it necessary.
- Pay a security deposit of at least $500 or a maintenance bond of at least $1,000 refundable after the end of production if certain conditions are met.
As for the fees to pay for film production in Staten Island, there is a basic filming permit rate of at least $500 per day. There is also an additional fee of at least $1,000 per day for filming in public parks, public buildings, and other public facilities. In addition, there is also a $50 per day minimum fee for filming on private property. Filmmakers will also reimburse the City for any lost revenue or costs incurred during filming.
Elizabeth
The Public Information Office coordinates film permits and inquiries relating to film production in the city of Elizabeth. All film permit applications must be submitted at least ten business days before the date of production. In addition to the application form, the filmmaker must also insure the City of Elizabeth for at least $1,000,000.
The film permit applicant is responsible for arranging for Police and Parking for filming in Elizabeth. The filming rate in the city is $500 for every 8 hours.
Perth Amboy
The Filming Review Committee manages, reviews, and approves film permit applications in the city of Perth Amboy. The Film Review Committee is made up of the Director of the Department of Human Services, the Mayor, and the Chief of the Police Department, or any of their designees. Filmmakers pick up their permits from the Department of Human Services.
Filming on public property in Perth Amboy requires a film permit. The conditions for the issuance of a permit in the city are described below:
- Apply for the permit at least fourteen days before the filming date.
- Provide proof of insurance that covers the following:
- Bodily injury of $500,000 per person or $1,000,000 aggregate
- Property damage of $300,000 per occurrence and aggregate
- Indemnify and hold harmless the city of Perth Amboy.
- Hire and cover the cost of an off-duty city police officer whenever deemed necessary by the Police Department.
- Post a cash bond of $1,000 or a maintenance bond of $1,000 which is refundable after filming is complete if certain conditions are met.
- Provide notice of filming at least three days before filming to the residents or businesses that will be affected by parking, night shooting, or other inconveniences.
- Filming hours are from 8 am to 7 pm.
Regarding the filming fees in Staten Island:
- There is a basic filming permit fee of $250 for the fourteen days. The fee is renewable for $250 thereafter.
- You will also need to pay $5 per work day for every commercial vehicle used or a flat fee of $250 for fourteen days.
- An expedited basic film permit costs $500.
- The daily filming fee is $1500 per day.
- Non-profits' and students' filming fee is $25.
Outreach in Staten Island
Filming regulations in Staten Island require production companies to conduct outreach in the city before the commencement of filming. The filmmaker must send out the letter of notification to the relevant community board, City Council Member, residents, and businesses within the filming location at least 48 hours before filming. A sample of the notification letter is available here. The filmmaker has the choice of conducting the outreach either by email, letter, or telephone.
Community Management in Staten Island
Filmmakers can conduct themselves in a variety of ways that will ensure that they are in good standing with the members of the community where they are filming. For instance, the production team can be considerate of sensitive facilities in the neighborhood such as schools, hospitals, religious centers, senior centers, etc. Other ways of ensuring good community interaction include making permits visible for the hosts to see, showing courtesy, keeping noise and light to bearable levels, and cleaning up after the project.
Conclusion
Staten Island, New York, has been a filmmaking center for over a decade and has welcomed world-class producers and offered different backdrops for top-class movies and productions. Its diverse locales range from parks to beaches, modern and ancient buildings, streets, roads, and so on, making it a premier filming destination.
Staten Island is highly invested in supporting filmmakers who wish to come over for production. The staff of the Tourism and Cultural Affairs Department helps facilitate filming. In addition, the Borough President and her people encourage the entire film production logistics process.
The Office of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting coordinates the issuance of film permits in the borough of Staten Island. All a filmmaker needs to do is arrange a pre-production meeting with the Film Office, submit required insurance documents and other supporting documentation, notify the neighborhood, and apply.