A film permit in Orlando is written permission to film on public property, such as a street, a sidewalk or a park, issued through Film Orlando, the Orlando Film Commission's one-stop permitting office. Most business video shoots happen indoors on private property and need none. The ones that step outside onto a sidewalk, a downtown street or the path around Lake Eola usually do.
Film Orlando handles permits for the City of Orlando and for jurisdictions in Orange, Seminole, Lake and Osceola counties. A production approaches only the Film Commission, which does not charge for its permitting service. Some jurisdictions charge their own fees, and services such as off-duty officers are billed separately.
Do I Need a Permit to Film Inside My Own Business?
In the City of Orlando, a permit is required on private property only for temporary structures. An interview in your office, product shots in your showroom or a podcast in your conference room need no city film permit. A tent, stage or set built outside is what changes that.
Where Does a Permit Come In?
| Where the camera is | City of Orlando | Unincorporated Orange County |
|---|---|---|
| Inside your own building | Only for temporary structures | Ask Film Orlando |
| Street, sidewalk or other public property | Permit through Film Orlando, 5 business days' notice | Permit, 5 business days' notice |
| A park | City parks: contact Film Orlando directly | Orange County parks: 30 days' notice |
| Metered parking spaces for gear or a vehicle | Apply to the city for meter rental first, then contact Film Orlando | Ask Film Orlando |
Orange County also has a small-crew exception: no permit is required if cast and crew are three or fewer using handheld cameras, depending on the content of the project. A camera on a tripod or a fourth person on set takes a shoot outside it.
A mailing address that says Orlando is not the same as the City of Orlando. Large parts of the area with Orlando addresses are unincorporated Orange County, which has its own rules. Check which one the location is in before assuming either column.
How Far Ahead Do I Need to Apply?
Five business days for a City of Orlando or Orange County permit. Thirty days for an Orange County park. A shoot planned on Monday for Friday on a downtown sidewalk is already too late.
If the shoot is part of an event on city property with more than 100 people, or it would block a city roadway, that is a special event permit instead, and the city asks for that application at least 60 days ahead.
What Insurance Does the Permit Ask For?
For filming on public property, Film Orlando's minimum is a general liability policy of $1,000,000 each occurrence, with the city or county named as additional insured. Special effects need $5,000,000. The Film Commission confirms the exact certificate for the jurisdiction during permitting.
Jet Media Productions carries commercial insurance and provides the certificate on request. If a permit needs the city or county named on it, tell us when you ask for the quote so the certificate is sorted before the five days start.
What If We Film on a Residential Street?
In the City of Orlando, filming in a neighbourhood needs notice to the surrounding neighbours at least two days before the shoot date, and not after 7 pm. This is the step most often missed on a shoot at a home office or a client's house.
Can We Fly a Drone Over Lake Eola for the Video?
Not without asking first. The city says no permit is needed to fly a drone, but flying in a city park needs the park manager's permission, City Code requires prior written authorisation from the parks division manager for radio controlled aircraft, and flights stay under 400 feet and never over people. Some city land bans drones outright: Orlando Wetlands Park is one. Airspace is a separate question again, covered in our corridor airspace post.
What Does a Business Video Cost With Jet Media?
Jet Media Productions commercial video starts at $150 for a podcast or talking head shoot, $250 for a social media video ad and $750 for a brand promotional video, shot on cinema cameras with gimbal stabilisation, lavalier and shotgun audio, and Part 107 certified drones. Commercial video production has the detail.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Film Orlando and the jurisdiction you are filming in set the current rules, and their answer governs. Email film@orlando.org with the location and date when in doubt.
Planning a shoot in Orlando? Get a quote and tell us where the camera will be.