City Guide Filming in The Bronx, NY
Production Permit Fees
- Film Permit Minimum Cost: Free
- Film Permit Application Fee: $300 (non-refundable)
Minimum Insurance
- $1,000,000 Comprehensive General Liability
Additional Permits
- Police and Fire Requirements: The OFTB assists with the Police while the filmmaker reaches out to the Fire Department directly.
Discounts
About The Bronx
The Bronx, just northeast of Manhattan in New York City, was opened up to the world of film in 1908 when Edison Studios (owned by Thomas Edison, the inventor) set up an additional office in a warehouse in the borough, having already set up shop previously in New Jersey and Manhattan. Not long after that, in March of 1910, the movie Frankenstein, an adaptation of the Mary Shelley novel, was produced in the Bronx. This placed the borough on the film industry map, setting it up as one of the places for top players in the movie industry to look out for. Even though the studio was gutted by fire in 1914, it didn’t take long for The Bronx to return as one of the spots in New York for filmmakers to practice their craft. This made the borough the perfect place to shoot movies like This Day Forward (1946), The Catered Affair (1956), and Car 54 Where Are You (1960’s sitcom), to name a few.
The development and evolution of The Bronx over the years has inspired lots of movies (e.g., Leave the Bronx, Rumble in the Bronx, etc.) and offered production companies unique opportunities to portray several societal settings. For instance, in the mid-to-late 20th century, The Bronx was featured in different movies portrayed in various lights including populated, urban, working-class settings; and violent societies with gang activities and numerous vices. To date, the borough continues to be one of the most adaptable places for movie and TV scripts. Some of the movies filmed here include The Exorcist (1973), A Once Upon a Time in America (1984), A Bronx Tale (1993), I Am Legend (2007), City Island (2009), The Adjustment Bureau (2011), and Joker (2019). You should be thinking about finding a location for your film project in The Bronx now with Giggster.
Do I Need a Filming Permit in The Bronx?
Filmmakers often fall within one of three categories when they inquire about what the filming guidelines in the Bronx are — it’s either they do not require a permit, they get an optional permit, or they require a permit for their film project.
If your film project or related activities are under the following conditions, you can film in the borough because you don’t need a permit. However, you can apply for an optional permit under the same conditions:
You won’t make exclusive use of any of the borough’s properties
You will be using hand-held equipment, camera, or props, or have your camera on a tripod
You won’t use any prop vehicles or weapons
No stunts will be done
You won’t ask for parking space(s) for your production vehicles
Your actors will not wear police uniforms.
Still, there is a provision for filmmakers who do not require a permit to request a Letter instead of an Optional Permit for their film project.
Filming conditions under which you must secure a permit before you proceed with your production in The Bronx are:
You will need parking privileges for your production vehicle(s);
You will need exclusive use of the properties that belong to the borough or city;
You will make use of prop vehicles and/or prop weapons;
Your actors will wear police uniforms or perform stunts.
Production teams will require a fire permit too if their project includes special effects, pyrotechnics, flammable liquids, etc. For students, filming is encouraged in The Bronx as part of school work, so, if you can present all necessary documentation, you may be issued a student filming permit.
Permit Management in The Bronx
Office of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting
The agency that manages film permits in The Bronx is the Office of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting (OFTB), the same office that manages the process for all the film productions in New York City. In addition to issuing permits for production companies to make use of public locations in the borough, the OFTB also offers additional services like free parking privileges, and free police assistance when requested. You can contact the OFTB for everything you need to know about the filming regulations in The Bronx and you’re going to get answers to your inquiries, ensuring that your application process and production experience are smooth.
When you decide that you want to film in The Bronx and you have checked to see that you require a permit, here is what you need to do to secure your permit:
Have your Certificate of Insurance ready;
Schedule a pre-production meeting with the OFTB three weeks before the shooting date so you can go through the plans and schedules with the Film Office. In no case should the pre-production meeting take place less than five days before the film shoot date;
After the pre-production meeting, apply for the permit and include any special request(s) in the application alongside the permit application. This application must be done no fewer than 48 business hours before the filming date. Some applications take more time to process, so you may need to apply earlier;
Send a letter of notification about the filming project to the members of the community where the production will take place at least 48 hours before the start of the shoot.
