City Guide Filming in Woodridge, IL
Production Permit Fees
- Film Permit Minimum Cost: $150
- Film Permit Application Fee: F$100
Minimum Insurance
- A certificate of insurance that covers a liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate
- Name the Village of Woodridge as an additional insured
Additional Permits
Discounts
About Woodridge
The village of Woodridge is in a wooded area dubbed The Ridge located in a region that lies southwest of Chicago covering DuPage County and parts of Will and Cook counties. The village was incorporated in the late 1950s and consists of buildings and residential apartments that highlight the architectural patterns of the mid to late 20th century. As a result, this village five miles east of Naperville attracts filmmakers who fancy such kinds of structures for their shoots.
After its incorporation as a village in 1959, Woodridge gradually grew to be a community that welcomed producers for documentaries, feature films, TV shows, and student productions, among others. Use Giggster to find the perfect location(s) for your shoot in Woodridge, and if you are wondering what the village has to offer, check out projects such as The After School Special (2000), Carpeted Afterhours (2007 TV Movie), Don't Dream It, Be It (2015), Late Afternoon of the Living Dead (2007) and several episodes of Life, Well Run (2012).
Do I Need a Filming Permit in Woodridge?
Commercial and non-commercial film producers are all welcome to practice their craft in Woodridge. It is Woodridge’s filming laws and the nature of your production that determine if you need to obtain a filming permit before you roll your camera(s).
You may not need a film permit if your project will fall under any of the following two categories:
You will be filming in the village as part of a news media team, for a news broadcast, or for media live coverage.
You intend to carry out student filming activities and have appropriate documentation to ascertain that your project is a student production.
On the other hand, you must obtain a valid filming permit from the Village before you engage in any form of commercial filming activity in Woodridge. These include activities that will require the use of public spaces or facilities, closure of buildings or rights-of-way, the use of special effects, the involvement of public personnel, or film production activities requiring special authorizations, etc.
If you believe that your project should not require a filming permit in Woodridge or are unsure about whether you do or do not require a permit for your project, contact the Village Staff for clarification.
Permit Management in Woodridge
The Community Development Department
The Community Development Department oversees all applications to conduct commercial film productions in the village of Woodridge. Moreover, the department can also assist filmmakers with securing the services they require for their production to succeed. The Community Development Department is also the primary contact for filmmakers who wish to liaise with agencies in the village to ensure a seamless production experience.
Before you send your application for a film permit to the Community Development department, first call the department to discuss your permitting needs and special requirements. Thereafter, you can apply for the permit by completing the application form at least twenty-one days before the date your filming is scheduled to commence. You also need to provide the following along with your application:
A non-refundable $100 application fee.
An additional $50 is charged for late applications and there is no guarantee that late applications will be treated/approved.
The production parking plan will include:
The number and type of the vehicles;
The proposed parking locations;
Whether overnight parking is required;
A traffic control plan (for productions that require partial or complete closure of streets).
A hold harmless agreement.
A certificate of insurance that complies with the village’s production insurance requirements.
The details of any proposed construction, alterations, and modifications to structures in the village.
A letter of authorization from a private property owner if such property is to be used for production.
A security deposit, if deemed necessary by the Village Administrator.
There are three tiers of commercial film permits in Woodridge:
Tier 1 Permits are valid for not more than six months and are provided to projects that:
Require complete closure of pedestrian walkways or public roads.
Disrupt the public use of public facilities or buildings during normal operating hours.
Require storage of production equipment, materials, or vehicles in outdoor locations for at least three days.
Require temporary usage of any building for three or more months.
Tier 2 Permits are provided to projects that:
Partially obstruct the public use of a public road or pedestrian walkway due to a partial closure.
Partially use a public facility or building that is not closed to the public.
Require overnight and outdoor storage of production equipment, vehicles, or materials for less than three days.
Require temporary usage of any building for one to three months.
Tier 3 Permits are provided to projects that:
Do not require any form of closure of public spaces or rights-of-way or the use of any public facilities or buildings.
Does not require overnight and/or outdoor storage of production equipment or vehicles.
Requires the use of a building for up to one month.
What Insurance Do I Need in Woodridge?
To qualify for any of the three tiers of filming permits in Woodridge, you must comply with the production insurance requirements by providing a Certificate of Insurance. The certificate must cover a liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate and name the Village of Woodridge and its staff as an additional insured on a primary and non-contributory basis. In addition, you are required to complete and sign a hold harmless agreement. If you need to provide higher insurance minimums, a staff of the Community Development department will notify you.
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 Woodridge?
