MAYOR'S OFFICE OF FILM AND SPECIAL EVENTS

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County tit. 2, div. I, ch. 2.62

in effect

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 2.62.010 Creation.

2.62.010 - Creation. A. Office Created—Organization—Generally. There is created the mayor's office of film and special events, which shall consist of a director, assistant director, and such other officers and employees as may be deemed necessary by the director. The director shall be appointed by the mayor and shall be an unclassified service employee. B. Powers and Functions of Office—Generally. The mayor's office of film and special events shall promote economic development in the Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County area by facilitating the development and growth of film activity and special events by: 1. Attracting and facilitating film activity and special events; 2. Regulating that activity through a centralized permit system; 3. Maintaining a master calendar of filming and special events; 4. Sponsoring selected special events with in-kind support; 5. Facilitating the promotion of public events through a banner program; 6. Initiating, promoting, financing, obtaining sponsorship for and executing special events. C. Duties of Director—Generally. 1. The director shall perform the executive functions of the office. 2. The director shall have the authority to promulgate rules and regulations consistent with the powers and functions of the office. 3. The director shall be responsible for collecting fees and issuing permits to applicants in compliance with the terms of this chapter. 4. The director shall have authority to close streets to the extent required by an approved special event or filming activity, provided that the director receives a favorable recommendation from the department of public works and the metropolitan police department. The director shall request the recommendation of the department of public works and the metropolitan police department, which shall review a request based on the following criteria: a. Whether the proposed street closure will unduly burden either pedestrian or vehicular traffic over the public rights-of-way; and b. Whether the proposed street closure will significantly impede or hinder a route necessary for emergency vehicles. Special events or filming activities which require street closures for more than ten days may only be authorized by a resolution of the metropolitan council. 5. The director shall have the authority to enter into film location agreements ("licenses") with parties desiring to use metropolitan government property for the purposes of filming or photographing, except where under the Charter other boards and commissions have the exclusive authority to enter into such agreements. These licenses shall be subject to the approval of the board, commission or department head directly responsible for the property. Each license shall be subject to the approval of the department of insurance and a metropolitan attorney, and shall be filed in the office of the metropolitan clerk. Fees for the use of the property shall be established by the director, and the board of parks and recreation or the board of education where appropriate, to ensure that the metropolitan government is reimbursed for any costs incurred by the granting of each license. D. Duties of the Assistant Director—Generally. The assistant director shall assist applicants in: 1. Completing applications for filming permits, special event permits and banner permits; 2. Serving as the liaison between the applicant and all metropolitan government departments involved in the special event or film activity; 3. Gathering information regarding all special events and film activity, and maintaining a master calendar of such events for the city; 4. Identifying locations for special events, filming and the placement of banners. (Ord. 99-1591 § 1, 1999; Ord. 98-1127 § 1, 1998; Ord. 97-983 § 1 (part), 1997)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 2.62.020 Definitions.

2.62.020 - Definitions. As used in this chapter: "Applicants" means those persons responsible for the organization of the proposed special event or filming, and who have applied for a special event or filming permit. "Established special event" means a special event which has occupied an identifiable time and place for the past two years running and which may reasonably be expected to occupy that time and place in the upcoming year. "Filming" means activity attendant to staging or shooting motion pictures, television programs (except current news programs), commercials and music videos. "Metropolitan events" are public events directly related to a recognized function of the metropolitan government and which are in substantial part initiated, financed and executed by the city. "Person" means an individual, or a corporation, firm, partnership, association, organization or any other group acting as a unit. "Special event" means a temporary outdoor public gathering reasonably expected to attract more than seventy-five participants and spectators, and which involves one or more of the following on public property or on private property where otherwise prohibited: (1) closing a street; (2) restricting access to public property; (3) sale of merchandise, food, or beverage; (4) erection of a tent larger than four hundred square feet; (5) installation of a stage, band shell, grandstand, bleacher, trailer, van or portable toilets for public use. "Street" means any public way, road, highway, street, avenue, boulevard, parkway, alley, lane, viaduct, bridge, and the approaches thereto, sidewalks or other public rights-of-way within the metropolitan government area. (Ord. 97-983 § 1 (part), 1997)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 2.62.030 Duties and powers to regulate film activities.

