City Guide Filming in Summerhill, GA
Production Permit Fees
- Film Permit Minimum Cost: $300 per month ($150 for students)
- Film Permit Application Fee: $100 ($25 for students)
Minimum Insurance
- $1,000,000 liability
Additional Permits
- Student Permit
- Fire
- Business License
- Generator Permit
Discounts
About Summerhill
The neighborhood of Summerhill in Georgia is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Atlanta and lies directly south of Downtown Atlanta. Thanks to the easy access to and from Atlanta, Summerhill has been one of the best spots for filming within the Metro Atlanta area. Sites in the neighborhood are within walking and biking distance from downtown and offer nice spots to continue production outside the major city areas.
Even though Summerhill can’t compare with Atlanta in terms of prestige and popularity in the filmmaking space, the neighborhood has its own suburban and residential feel that adds color to commercial productions. Besides, filming here comes with additional benefits, too, as production teams can qualify for tax credits of up to 30%, thanks to the provisions of the Georgia Entertainment Industry Investment Act.
Since filming commenced in Atlanta in the early 20th century, Summerhill has offered that extra option for filmmakers looking to do something outside the city without moving production gear away from base camp entirely. A good example of Summerhill’s use in production is in the TV series Ozark, where an accident scene was shot on a street in the neighborhood. You can go ahead and find a location that suits your production needs in Summerhill using Giggster.
Do I Need a Filming Permit in Summerhill?
The nature of your production in Summerhill will determine if you need to first obtain a filming permit before commencing your project.
In line with Summerhill’s filming guidelines, if your production will take place in any of the following conditions, you must first secure a filming permit:
You will be filming on public property in the neighborhood.
Your project will require you to set up barricades or close streets, lanes, and/or sidewalks in the neighborhood.
You will be filming at night in a residential area using an outdoor light.
You will set up a temporary structure for production (e.g., a stage).
You will make use of intellectual property that belongs to the City of Atlanta.
Your production will include the use of pyrotechnics, explosives, water effects, flame effects, or smoke effects.
You will display firearms (artificial or real).
You will engage in dangerous stunts, vehicle chases, and/or vehicle crashes during production.
You will make use of equipment that can cause damage to public property in the neighborhood.
You will make use of wild animals that are regulated by law during production.
On the other hand, if you are filming on public property in Summerhill under First Amendment rights, you do not need a filming permit. This means that you can film protests, rallies, and demonstrations that are taking place on public property in the neighborhood without a permit. However, you may still be required to fill out an information sheet that will contain basic information about your filming project like crew size, budget, project name, etc.
Student Permit
If you are a student and intend to carry out production in Summerhill, you will need to obtain a student filming permit for your project in the neighborhood. This will involve providing some additional documentation, but you will also be eligible for discounts on filming fees.
Fire
For productions with fire effects, pyrotechnics, and special effects, you will need to contact the City of Atlanta Fire Department for additional approvals that involve completing certain forms and carrying out some inspections before filming.
Business License
If you will be filming for at least thirty days in Summerhill, you must obtain a business license from the City of Atlanta Office of Revenue before you commence filming.
Generator Permit
If you will make use of generators that are more than 5,000 watts, you must apply for a Generator Permit. Contact the Office of Film and Entertainment for more information about a generator permit.
Permit Management in Summerhill
Office of Film & Entertainment
The Mayor’s Office of Film and Entertainment coordinates the film permitting process in Summerhill. The Office receives applications for a film permit in Summerhill via an online application portal – FilmApp. Filmmakers are responsible for reaching out to agencies whose services may be required due to the nature of the planned production.
The process of obtaining a permit from the Office of Film and Entertainment involves selecting a location, securing insurance, submitting the online application, conducting outreach, and making required payments. There is a dedicated Production Planning Team that helps filmmakers with working in areas that have special conditions, making reservations for properties owned by the city or local community, coordinating filming in City parks, and providing additional guidance on how to secure the permits required for production in the neighborhood.
To get started with the application for the permit to film in Summerhill, this is a checklist of what you will need:
A copy of the letter of notification to the residents and businesses that will be affected by the filming activity.
A traffic control plan for productions that require lane, street, or sidewalk closure.
A completed security plan.
A certificate of insurance that complies with the production insurance requirements of the neighborhood.
A fire rescue plan for productions with pyrotechnics, explosions, sparks, or special effects.
A generator permit application, if applicable.