The OFTB assists filmmakers with securing the services of the Police Department, however, filmmakers must consult the New York City Fire Department, review the guidelines, and arrange for a fire inspection before a fire permit can be issued.
Student filmmakers must provide their student ID card as evidence of their studentship to apply for a student filming permit, which only allows filming until 11 pm.
As per filming hours, within residential areas, exterior filming is not allowed after 11 pm. However, exterior film production can take place in commercial areas past midnight if the assistance of the Police is not required. There are no filming hours restrictions for interior filming, but it’s best to consult the OFTB.
What Insurance Do I Need in The Bronx?
Every film project that requires a permit in The Bronx also requires Liability Insurance, and conversely, those that do not require a permit from the OFTB do not require insurance. For every project that requires insurance, the following must be adhered to:
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 The Bronx?
The Bronx has hosted plenty of film productions since the first studio here opened in the early 1900s, part of the reason being the many locations in the borough that support film shoots. By far, the features that stand out in the borough are the highways, bridges, and apartment buildings. The bridges and tunnels that traverse the Bronx are good locations for production activities in the borough, and there are so many options to choose from, which means that filmmakers can certainly find what fits their scripts here.
The borough also has a wide range of structures and buildings in different neighborhoods, each neighborhood featuring one unique from the other. Filmmakers get to choose between filming in West Bronx, East Bronx, or South Bronx, knowing that these areas present a wide array of old apartment buildings and options to choose from. South Bronx, for instance, is home to several government buildings, Borough Hall, the Bronx County Courthouse, and Yankee Stadium. City Island, on the other hand, is well-known for its private waterfront homes and seafood restaurants.
Many of the historic places in the Bronx add to the list of locations that film production teams fancy in the borough. Examples of these historic sites include the New York Botanical Garden, Frederick Van Cortlandt House, Bartow-Pell Mansion and Carriage House, Hall of Fame Complex, and High Pumping Station.
Special Requirements in The Bronx
Department of Citywide Administrative Services Buildings
For production teams that intend to film in the properties that are overseen by the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) in the Bronx, there are some unique requirements to bear in mind. First off, the permit that the filmmaker will first apply for is called a DCAS Permit and the fee is $3,200 payable to the New York City Department of Finance. The filmmaker must obtain this DCAS Permit before going on to apply to the OFTB for a filming permit.
Buildings and Courthouses in the Bronx that are managed by DCAS are:
Bergen Building;
Bronx Hall of Justice;
Concourse Plaza;
Family/Criminal Courthouse;
Housing Courthouse;
Neighborhood Government Building;
Mario Merola Building/County Courthouse.
Roberto Clemente State Park
As a state park in the Bronx, the process of obtaining a film permit for Roberto Clemente State Park is the same as that which applies to all state parks in New York City. A summary of the process is as follows:
Complete the NYS Parks Film Shoot Request Form well ahead of your film shoot date;
If your request is feasible, you will be asked to apply for the permit (non-refundable application fee of $30, excluding other fees that may be associated with your application or project requirements);
Provide a $2,000,000 aggregate general liability insurance certificate;
Schedule a walk-through with the Park Manager to iron out the project details;
Submit an OFTB online film permit application.
In terms of timelines, your initial request will take at least five business days for consideration, and thereafter you may submit your application. Typical applications take anywhere from seven to ten business days for review and approval, but more complex ones may take longer. For students, the entire process takes up to two weeks.
Students who intend to film in Roberto Clemente State Park are allowed to do so only on weekdays from Mondays to Thursdays, and they must provide documentation from their school before permission to film is granted.
Fordham University
The Bronx Rose Hill campus of Fordham University has been a filming location for many decades and continues to welcome filmmakers for production activities. Before you apply for the filming permit on the campus,
The Vice President for Administration must approve the content and purpose, as well as the final script of the film project;
The location(s) must be agreed upon;
All fees must be paid (Non-refundable processing fee of $100, and permit fees to be determined by the Director of Business Operations);
A General Liability of $5,000,000 must be provided;
Have a walk-through of the proposed filming location(s) on campus with a designated member of Facilities Management;
Allow at least nine business days for the application to be treated;
Firm up parking arrangements.