2.62.030 - Duties and powers to regulate film activities. A. Permit Required. A permit is required for a filming activity when: 1. The activity involves the use of public property or impacts the public right-of-way; including but not limited to: on street parking, interruption of vehicular or pedestrian traffic flow; placement of flats, lights, cameras or other equipment on public property; or 2. The activity involves filming on public property. No person shall allow or conduct filming activities as referenced above, without a permit from the mayor's office of film and special events. Any violations of this requirement shall be handled in accordance with the enforcement provisions of 2.62.070. B. Procedures for Film Permit Application—Deadlines. 1. Applications for filming permits shall be filed no later than three days prior to filming. Applications filed less than three days in advance shall be handled on a case-by-case basis, and may be approved where the tardiness of the application neither detracts from the filming, nor overburdens the office or any other metropolitan government office, agency or property. 2. The application for a film permit shall be forwarded to all affected departments immediately. The assistant director shall review the application and the recommendations of the various departments, and shall advise the director as to the merits of the application. 3. The director may approve or deny the application, or approve the application with conditions relating to the factors listed in subsection D of this section. The director's approval shall be contingent on the applicant's compliance with the insurance, indemnification and security requirements of subsection G of this section. C. Film Permit Application—Information Required. The application for a film permit shall contain the following information, as well as any information deemed reasonably necessary by the director to determine whether the filming activity complies with the requirements of this chapter: 1. The proposed time, date and location of the filming; 2. A brief narrative description of the proposed filming; 3. A list of persons responsible for film activity, and reliable means of contacting those persons; 4. A list of any street closings are requested; 5. A brief statement detailing whether utility services, such as electricity or water, will be required; 6. Whether any "no parking" signs are to be posted, or parking meters covered. D. Evaluation of Permits. In evaluating a permit application, the director shall consider: 1. Whether the applicant has complied with the requirements of this code and rules promulgated by the director; 2. The extent of the filming activity's demand on metropolitan government's support services; 3. The ability of the organizers to execute the planned filming activity; 4. The impact on vehicular and pedestrian traffic and safety. E. Other Metro Permits Required. The fact that a permit is issued under this chapter, or is not required by this chapter, shall not replace or render unnecessary any other permit required by law. Although the office may assist in or offer advice concerning other permits, other permits required by the metropolitan government must be applied for and secured separately. F. Payment of Fees. The permit application must be accompanied by the payment of a thirty dollar permit fee, and in addition a one hundred dollar administrative fee for the cost of processing the application for an event being held within the right-of-way permit high impact area (as defined in Metropolitan Code Section 13.20.030.D.1.), in the form of checks or money orders payable to the mayor's office of film and special events. For events being held outside of the right-of-way permit high impact area, the administrative fee for the cost of processing the application shall be fifty dollars, in the form of checks or money orders payable to the mayor's office of film and special events. G. Other Permit Considerations. 1. Insurance. Bonds and insurance may be required pursuant to the rules and regulations promulgated by the director in agreement with the safety and insurance department of the metropolitan government. 2. Indemnification. The applicant must execute a written agreement to indemnify the metropolitan government and its officers and employees against all claims of injury or damage to persons or property, arising out of the special event or filming. 3. Priority. Where applications to use facilities overlap or conflict, preference shall be given to that application which was filed earliest, provided that no special event or filming permit shall be approved which would displace an "established special event" from its customary time and place. 4. Off-duty police personnel or vehicles must be hired or utilized in accordance with all ordinances, regulations or policies governing such activity. (Amdt. 1 to Ord. BL2016-235 § 4, 2016; Ord. BL2016-235 § 4, 2016; Ord. 97-983 § 1 (part), 1997)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 2.62.040 Duties and powers to regulate special events.