There are choice locations in Woodridge where film production teams can easily set up their gear in preparation for any kind of project they have planned out. For instance, there are several major highways here such as Interstate 55, Interstate 355, US Highway 66, and Illinois Highway Route 53 that offer good outdoor spots for aerial shots and other beautiful cinematography.
Woodridge also features lots of parks that offer production teams interesting opportunities to showcase natural locations and open spaces. Common examples include Cypress Cove Water Park, 63rd Street Park, 83rd Street Park, Caddie Corner Park, Echo Point Park, Forest Glen Park, and Hobson Corner Park. Filmmakers can also easily access some of the facilities managed by the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County from Woodridge, further adding to the production spots available here.
Woodridge is home to residential and commercial areas too, so there are great spots to take shots of family settings as well as business settings in indoor and outdoor locations. Shops, restaurants, traffic intersections, and walkways are other popular filming locations in the village. Several schools within the Village of Woodridge School Districts too are open to filmmaking as well.
Special Requirements in Woodridge
Illinois State Parks
If you wish to film in any of the state parks in and around Woodridge, you need to obtain permission from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). The Illinois Film Office also supports and promotes filming in state parks. These are the things to do:
Complete an Activity Permit and a Questionnaire.
Pay the non-refundable application fee of $25 and any other fees charged for the production.
Provide a certificate of insurance with the following:
General commercial liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate.
Name the IDNR as an additional insured.
Indemnify the IDNR at least seventy-two hours before the date of filming.
Pace
If you have plans to shoot commercial production on Pace bus services in Woodridge, you can make inquiries about what you need to do by sending an email to Pace.
What Does it Cost to Film in Woodridge?
The application fee for any of the three tiers of filming permits in the village of Woodridge is $100 (non-refundable). If you submit your permit application later than the twenty-one-day requirement stated in Woodridge’s filming guidelines, you will pay an additional $50 (late application fee). Other fees related to commercial film production in Woodridge are as follows: Tier 1 Permit fee - $600 per month (minimum one month). Tier 2 Permit fee - $350 per month (minimum one month). Tier 3 Permit fee - $150. Administrative Extension fee - $100. Closure of public streets or right-of-way: Partial closure - $25 per hour. Total closure - $30 per hour. If you make use of the services of any police, building, fire, public works, or Village personnel, you will be responsible for the charges levied. In any case, the reimbursement required for staff time varies as the final amount depends on the scale, scope, and duration of your production. In the interest of public safety, the Chief of Police or the Village Administrator is authorized to require additional police coverage during production, which would mean additional fees. The Village Administrator may, at their discretion, require a filmmaker to pay a security deposit before the start of the filming activity. The amount, determined on a case-by-case basis and dependent on the scope and size of the production, is refundable if the conditions of the deposit are met by the filmmaker after the completion of the production.
Additional Fees
To obtain accurate and updated information on the fees and permits required for filming in Woodridge, it's best to contact the Village of Woodridge's municipal offices or the local film office directly. They can provide detailed information regarding necessary permits, location fees, insurance requirements, and other regulations related to filming within the village.
Geographical Jurisdiction of Woodridge?
The village of Woodridge is bordered to the south by Lemont. The municipalities north of the village are Downers Grove to the northeast and Lisle to the northwest. Darien and Naperville are located east and west respectively. Bolingbrook is southwest of Woodridge. Lemont The Community Development department manages film permit applications in the village of Lemont. If you wish to shoot any kind of commercial production here, complete the application at least thirty days in advance of your scheduled start date and provide the following with your request: The application fee of $50. Inspection fees, if applicable. A site plan. Authorization from the owner of the private property where you intend to film. A certificate of liability insurance. Parking and traffic control. If you require police, traffic control, or any road closures, you must complete a Police Department Request Form as well. Temporary signs cost $70 if displayed in advance of the commencement of filming. Naperville Submit your application to the Special Events Coordinator in Naperville no later than thirty days before you intend to shoot a commercial film in the city. In addition to the complete Special Event application, provide these documents as well: A signed hold harmless agreement. A Site Plan/Route Plan. A Certificate of Insurance: A general aggregate of $2,000,000. Name the city of Naperville and its staff as additional insured. An additional requirement for every filmmaker that intends to shoot production in Woodridge is a prior notification to the residents and businesses that will be affected by the production. The notification must either be mailed or hand-delivered at least two weeks before the project start date. Downers Grove The Community Development Department in Downers Grove is the unit that oversees film permit applications in the village. Complete your permit application online and prepare the documents that will accompany your application: A Severe Weather/Evacuation Plan. A Site Plan. The Production