What Does it Cost to Film in The Bronx?
Filming in public locations under the control and management of the Bronx is free of charge. In cases where the permit applicant can demonstrate to the OFTB that they cannot afford the application fee due to “unreasonable hardship”, the OFTB reserves the right to waive the application fee. In addition, the OFTB offers assistance with parking and Police services such that the permittee does not have to pay for these services when filming.
Additional Fees
On the other hand, filming in private spaces within the borough may come with some associated fees, which is why it is advisable to get in touch with the respective owner(s) to know what their unique filming requirements are.
Geographical Jurisdiction of The Bronx?
The Bronx is the northernmost of all New York City’s five boroughs, sitting north and east of Manhattan. To the west of the borough is the Hudson River, while the Harlem River flows southwest and the East River to the southeast. The Bronx River separates the hilly western part of the borough from the flatter eastern section, with Jerome Avenue dividing the borough’s east and west street names. In addition, several small islands such as Hart Island, City Island, and Rikers Island are part of the Bronx. New Rochelle To film in the city of New Rochelle, northeast of the Bronx, you are required to pay a non-refundable $500 preliminary application fee, and submit your permit application to the office of the City Manager at least one week before the start date of filming. Depending on the scope and size of your film production, you will pay between $100 per day to $5,000 per day in standardization (filming) fees. When you set out to film on private property in the city, the property owner will decide what the applicable fees will be. As for insurance, the requirements in New Rochelle are as follows: Public liability insurance of at least $2,000,000; Property damage insurance of $1,000,000; Statutory workers’ compensation; Statutory disability coverage. Filming is only allowed in New Rochelle between 7 am and 11 pm on weekdays and 9 am – 11 pm on weekends. Where patrol officers are required, it is the responsibility of the film company to reach out to the Police Department. Notification to residents/businesses within 100 feet of the filming area must be sent personally (two days ahead) or by mail (four days ahead). Additional filming regulations are available here. Mount Vernon The Office of the City Clerk in Mount Vernon manages the film permit process in the city and requires all permittees to submit their application a minimum of 7-10 working days before the first day of filming. Documents required for the permit process include: A Letter of Intent that contains the details of the production; A notification letter to the residents and businesses in the area; A certificate of insurance of $1,000,000 liability; As for the fees: $750 application fee to film on private property; free for City property; Permit fee from $1,000 per day depending on the number of days and locations; Cleaning/repair deposit between $500 and $2,000, refundable at the end of the project if certain conditions are met; Additional fees as required by the scope of the project. When a production company intends to cancel or modify its permit, it must inform the Office of the City Clerk at least two working days before the first day on the permit. Failure to do so will attract forfeiture of $250 from the administrative fees already paid.
Outreach in The Bronx
According to the filming guidelines in the Bronx, permittees must notify the residents and businesses within the vicinity of the filming activity at least 48 hours prior to when the filming will commence. The recommended means is by sending a letter that follows this format to the concerned neighborhood and ensuring that all relevant details of the shoot are contained in the letter. Using the company letterhead carries more weight, so be sure to do that.
Community Management in The Bronx
The Film Office in New York City and the Bronx makes it possible and easy for filmmakers to connect with the communities they intend to film in by having a local community board that the film company can engage. The community board in the Bronx is open and willing to work with production companies to make sure that they are actively reaching everyone in the area. Other ways to connect with the hosts are via the City Council District or Business Improvement District.
Conclusion
The folks in the borough of the Bronx in New York City are very well used to having film production teams in town to shoot features, TV series, commercials, and other projects, so you have nothing to worry about if this is your first time visiting the borough for a production. After you have submitted all the required paperwork and secured necessary approvals from the Office of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting to film in the borough, you can rest assured that your time here will be productive and memorable.
Whether it’s in any of the borough buildings you decide to roll your camera(s), or outdoors by the water bodies or on the bridges, every location in the city will offer you that perfect backdrop you desire. There’s a reason Thomas Edison was attracted to this borough in 1908 when he was expanding his filmmaking franchise and to date, the Bronx has that allure. If you haven’t had the honor, find a location on Giggster and schedule your next filming project here. You’ll be blown away!