2.62.040 - Duties and powers to regulate special events. A. Permit Required or Not Required. 1. A permit is required for a special event when the special event involves the use of public property or impacts the public right-of-way. 2. A permit is required for a metropolitan event. 3. A permit is required for a special event when the special event is held on public property, except in the following instances: a. When the event is held at the Nashville Convention Center; or b. When the event is held at a facility owned by the sports authority of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County; or c. When the event is held at the Municipal Auditorium; or d. When the event is wholly contained within the property controlled by the metropolitan board of parks and recreation, unless it is determined by the director of parks and recreation, that the event will likely have a significant impact on vehicle or pedestrian traffic outside the park, in which case the director of parks shall require the event holder to obtain a special events permit in addition to any permits required by the department of parks and recreation. No person shall allow or conduct a special event as referenced above, without a permit from the mayor's office of film and special events. Any violations of this requirement shall be handled according to the enforcement provisions of Metropolitan Code of Laws Section 2.62.070. B. Procedures for Special Event Permit Application—Deadlines. 1. Applications for special event permits shall be filed no earlier than one year prior to the event, and no later than forty-five days prior to the event. Applications filed less than forty-five days in advance shall be handled on a case-by-case basis, and may be approved where the tardiness of the application neither detracts from the planning of the event, nor overburdens the office, nor any other metropolitan office, agency or property. Late applications which are approved shall be subject to a fifty-dollar late fee. 2. Upon receipt of an application the assistant director shall process the information and distribute it to the departments affected by the special event. The departments shall have ten working days to review the application and shall then return it to the assistant director with a recommendation for approval, approval conditioned on the adaptation of changes, or denial, based on the event's compliance or potential for compliance with that department's rules and regulations. In the event a department recommends denial of a permit, that denial shall be accompanied with a list of specific reasons for the decision, and suggestions how to bring the event into compliance with that department's rules, regulations and law. 3. The assistant director shall review the application and the recommendations of the various departments, and shall advise the director as to the merits of the application. 4. The director may approve or deny the application, or approve the application with conditions relating to the factors listed in subsection D of this section. The director's approval shall be contingent on the applicant's compliance with the insurance, indemnification and security requirements of subsection G of this section. C. Permit Application—Information Required. The application for a special event permit shall contain the following information, as well as any information deemed reasonably necessary by the director to determine whether or not the event or filming complies with the requirements of this chapter: 1. The proposed time and location of the special event; 2. A brief narrative description of the proposed special event; 3. A list of persons responsible for planning the special event, and reliable means of contacting those persons; 4. The estimated attendance of the special event; 5. Whether food or alcoholic beverages will be served at the special event; 6. A list containing details of any temporary outdoor structures, signs or banners which are proposed; 7. A list of any street closings requested; 8. A brief statement detailing whether utility services, such as electricity or water, will be required. D. Evaluation of Permits. In evaluating a permit application, the director shall consider: 1. Whether applicant has complied with the requirements of this code and rules promulgated by the director; 2. The ability of the event organizers to successfully execute the planned special event; 3. Wear and tear on public facilities, especially those which are frequently the site of such events; 4. The impact on vehicular and pedestrian traffic and safety. E. Other Metro Permits Required. The fact that a permit is issued under this chapter, or is not required by this chapter, shall not replace or render unnecessary any other permit required by law. Although the office may assist in or offer advice concerning other permits, other permits required by the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County must be applied for and secured separately. F. Payment of Fees. The permit application for special events, except for metropolitan events, must be accompanied by the payment of a two hundred and thirty dollar permit fee, and in addition a one hundred dollar administrative fee for the cost of processing the application for an event being held within the right-of-way permit high impact area (as defined in Metropolitan Code Section 13.20.030.D.1.), in the form of checks or money orders payable to the mayor's office of film and special events. For events being held outside of the right-of-way permit high impact area, the administrative fee for the cost of processing the application shall be fifty dollars, in the form of checks or money orders payable to the mayor's office of film and special events. G. Other Permit Considerations. 1. Insurance. Bonds and insurance may be required pursuant to the rules and regulations promulgated by the director in agreement with the safety and insurance department of the metropolitan government. 2. Indemnification. The applicant must execute a written agreement to indemnify the metropolitan government and its officers and employees against all claims of injury or damage to persons or property, arising out of the special event. 3. Security Plan Required. The applicant must work with the designated representative from the metropolitan police department in designing a plan for security at the event. The plan shall be reasonable in light of the number of participants and the nature of the event. Off-duty police personnel or vehicles must be hired or utilized in accordance with all ordinances, regulations or policies governing such activity. 4. Sanitation Deposit. If the director anticipates attendance to be greater than one thousand persons, then the applicant shall post a five-hundred-dollar sanitation deposit which shall be refunded if the applicant restores the area to its condition prior to the festival. If the applicant fails to restore the property to its prior condition, then the applicant shall be liable to the metropolitan government for any costs incurred in restoring the property after the event. Surrender of the deposit in no way relieves the applicant of the responsibility for any costs incurred by the metropolitan government in excess of the five-hundred-dollar deposit. 5. Priority. Where applications to use facilities overlap or conflict, preference shall be given to that application which was filed earliest, provided that no special event or permit shall be approved which would displace an established special event from its customary time and place. (Res. RS2016-391 § 3, 2016; Amdt. 1 to Ord. BL2016-235 § 5, 2016; Ord. BL2016-235 § 5, 2016; Ord. 97-983 § 1 (part), 1997)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 2.62.050 Duties and powers to regulate banner program.

