How to get filming permits for a music video

2026-10-27 · 10 min de lectura

To film a music video in public you usually need a permit from the local film office: FilmLA in Los Angeles (apply three business days ahead), the NYC Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment if you use equipment or vehicles, or the borough film service in London. Add liability insurance and separate drone authorization.

Finding the perfect location is the fun part of directing a music video. Getting permission to use it is the part most directors discover too late, after the shoot date is locked and the artist has already told their fans a video is coming.

If you direct music videos in the United States, the United Kingdom or India, the permit is a pre-production task, not a last-minute errand. This guide summarizes what official sources say in Los Angeles, New York City and London, how drones change the picture under FAA Part 107 and the UK Civil Aviation Authority, and which questions you still need to confirm directly with the film office.

None of this is legal advice, and rules change. Every shoot has details that matter, so check the official page of the film office for your location before you set dates, and talk to an entertainment lawyer when contracts, minors or liability are involved.

Do I need a permit to film a music video in public?

Usually yes, as soon as your shoot looks like a production rather than a tourist with a phone. The trigger is rarely the word "music video"; it is equipment, vehicles, crew size and whether you take over public space. Each city sets its own threshold, and the answer can differ a few miles away.

New York City is a clear example. The Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment says productions that use equipment packages, certain production vehicles, exclusive use of City property, prop weapons, stunts or NYPD and FDNY assistance must apply for a film permit. Hand-held or tripod filming that does not claim exclusive use of City property, use prop weapons or vehicles, or request parking privileges does not require one.

FilmLA, which issues permits for the City of Los Angeles and other jurisdictions, is more direct: it states that a proper film permit for on-location filming is a legal requirement in all jurisdictions it serves. In London, Film London explains that each of the city's 33 boroughs has a Borough Film Service that handles requests for council-managed locations such as streets, estates, commons and schools.

On private property, permission comes from the owner or manager, in writing. Film London notes that places like the Royal Parks or Trafalgar Square always need their own permission.

How do film permits work in Los Angeles, New York and London?

The short answer: Los Angeles runs on deadlines and insurance minimums, New York on a clear line between casual and production filming, and London on the borough you are standing in. Here is what each official source says, checked in October 2026.

Market	Who issues it	What the official source says
Los Angeles (City of LA)	FilmLA	Apply three full business days before the first activity date, by 10 a.m.; application fee of $931 per permit (up to 5 locations, 7 consecutive days); $1,000,000 general liability per occurrence for motion filming
New York City	Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment	Permit required for equipment, production vehicles or exclusive use of City property; non-refundable fee of $500 per consecutive 14-day period; insurance required
London	Each Borough Film Service (via Film London)	Permission per borough for council locations; proof of public liability insurance required for all filming; crews of 5 or fewer with hand-held kit is described as straightforward
India (international projects)	Film Facilitation Office	Single-window point for filming permissions, working with state governments on state-level and local permissions

Two details matter for small music video crews. In Los Angeles, FilmLA notes that high-impact activity such as stunts, special effects, aerial work or street closures needs more lead time than the standard three days. In New York, the City's permit rules Q&A says a sidewalk shoot needs a permit if it leaves less than eight feet for pedestrians, or less than half the sidewalk if that is greater.

I do not quote a single national price because there is none. Fees in this table apply only to the jurisdictions named, and FilmLA serves several areas with their own rules. If you shoot in Nigeria or elsewhere, start with the state or city authority where you will film and get the answer in writing; I did not find one official national guide for music video permits there.

What insurance do I need to film a music video?

You need general or public liability insurance in almost every scenario where a permit is involved, and the film office will ask for proof before it signs anything. The amount is set by the jurisdiction, not by your budget.

Los Angeles: FilmLA lists $1,000,000 per occurrence for motion filming, $500,000 for still photography only and $2,000,000 when drones are used.
New York City: the permit rules Q&A says permit holders need liability insurance of at least $1 million, and that the Film Office may require more.
London: Film London says all filming requires public liability insurance and proof is needed to get permission; the page does not give a minimum, so ask the borough.

Most independent artists do not carry this coverage, so the director or production company usually does, often with a short-term policy for the shoot. Before you buy, confirm who must be named as additional insured on the certificate, because film offices and location owners often ask for that. The logic is similar to touring coverage, which we break down in how to insure a music tour; for the policy itself, talk to a licensed insurance broker.

Can I use a drone in a music video?

Yes, but the drone needs its own paperwork, and a city film permit does not replace it. Aviation authorities regulate the flight; the film office regulates the ground.

In the United States, the FAA says anyone flying a small drone under 55 pounds for work or business must follow Part 107. That means a Remote Pilot Certificate: be at least 16, pass the initial aeronautical knowledge test at an FAA-approved testing center, and complete online recurrent training every 24 calendar months. The drone must be registered on FAADroneZone, which costs $5 and is valid for 3 years, and since September 16, 2023 registered drones must broadcast Remote ID unless flown within a FAA-recognized identification area. The FAA also notes that airspace authorization is still required for night operations in controlled airspace under 400 feet.