Schedule. A letter from the owner of the private property where you intend to shoot production. A Temporary Sign application. The Certificate(s) of Insurance that names the Village as an additional insured. The Neighborhood Notification Letter. The insurance requirement is a liability coverage of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate. Send out the notification letter to the affected residents and businesses in the village at least two weeks before the start of filming. These are some of the fees that you may be required to pay as part of your production activity in the city: A Temporary Use fee. Temporary Sign(s) fee. Use of Public Property fee. A Security Deposit which is to be retained. Other fees that are invoiced to the filmmaker post-production and if applicable include those for Police Services, Fire Services, Public Works Services, Village Manager's Office, Water Usage, and Late Fee. Lisle The village of Lisle supports commercial filming and welcomes filmmakers to conduct their business after obtaining a Commercial Filming Permit from the Permitting and Licensing Unit of the Village Manager’s Office. To get the permit, you must complete the application online and submit it at least ten days before the date you intend to start filming. Alternatively, you can fill out the application and submit it via email. In addition to the completed application form, other requirements for a Commercial filming permit in Lisle include: An application processing fee of $75. A certificate of insurance: Commercial liability of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate. Name the village of Lisle as an additional insured. A hold harmless agreement. Notification to the members of the neighborhood within 250 ft of the activity at least twenty-four hours before production starts. Schedule for Police Department personnel if needed. Filming hours in the village are from 7 am to 9 pm from Monday to Saturday and 9 am to 7 pm on Sundays and holidays. There is an administrative/public land use fee of $100 per week that every filmmaker must pay before filming. Other fees for the use of public property are as follows: Total or disruptive use of a public building or facility - $500 per day. Partial non-disruptive use of a public building or facility - $250 per day. Total closure of a public street, parking lot, or right-of-way - $50 per hour. Partial closure or obstruction of a public street or right-of-way - $25 per hour. Forest Preserves of Cook County The Forest Preserves of Cook County (FPCC) receives permit applications from filmmakers that wish to shoot production on forest preserves under their jurisdiction. If you wish to film here, complete the application form and send it in via email to FPCC. Accompany your application with the following: A $25 application fee. A location map with information on set up and tear down times. A certificate of general liability insurance of $1,000,000 that names the FPCC as an additional insured. The list of production equipment and props to be used. The film script. The number and type of production vehicles. In addition to the application fee, a security deposit may be required before the commencement of filming as well as these other applicable fees: Permit fee – Student films – Free. Feature films – $211. Commercials/TV - $158. Minimum security deposit – Student films - $100. Feature films - $1,000. Commercials/TV - $500. FPCC representation fee - $45 per hour. Will County To shoot production on Will County highways for any commercial reason, you must obtain a Special Event Permit from the County’s Department of Transportation. Submit the permit application at least thirty days before the date of filming and obtain any required approvals from other necessary agencies. Accompany your application with a permit fee of $50. For productions in Will County Forest Preserve, submit your request to film by completing an application form and sending it via email to the Forest Preserve District of Will County.
Outreach in Woodridge
The filming regulations in Woodridge require every filmmaker that plans to shoot a production in the city to notify the affected neighborhood or members of the business district before commencing the shoot. The standard notice period is twenty-four hours before the start of filming and the coverage area is a 250 ft radius of the filming location. As soon as the filmmaker’s permit application is approved, the list of properties to be notified will be provided to the filmmaker alongside the permit. The notification must include the name of the production company, the name, and type of production, the contact information of the production company, and the duration of the project.
Community Management in Woodridge
As part of your production plans, prepare to engage the folks in the Village, particularly those that will be directly affected by your filming activities in the community. You can positively interact with the locals through one-on-one conversations, public relations in indoor or outdoor forums, or through compensations, if welcomed. This help to grow the relationship between the production team and the community, setting a good example for subsequent filmmakers to follow.
Conclusion
Woodridge is one of the villages in the southwestern suburbs of Chicago and has a decent history in the filmmaking space. It has hosted quite a number of commercial productions in its picturesque natural locations. The village is even more attractive because of the way the Community Development department makes the process of obtaining permits seamless and stress-free for producers that wish to pitch their tent here.
There are three tiers of filming permits that filmmakers can obtain in Woodridge, each differentiated by the impact of the production on the public. To secure any of the permits, a filmmaker must pay an application fee, provide acceptable insurance documents, traffic control, and parking plans, and notify the community members all within the periods specified in Woodridge’s filming laws. Thereafter, it’s a memorable production experience that awaits!