As for the timeline for applying for a film permit for Summerhill, there is no official application deadline. However, you are advised to apply as early as possible. The Office of Film and Entertainment endeavors to process a film permit application within 24 to 48 hours, depending on the scope of the production. The process is also done on a first-come, first-served basis.
If you apply for a permit less than 72 hours before the start of filming, you will have to pay a rush fee for your application to be processed.
If your project requires a street closure, apply for the permit at least five business days before the date of the street closure.
If you will require lane closure for your production, ensure you apply at least three business days ahead.
If you require a sidewalk closure, send in your permit application at least 48 hours ahead of filming.
After you have been issued your film permit for Summerhill, if you wish to have changes made to it because of production details that may have changed, reach out to the film office immediately. Failure to do so may make the Office of Film and Entertainment withdraw your permit or impose some other penalties on your production. You wouldn’t want that.
To get a permit to film in Summerville as a student, you will need to submit a student permit application and accompany it with the application fee (discounted amount), traffic control plan, proof of enrollment/student status, student identification card, and government-issued photo identification.
What Insurance Do I Need in Summerhill?
There are production insurance requirements that you must comply with as a filmmaker intending to make use of locations in Summerhill for your production. According to the filming regulations in Summerhill, a filmmaker must provide a certificate of insurance that covers at least $1,000,000. Furthermore, the City of Atlanta must be listed as the certificate holder. If there is the need for a filmmaker to provide more insurance coverage, probably because of the scope of the production, the city’s risk manager will determine the amount required and notify the filmmaker accordingly.
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 Summerhill?
In Summerhill, there are beautiful locations available for filming ranging from business spaces to residential areas, all within a neighborhood environment.
Summerhill features boutique loft offices and modern spaces, Class-A towers, restaurants, grocery stores, coffee shops, bars, hotels, streets, roadways, etc. Summerhill is also home to open spaces and parks like Fulton Glenwood Park and Phoenix II Park where production teams can set up their stages and shoot scenes. The Center Pac Credit Union Stadium is another popular filming location in the neighborhood.
If you are new here, a great place to start checking out suitable filming locations is Georgia Avenue, the top-class business district in the neighborhood.
Special Requirements in Summerhill
City Parks
To film at any City Park in Summerhill such as Fulton Glenwood Park, you must upload the site plan for your production following a sample provided by the Office of Film and Entertainment on FilmApp. The filmmaker must ensure that all park facilities are properly maintained so that there will be no damage because of the filming activity. Moreover, filming activities are not to disturb the public within the park.
MARTA
To film on a MARTA property in Summerhill, you must complete a Film and Photography Request Form and submit it to the Communications Office at least thirty days before the intended date of filming. In addition, you will be required to sign a license agreement and comply with the following:
Provide an insurance policy that covers liability, personal injury, and personal damage, as well as worker’s compensation. MARTA will let you know the specific amount that is required for your project.
Retain and pay an off-duty MARTA Police officer for security.
Provide a detailed filming schedule that aligns with the information in the license agreement.
Pay the fees for personnel and property use. The minimum is $500 per hour.
Do not film on in-service MARTA property.
Do not alter MARTA property.
Zoo Atlanta
To film at Zoo Atlanta, you must complete and submit the Film Inquiry form at least three business days before the date that filming is scheduled to commence. Moreover, there are other requirements to comply with to obtain permission to film in Zoo Atlanta. Some of the other requirements are as follows:
Prepare for a site tour or scout visit ahead of filming. The first two scout site visits are complimentary, while subsequent ones will be at a fee.
Provide details of your crew size ahead of production for approval.
Provide evidence of worker’s compensation insurance that complies with statutory provisions.
Provide insurance that covers the following:
Employer’s liability of at least $1,000,000 per accident.
General liability of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence, and $2,000,000 annual aggregate.
Automobile liability of at least $1,000,000 per accident.
Umbrella (Excess) Insurance of at least $5,000,000.
What Does it Cost to Film in Summerhill?
During the process of applying for a permit to film in Summerhill, you will need to make payments on FilmApp. All payments made are non-refundable, except under extraordinary circumstances.
Additional Fees
There are additional fees for lane closures that are billed according to the length of the lanes that you intend to close. Moreover, if you require the service of Fire personnel, you will need to pay the following:
Be up to date with the fees associated with filming in Summerhill. Filmmakers should always include them in their budget as part of the pre-production process.
Geographical Jurisdiction of Summerhill?