2.62.050 - Duties and powers to regulate banner program. A. Power to Regulate Banner Program. The mayor's office of film and special events shall also be responsible for placement of banners on utility poles throughout the downtown area of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County. B. Application Process. 1. Application for banner placement should be made at the office of film and special events. 2. The office will schedule the hanging of banners on a first-come, first-served basis. The mayor's office of film and special events will take reservations for utility pole use up to one year in advance of the event. 3. To ensure that banners are hung properly, artwork and plans should be submitted to the mayor's office of film and special events at least six weeks prior to the date that the banners will be hung. If the sponsoring group does not carry through with its intention to utilize the utility poles, the office reserves the right to revoke approval of that group's use of the poles and to grant use of the poles to others. All deposits will be forfeited. C. Advertisers. Authorization to place banners on utility poles on city streets will be restricted to organizations advertising cultural, entertainment, artistic and sporting events or other matters of public interest. No advertisement of businesses, products or other private and personal messages will be allowed on side-mounted pole banners. The event being advertised will be the dominant message on the banner with any message from the corporate sponsor covering a minor portion of the banner's surface. D. Fees and Deposits. The fee for the installation and removal of banners will be twelve dollars per pole, payable by check or money order to the mayor's office of film and special events. In addition, an administrative fee of one hundred dollars shall be paid for the cost of processing the application for an event being held within the right-of-way permit high impact area (as defined in Metropolitan Code Section 13.20.030.D.1.), in the form of checks or money orders payable to the mayor's office of film and special events. For events being held outside of the right-of-way permit high impact area, the administrative fee for the cost of processing the application shall be fifty dollars, in the form of checks or money orders payable to the mayor's office of film and special events. The total cost of hanging all banners requested will be paid at the time of the application. E. Duration. Banners may be put in place no more than two weeks prior to the advertised event and must be removed within one week after the close of the event. Banners may be picked up at the metropolitan department of public works after the banners are removed from the poles. Banners will be kept for a period of thirty days after which any unclaimed banners will be disposed of or destroyed. F. Reservation for Use by the Metropolitan Government. The mayor's office of film and special events reserves the right to place publicly owned banners of general interest on utility poles at any time poles are not otherwise in use. (Amdt. 1 to Ord. BL2016-235 § 6, 2016; Ord. BL2016-235 § 6, 2016; Ord. 97-983 § 1 (part), 1997)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 2.62.055 Duties and powers to administer certification mark program for use of certification marks, "Music City" and "Music City, U.S.A."