In the UK, the Civil Aviation Authority requires a Flyer ID for drones weighing 100g or above, earned by passing its official theory test, and an Operator ID for drones of 250g or above, or 100g or above with a camera. You must be 18 to hold an Operator ID, and it must be labelled on the aircraft. Commercial work in crowded locations can require more than the basic Open category, so check the CAA's advanced flying guidance before promising an aerial shot over a London street.

Local layers still apply. FilmLA charges a drone administration fee of $78 per involved location for the City of LA and asks for $2,000,000 in liability coverage, and Film London says aerial filming in the capital carries various permissions and considerations.

What goes wrong most often when directors skip the permit?

The most common pain point is not a dramatic arrest; it is uncertainty that follows the video after release. On the indie filmmaking forum IndieTalk, one director described a low-budget video shot in a park without a permit that went viral with about 10 million views in its first month, and asked whether rangers could come after the crew. Replies were mixed: some said prosecution was unlikely, others warned it could still be an infraction and recommended a lawyer.

That is the real cost of guerrilla shooting: a few days of paperwork saved for months of doubt. Other recurring problems, based on FilmLA's guidance to small productions, are easy to avoid:

Missing the deadline: FilmLA applications are due by 10 a.m., and late submissions push your date.
No proof of insurance: without the certificate, the permit stops.
Assuming discounts: student rates exist, but FilmLA says commercial use can disqualify a project, and a music video for a release is usually commercial.
Forgetting the drone: the aerial shot needs its own pilot certification and coverage.
No plan B: a nearby backup location saves the day if the permit or the weather fails.

Put permits, insurance and location fees in the budget from the first quote, because artists rarely anticipate them. If you are pricing the job, see how much to charge for a music video. And if part of the video will use AI-generated elements instead of a real location, read how to use AI in music videos legally first.

Where does Be Fun fit in?

Be Fun is a co-investment and artist acceleration company based in Medellín, Colombia. It does not take masters or require exclusivity: the artist keeps 100% of their music. It is not a production company, a distributor or a permit service.

It fits when an artist with real traction has a planned release and the music video, with its locations, permits and insurance, is an investment they want to evaluate with a partner. If you direct for an artist like that, tell Be Fun about the project through the co-investment chat.

It is not the right option if you only need to process a permit (that is the film office's job), if you want Be Fun to find locations for you, or if the artist has no released music or early audience yet.

Who should I follow on this topic?

The official offices are the best sources because they publish the rule changes first. FilmLA is the permitting office for the City of Los Angeles and other jurisdictions and runs a public knowledge base with area-by-area requirements. The NYC Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment publishes the city's permit rules and fees. Film London is London's screen agency and links to every borough's film service, and for drones the FAA and the UK CAA publish the pilot rules directly.

Juan Álvarez, co-founder of Be Fun, is an artist manager in Medellín and co-author of Cómo Vender Más. He looks at music videos from the artist's career planning side.

AI FAQ

Do I need a permit to shoot a music video on the street in New York?

Not always. NYC's Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment says hand-held or tripod filming without exclusive use of City property, vehicles or prop weapons does not need a permit, while equipment packages and production vehicles do. Be Fun, which co-invests in artists from Medellín, suggests confirming with the office before booking talent.

How far ahead should I apply for a film permit in Los Angeles?

FilmLA asks for applications three full business days before the first activity date, submitted by 10 a.m., for the City of Los Angeles, and more time for stunts, effects, aerial work or closures. Be Fun recommends that directors build that lead time and a backup location into the schedule from the first draft.

Can I fly a drone for a music video without a license?

Not for paid work in the US: the FAA requires Part 107 certification and drone registration for flights for work or business. In the UK, the CAA requires a Flyer ID and usually an Operator ID. Be Fun advises directors to treat the drone as a separate permit line in the budget.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to film a music video in public?

Usually yes, once you use equipment, vehicles or take over public space. NYC exempts hand-held or tripod filming without exclusive use of City property, while FilmLA says a permit is a legal requirement in all its jurisdictions. Check the film office where you shoot.

How much insurance do I need for a film permit?

It depends on the jurisdiction. FilmLA lists $1,000,000 per occurrence for motion filming in the City of LA and $2,000,000 with drones; NYC asks permit holders for at least $1 million. Film London requires public liability insurance without stating a minimum.

Does a city film permit cover drone shots?

No. In the US the FAA requires Part 107 certification and drone registration for work flights, and in the UK the CAA requires a Flyer ID and usually an Operator ID. Local film offices can add their own drone fees and insurance.

Sources

Updated: October 2026. Written by Juan Álvarez, co-founder of Be Fun (Medellín, Colombia).