Summerhill lies between the Center Parc Stadium and the Atlantic Zoo and is bordered by Peoplestown to the south, Pittsburgh to the southwest, Mechanicsville to the west, Capital Gateway to the north, and Grant Park to the east. Neighboring counties with unique filming requirements include Cobb County, Fulton County, Clayton County, and Dekalb County. Ralph David Abernathy Freeway forms the northern boundary of Summerhill, while the Downtown Connector forms the western boundary.
Cobb County
If you wish to film on any property belonging to Cobb County, you must submit your permit application at least ten business days before the day you intend to start filming. If you submit your application later than ten days, you will have to pay an “expedite fee” for the application to be processed.
You will need to provide insurance, a site plan, and an approved security plan for your permit to be issued. The fees associated with filming in Cobb County include: Permit coordination fee: $300 Permit Expedite fee: $1,000 Change order: $100/change Entire road closure: $500/day minimum County Facility Use: $100/day minimum On-Site Staff Compensation: $250/day minimum Off-duty Police Officer: Rate determined by the County Police Department Fire Department Professional Fire Watch: $50/hr. (4hr. min.) FD Firework Review & Inspection: $250.00
Fulton County
In Fulton County, the Office of Broadcast, Cable & Film coordinates film permitting. The office is otherwise known as Fulton Films. The requirements for filming in Fulton County are as follows:
Provide a certificate of insurance of at least $1,000,000 liability and name the County as the certificate holder. Pay a refundable damage deposit of 10,000. Pay the non-refundable application fee of $150. Apply at least five business days before the date filming is scheduled to commence. Filming costs on County property: Interior locations - $2,500 per day Exterior locations - $1,500 per day
Clayton County
Film Clayton is the agency that handles film permits for production activities on County property in Clayton County. Film Clayton also provides location scouting services, as well as pre-production and post-production support. You must submit your permit application at least five business days before the date of filming here and meet the following additional requirements:
Pay the non-refundable $300 application fee. Late applications attract an additional $150. Complete the registration form. Provide a certificate of insurance that covers at least $1,000,000 and insures the County and the property owner. Notify the residents and businesses that will be affected by the filming activity at least two weeks before filming. Complete a location agreement at least three weeks before filming.
Dekalb County
The Dekalb County Commission oversees film permit issuance in Dekalb County and requires filmmakers to submit their application for a permit at least three business days before production is set to commence. The other requirements for filming in Dekalb County are summarized below:
Pay the non-refundable application fee of $100. The permit expedite fee is $200 for an application submitted less than three days before filming. The filming permit costs $200 per calendar month per location. Dekalb Police officer rate is $50 per hour. The fire or EMS personnel rate is $50 per hour. Insurance requirements: General liability - $1,000,000 per occurrence Auto liability - $1,000,000 per accident Worker’s compensation Employer’s liability - $1,000,000
Normal filming hours are between 7 am and 11 pm. To film outside these hours, you must secure the signature of residents and businesses within 100 ft of the filming location.
Outreach in Summerhill
Summerhill’s filming laws require a filmmaker to conduct outreach in the neighborhood where the filming activity is scheduled to take place. The purpose of the outreach is to notify the host community about the proposed filming activity so that they can be prepared for it. Typically, the notice can be shared up to seven days before the date of filming, or immediately after securing the permit. Pertinent information on the permit includes the date(s) of filming, duration of filming, contact person, etc. You should send out the notification to members of the community within a three-block radius of the filming location. If you are filming in a sensitive area, you will need to obtain the signatures of the residents and businesses.
Community Management in Summerhill
It is ideal to ensure that you and your production team keep your filming activities with as minimal impact as possible for the entire time you will be in Summerhill. That means doing your best to make sure you don’t impact public activities, generate unbearable noise, or keep the filming location untidy. You can also make sure there is a designated member of your team that community members can reach out to if they have concerns or suggestions about your activity in the neighborhood.
Conclusion
As one of the neighborhoods in Atlanta, the folks in Summerhill are accustomed to the benefits of filmmaking. Filmmakers are also aware of the incentives that come with production here. Summerville is home to great business areas, open spaces, parks, residential apartments, and streets that are perfect for use in different kinds of production.
Not all filming activities require a permit in Summerville. However, if you do require a permit for your production, the Office of Film and Entertainment is the agency to reach out to. You will need to decide on the location to use, get insurance and other applicable supporting documents, and apply for the permit online.