2.62.055 - Duties and powers to administer certification mark program for use of certification marks, "Music City" and "Music City, U.S.A." A. Definitions. "License" means an agreement between the metropolitan government and a qualified user that sets forth the terms for using the marks. "Marks" means the certification marks "Music City" and "Music City, U.S.A." "Nashville Metropolitan Statistical Area" or "Nashville MSA" means and includes the counties of Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Williamson, Rutherford and Sumner, Tennessee. "Qualified user" means persons or businesses involved in providing goods and services that include recorded musical products, cassettes, records, music videos, compact discs, live musical entertainment services, music publishing services, music recording and production services, radio and television musical production services, and radio and television musical broadcasting services located in the Nashville MSA, who meet the criteria set forth in subsection D of this section. B. Power to Administrator Certification Mark Program. The mayor's office of film and special events shall be responsible for all administration concerning the grant, denial, or termination of using the marks, "Music City" and "Music City, U.S.A." for users that meet the criteria set forth in subsection D of this section. C. Application Process. 1. All applications for using either "Music City" or "Music City, U.S.A." should be made at the office of film and special events. 2. The office of film and special events shall be empowered to collect application fees and renewal fees in such amounts as are established by the office of film and special events, and approved by resolution of the metropolitan council. 3. Applications shall be approved by a subcommittee of the mayor's film advisory board that meets monthly, or at such times as are necessary, provided the applicant meets the criteria set forth in subsection D of this section. 4. Appeals from the denial of an application for using the marks "Music City" or "Music City, U.S.A." shall be made in writing to the mayor's film advisory board and scheduled for a hearing at one of its regularly scheduled meetings. D. Certification Mark Criteria. The certification criteria used in determining whether to issue a license to use the marks "Music City" or "Music City, U.S.A." shall be as follows: 1. Is the company or organization that is providing the services/goods headquartered in the Nashville MSA or does it otherwise have a significant place of business in the Nashville MSA where decisions regarding the content and quality of the services/goods to be certified are made? 2. Are the services/goods being provided by means of entertainers, producers, or other persons who have their primary residences or primary place of business in the Nashville MSA? 3. Are the facilities of Nashville MSA-based production, recording, or broadcasting studios being primarily used to originate the services? 4. To what extent, in marketing and advertising the services or goods, are they directly tied to the Nashville MSA as their origin? Conversely, are there attempts in marketing or advertising the services or goods to connect them to some geographic area other than Nashville MSA? E. Contents of Application. The contents of the application shall be on such forms as may be promulgated by the metropolitan department of law and at a minimum must require the applicant to: (1) submit a specimen showing exactly how and in what form the mark will be used; and (2) an application fee for administrating processing of applications for use of the marks. F. Grant of License. The office of film and special events shall be empowered to grant revocable one year licenses with a right to renew the same for additional terms not exceeding one year, unless terminated pursuant to subsection G of this section. All renewals granted hereunder shall be conditioned on the licensee certifying in its renewal application that all facts in the license are true and correct and that there have been no changes in the application submitted to the office of film and special events at the time of such renewal. G. Immediate Termination of License. In addition to such other rights of termination as may be set forth in the license, the metropolitan government, through the office of film and special events, shall have the right to immediately terminate a license by giving written notice to the qualified user if the qualified user uses the marks in a manner that is in any way inconsistent with the terms of the license. H. Fee Approval. All fees assessed by the mayor's office of film and special events hereunder must be approved by resolution of the metropolitan council that receives at least twenty-one affirmative votes. (Amdt. 1 with Ord. 98-1127 §§ 2, 3, 1998)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 2.62.060 Denial, revocation and right to appeal.

2.62.060 - Denial, revocation and right to appeal. A. Denial and Revocation of Permits. The director may revoke a permit if the operation of the special event, filming or banner permit is in violation of this code or any other applicable law, or if the applicant has submitted false or misleading information material to the permit application, or if such revocation is necessary to preserve the health or safety of the public. Written notice of the director's intent to revoke the permit shall be mailed or delivered to the applicant, and the applicant shall have an opportunity to be heard on the issue, provided that the director may summarily suspend a permit where necessary to prevent an immediate threat to the health, welfare or safety of the public. B. Denial and Revocation—Appeal. Any party whose application for a permit has been denied, or whose permit has been revoked, may appeal the decision to the special committee of the mayor's film and special events advisory board. The director shall send the applicant or permit holder by certified mail, return receipt requested, written notice of the denial or revocation and of the right to an appeal. The applicant or permit holder may appeal the decision of the director to the special committee of the mayor's film and special events advisory board, within ten days of the receipt of the notice. The special committee shall convene and hold a hearing within thirty days of receiving notice of the applicant's or permit holder's appeal. (Ord. 97-983 § 1 (part), 1997)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 2.62.070 Enforcement.

2.62.070 - Enforcement. A. Offenses. A person commits an offense of this chapter if he commences or conducts filming or a special event: 1. Without a film or special event permit; or 2. In violation of any provision of a film or special event permit, this chapter, or any other ordinance or applicable law. B. Penalty. 1. A person who violates a provision of this chapter or a requirement of a special event permit is guilty of a separate offense for each day or part of a day during which the violation is committed or continued. 2. Each offense is punishable by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars for a violation of a provision of this chapter or a requirement of a filming or special event permit. (Ord. 97-983 § 1 (part), 1997)

Source: Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Metropolitan Code and Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tn/metro_government_of_nashville_and_davidson_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CD_TIT2AD_DIVICOOFOFDE_CH2.62MAOFFISPEVFetched: 10/28/2026