City Guide Filming in Washington, DC
Production Permit Fees
- Application Processing Fee - $30
- Film Permit for productions with a cast and crew of under 10
- First Day - $150
- Additional Days - $50 to a maximum of $500 per project.
- Film Permit for productions with a cast and crew of 10 to 39
- First Day - $300
- Additional Days - $10 to a maximum of $1,500 per project.
- Film Permit for productions with a cast and crew of 40 to 69
- First Day - $450
- Additional Days - $150 to a maximum of $3000 per project.
- Film Permit for productions with a cast and crew of 70 or more
- First Day - $600
- Additional Days - $200 with no maximum limit
Minimum Insurance
- General Liability Insurance - $1,000,00 per occurrence
Additional Permits
Discounts
About Washington
Washington is well known for hosting political dramas both in real life, in fiction, and on screen, so it's not surprising many filmmakers take an interest in the city as a film shoot location. It's instantly recognizable and a glimpse of the Capitol Building in the background of any scene adds a note of seriousness and authenticity that's hard to beat.
Washington is, in fact, the only really legitimate backdrop for any movie, whether they're thrillers, dramas or mockumentaries, which have any sort of presidential involvement. The 1997 crime movie Absolute Power starring Clint Eastwood, the psychological thriller Along Came A Spider with Morgan Freeman, and the 2013 film White House Down with Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx were all filmed in Washington.
The capital of the United States has been the setting as well as shooting location for a prolific amount of TV series too. Designated Survivor, Mindhunter, Criminal Minds, Commander in Chief, and Jack Ryan are just a mini-selection of the many that have been produced.
While the noticeable trend for movies and TV programs set or filmed in Washington understandably veers toward the political, legal, or FBI-related, the city has also been the star of many comedies, animations, and diverse reality shows, some of which the world would probably have been better off without.
Before finally deciding if Washington is the right place to film your movie, take a look at some of the shoot locations available on Giggster. You're bound to find ones that match up to your location criteria, but before you leap into action, make sure you're fully aware of the regulations for filming in Washington. Don't adhere to the filming regulations and you could find yourself starring in a completely unrehearsed Washington drama.
Do I Need a Filming Permit in Washington?
The straightforward answer to the question of whether or not you need a filming permit to film in Washington is yes.
You need a filming permit to film in Washington, but - and it's a big but - depending on the exact locations you've chosen for filming you may require two individual permits. Not all locations in Washington fall under the jurisdiction of the same organizations, so you need to check carefully exactly where to submit your application before doing it.
Filming permits usually take around five days to process. If your film shoot involves special effects, pyrotechnics, or fake weapons, the film permit can take longer to process.
Student Filming Permit
Students are required to apply for a filming permit following the usual procedures. Students are exempt from application and day fees but are required to have the correct liability insurance.
Non-profit Organization Filming Permit
There are no discounts or waiving of application, permit, or day fees for non-profit organizations. Non-profit organizations, charitable organizations, and religious organizations are all required to apply for a film permit in Washington the same way a commercial production company would and to pay the same fees.
Permit Management in Washington
OCTFME & NPS
Permit management in Washington comes under the jurisdiction of two organizations. They are the District of Columbia's Office of Cable Television Film Music and Entertainment and the National Park Service.
OCTFME
When your location shoot is on Washington DC public property, including the pedestrianized zone of Pennsylvania NW, you will need to apply to OCTFME for a filming permit.
Permit applications are made online. You can access the film permit application process on the entertainment.dc.gov webpage. It's a simple process, but make sure to complete all of the questions fully or your application won't be reviewed.
Permit application processing times vary. The minimum is three days. You can't make a last-minute application for any sooner than three days as the system won't accept it. The standard application processing time is between five to seven days, not including weekends. Processing can take longer if your application is complicated or you'll require traffic control or street closures.
National Parks Service
When you want to film on the National Mall or in any of the city's memorial parks you may need to apply to the National Parks Service for a filming permit. Whether or not you need a permit from the NPS depends on the size of the shoot.
When yours is a low-impact production with a cast and crew of five people or less and doesn't involve any stationary equipment, you won't need a permit or be required to communicate with the NPS before starting filming.
