Filming & Production in Plainfield, NJ (2026)
4 verified filming & production rules for Plainfield, New Jersey, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Location Permits
In the City of Plainfield, New Jersey, filming for commercial use needs a permit from the Municipal Clerk, with one permit required for each location. No permit is issued unless applied for prior to five days before the requested shooting date. Productions with only a hand-held camera or tripod and no claim to City property need no permit. Filming on private property needs the owner's or tenant's written consent.
Filming Location Permits in the City of Plainfield, NJ
Significant RestrictionsPlainfield Municipal Code § 9:21-2
(a) No person shall film or permit to film within the City of Plainfield, except as set forth below, without obtaining a permit therefor, which permit set forth the location of such filming and the date or dates when filming takes place. ... No permits ... shall be issued unless applied for prior to five days before the requested shooting date. ... (b) Permits shall be obtained in the office of...
Production Noise
In the City of Plainfield, New Jersey, a film permit holder must minimize inconvenience and discomfort to adjoining property owners and abate noise to the extent practicable. In residential zones, filming is permitted only Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. or sundown, whichever is earlier, with night shooting by waiver and never past 11:00 p.m.
Filming Noise and Hours in the City of Plainfield, NJ
Some RestrictionsPlainfield Municipal Code § 9:21-4
(b) The holder of a permit shall conduct filming in such a manner as to minimize the inconvenience or discomfort to adjoining property owners attributable to such filming and shall, to the extent practicable, abate noise and park vehicles associated with such filming off the public streets. The holder shall avoid any interference with previously scheduled activities upon public lands and shall ...
Street Closures
In the City of Plainfield, New Jersey, a film permit holder working on public lands must hire an off-duty police officer at the permit holder's sole cost, present at all times during filming, and must follow the Police Director's lawful directives to keep pedestrians and traffic moving. Production vehicles park on only one side of the street.
Filming Street Closures in the City of Plainfield, NJ
Significant RestrictionsPlainfield Municipal Code § 9:21-4
(a) The holder of a permit shall take all reasonable steps to minimize interference with the free passage of pedestrians and traffic over public lands and shall comply with all lawful directives issued by the City Police Director with respect thereto. ... (f) The holder of a permit issued for filming on public lands shall hire, at said person's sole cost and expense, an off-duty police officer ...
Student Filming
In the City of Plainfield, New Jersey, the filming fee schedule prints a daily fee of $75 per day for nonprofit and student applicants, including filming on public land, against a $150 per day permit fee for a standard application. Student films still need a Plainfield filming permit from the Municipal Clerk's office.
Student Film Permit Fees in the City of Plainfield, NJ
Some RestrictionsPlainfield Municipal Code § 9:21-6
(a) Fees shall be as follows: (1) Permit fee of $150 per day for a standard application. ... (4) Daily fee of $2,500 (per day) for filming on public land in addition to the permit fee. (5) Daily fee of $75 (per day) for nonprofit and student applicants, including filming on public land.
Looking for Union County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Plainfield city rules.
Filming & Production in Union County →