Filming activities in streets, parks and other public places.
Norfolk City Code § 29-68.1
in effectSec. 29-68.1. - Filming activities in streets, parks and other public places.
(a) No person, firm or corporation shall engage in any filming activity in or upon any street, way, highway, road, parkway or other public property; or parcel unless the city manager has granted a permit for such filming, provided that a permit shall not be required for news coverage of contemporaneous events or documentaries not for profit.
(b) A written application for a permit pursuant to this section, on a form prescribed by the city manager, shall be filed with the city manager or his designee no less than fourteen (14) days prior to the date on which filming is desired to begin. The permit processing period may be shortened by the city manager or his designee when the filming period is to be of limited duration and/or the filming is to limited in scope.
(c) The permit application form shall include the following information:
(1) The name, address and telephone number of the applicant, and if the applicant is a corporation, the state of its incorporation, the name and address of its registered agent, and the address of its registered office.
(2) The inclusive dates and hours of each desired period of filming.
(3) The specific location, described with particularity, of each place at which filming is desired.
(4) Any desired temporary street obstructions or closures, unusual parking requirements, needs for police or other city personnel for crowd and/or traffic control and/or other purposes, and any other aspects of the desired filming which may affect public health or safety, traffic, or residential areas.
(5) Copies of portions of the shooting script and location schedules and/or other written materials describing the particular scenes to be filmed at specified locations designated in the permit application.
(6) Detailed descriptions of all stunts, chase scenes, special effects, etc., intended to be staged, with the specific location, date and hour desired.
(d) The permit application must be accompanied by a processing fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00), provided, however that the fee shall not be required for student or non-profit filming activities, and that the fee will be fifty dollars ($50.00) for applicants whose principal place of business is in the city.
(e) No permit shall be issued for filming activities at a particular location if the following conditions exist:
(1) When the filming activities will substantially interrupt the safe and orderly movement of traffic contiguous to the filming site, or in or through the public place used for desired filming activities, and public traffic needs cannot be accommodated reasonably by temporary re-routing; and/or
(2) When its size or the nature of the filming activities will require the diversion of so great a number of police officers and/or other personnel of the city to properly police the film site or provide other services that normal required police or city obligations are impaired; and/or
(3) When the concentration of persons and vehicles at the filming site and surrounding areas will unduly interfere with proper fire and police protection of, or ambulance service to, locations contiguous to such areas.
(4) When the filming will interfere with the movement of firefighting equipment en route to a fire.
(f) No permit shall be issued authorizing filming unless the applicant satisfies the following conditions:
(1) Provision of sufficient insurance coverages and/or bonds to protect the city from loss or damage, of a type and with policy limits to be determined in accordance with regulations promulgated by the city manager. Liability insurance coverages required shall include the city as an additional named insured.
(2) Provision of an advance deposit of funds or irrevocable letter of credit to defray the estimated expense of city services, the amount of which is to be determined and paid or provided in accordance with regulations promulgated by the city manager.
(g) The city manager is authorized and directed to promulgate regulations consistent with and for the purpose of implementing this section. A permittee, by accepting a permit and commencing filming activities allowed by it, shall be deemed to have accepted the provisions of this section and of regulations promulgated by the city manager, and this section and such regulations shall be attached to every permit and be a part thereof.
(h) Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.
(Ord. No. 36,924, §, 7-14-92)
Source: City of Norfolk, Virginia, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/va/norfolk/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COCI_CH29OFIS_S29-68.1FIACSTPAOTPUPLFetched: 11/1/2026