When your production doesn't fulfill the criteria for low-impact filming, you will need to apply to the National Parks Service for a filming permit. Applications can take up to ten working days to be processed and are granted at the discretion of the individual park's superintendent.
If you're not certain your production will be low-impact or you have any doubts about your chosen filming area, the best thing to do is contact the relevant park superintendent before starting filming.
There are currently no fees charged by the National Park Service for filming in national parks, processing permit applications, or issuing permits.
What Insurance Do I Need in Washington?
No matter what size of production you're making or what city you're filming in, it's always wise to have some sort of insurance. In Washington, it's a compulsory requirement that you have liability insurance. If you don't have the correct insurance, you won't be issued with a permit. You will need to submit a copy of your insurance certificate during the film permit application process.
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 Washington?
There's a multitude of great shooting locations, apart from the obvious, in Washington, and there are several districts of the city that also have interesting characteristics.
The Adams Morgan neighborhood is possibly one of the more unique parts of Washington. Colorful and occasionally spired low-rise buildings line pedestrianized streets where there are pavement cafes, restaurants, and boutique stores. Day or night, it's a superb filming spot if you're looking for a location with a young and trendy vibe. If that’s not quite what you’re hoping for, then check out Washington Dc’s newest waterfront district, The Wharf.
For more upmarket external locations then the first place to look at would have to be the Capitol Hill district, or for somewhere historic, but not quite so pristine, Columbia Heights will probably fit the bill. The buzz of Downtown Washington is ideal for crowd scenes, and the Penn Quarter is perfect when you want a location with vintage appeal.
Have a quick search and you'll find that for those at-home scenes you'll be spoiled for choice between trendy apartments with up to date décor, deluxe glass-walled penthouses, or individual rooms that could have been time-warped from the 60s, 70s and 80s.
There are mansions complete with libraries and antique furnishings that wouldn't be out of place in an episode of Downton Abbey and ones that would suit films with futuristic themes. More homely houses are numerous, as are ones that could easily stand in as a substitute for the White House - at least internally if not externally.
If your script has scenes taking place in offices then you'll have so much choice you'll be dithering about which one to use. The same goes for conference rooms or more executive-style boardrooms. There are ballrooms, indoor and outdoor event spaces, and even a freaky, laser tag arena themed on Washington, but Grunge-style, that takes up two entire floors and is completely fitted out with florescent lighting.
Hospitality-based locations are not something that's few and far between in this city. In Washington you'll come across restaurants, bars and cafeterias with just about every kind of décor imaginable and then some. Arcades full of pinball machines, fully equipped gymnasiums and dance studios, plus recording studios and production suites. Whatever you can imagine, apart from perhaps a nuclear bunker, is in Washington somewhere; all you have to do is find it.
Special Requirements in Washington
NPS Restricted and Copyrighted Areas
Not all National Park Service properties can be used for a film set. There are certain places where filming is restricted which are -
Within the columns of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial
The inner memorial of the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial
Above the white steps of the Lincoln Memorial
Within the circle of flags at the Washington Monument
In front of the gold star field at the WW2 Memorial
Many of the NPS sites or the words immortalized on the stone are also copyrighted, so to be able to film them you will need to apply to the relevant person for permission. You can find a list of copyright owners and the people who deal with permission to film requests on the NPS website on the National Mall and Memorial Filming and Photography page. If in doubt, always contact the NPS for advice. It’s much better to take the time for a consultation than face a massive lawsuit.
Filming On Pennsylvania Avenue NW
While issuing a filming permit for Pennsylvania Avenue NW does fall under the jurisdiction of the Office of Cable Television Film Music and Entertainment, it's an area also controlled by the Secret Service. If you plan on filming here then the OCTFME will advise you on how to contact the relevant department and let your imminent presence be known to the people who don't want you to know they are there.
Filming At The Wharf
The Wharf maintains their own rules and filming regulations, so if you plan to use it for your shoot location, you will need to contact The Wharf Community Association.
To obtain a filming permit for The Wharf, you will need to have a location contract, a liability insurance certificate naming The Wharf Community and subsidiaries, and pay a not-so-minor filming fee. When you make the initial contact and inform them of your chosen location, the community association will issue the location contract.
Fees For Filming At The Wharf
Movies and TV Productions - $10,000 per day
Filming At Washington Airports
To be able to film at any of the airports in Washington, you will need to apply for permission and a permit from The Authority – the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. Applications for permits should be made via the MWAA website. You will be required to know and adhere to safety procedures and policies set in place by The Authority and have the required insurance coverage.
Fees For Filming At MWAA Airports
Cast and Crew of up to 5 - $1000 per eight hour day.
Cast and Crew over 5 - $5000 per eight hour day
Should they be required:-
Airport Operations Officer - $75 per hour
Airport Police Officer - $50 per hour
Airport Fire Marshall - $50 per hour
Airport Engineer - $65 per hour
Airport Electrician - $45 per hour
Electronic Technician - $45 per hour
What Does it Cost to Film in Washington?
Detailed here are the standard fees you will incur to obtain a filming permit from the OCTFME to film in the parts of Washington under their jurisdiction. The cost is based on cast and crew size. Please note that the payment of fees isn't required until the relevant permit has been granted.
Additional Fees
The production company may be charged additional fees for road closures, parking, or police presence. They also have to cover the cost of additional permits, licenses, fees, or certifications required by other Federal agencies for film-related activities. These requirements and fees may weigh into your total costs, so proper planning and budgeting must be in place to streamline the process.
Geographical Jurisdiction of Washington?
While Washington may be the country's capital, it's a relatively petite city compared to many others and covers an area of less than sixty-two square miles. Within that area, there are one-hundred and thirty-one neighborhoods and numerous public parks.
Washington's most easily defined border is created by the Potomac River, which runs along the entire western edge of the city. While it's not quite so visible as the river, the state of Maryland borders Washington to the east, north and south, and on the opposite side of the river is the state of Virginia. The largest cities around Washington are Alexandria to the south, Hyattsville to the northeast, District Heights to the east, Silver Spring to the north, and Tyson to the west.
If your film shoot should happen to cross the state border and edge into Silver Springs, you will need to apply for a film permit from the Montgomery County Department of Transport. There are occasions when a permit won't be required, but you need to make the application to find out. The same applies for filming in Takoma Park.
Outreach in Washington
Doing some sort of outreach is essential for filming in Washington, although conducting it might not always be as easy as you could wish for. The OCTFME doesn't publish any requirements or provide a delivery service. It's all the responsibility of the production company.
When you're filming in a residential or commercial area, then it's only respectful to let the local residents and business owners know about any unusual upcoming activity taking place in the near vicinity. The standard area most cities request you distribute notifications to is within a three-hundred-foot radius of where the film shoot will be taking place.
It doesn't do any harm, and can pay dividends, if you expand your distribution perimeter to five hundred. All it takes is a bit of printing and a couple of hours of leg work, and you'll hopefully have a peaceful film shoot.
Community Management in Washington
If there's one city in the United States where you can’t go without community management then it's Washington. Washington is a city full of politicians and lawyers who are experts at arguing their case even when they haven't got one. That's what they train for. Most also like the sound of their own voice and are not shy in using it.
When someone does complain about your filming in Washington, be prepared to deal with it. When you're filming in Washington, you will need the best and the most diplomatic community management officer you can possibly get.
Your Washington community management officer should be well versed in exactly who is who in the city. Politicians are, by nature, big attention seekers and have the same size egos. They like to be recognized, flattered and fawned over, so make sure your CMO knows the score where that's concerned.
But, in truth, the last thing you want is someone kicking up a rumpus while you're filming or news crews from all the top news channels arriving to report on the incident. Or is it? Coverage on the news channels means free publicity, so might not be such a bad idea after all - as long as it doesn't interrupt the shoot for too long.
If your community management officer is great at smiling cheesily, knows how to pet dogs, kiss babies, wave like royalty, and shake sweaty hands without flinching, they'll fit in well and you'll be onto a winner.
Conclusion
There's no doubt about it, there have been some fantastic films shot in Washington. Hopefully yours will be the next one. It's a great city with an overload of truly exciting shoot locations that can take any political drama, comedy, or action thriller to the next level. Remember to apply for all the required permits and follow the filming regulations for filming in Washington, and you should have a trouble-free time.