Brookhaven, GA Filming & Production: Location Permits (2026)
Film location permits in Brookhaven, GA, sometimes called film shoot permits, production permits, or filming authorizations, cover commercial photography, video shoots, and motion picture production.
Key Facts
- Issuing office
- Community Development Department
- Residential filing deadline
- At least seven days before filming begins
- Other locations deadline
- 48 hours before filming begins
- Earliest filing
- No earlier than one year before filming
- Night filming trigger
- 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. within 300 feet of a dwelling or business
- Insurance where required
- $1,000,000.00 for each occurrence, city as additional insured
- Appeal window
- Five days to the city manager
Summary
In the City of Brookhaven, Georgia, any filming on public property needs a film production permit from the Community Development Department. On private property a permit is required only when a listed element applies, such as outdoor filming between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. near homes, street closures, pyrotechnics, or stunts.
(a)A permit is required if filming or any portion of filming is to take place on public property.(b)A permit is required if filming is to take place on private property, more specifically, property not owned by the city or any other governmental entity, and one of the following elements exists:(1)Filming outdoors between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. within a 300-foot radius of a dwelling unit, residence, place of worship, or business;(2)Filming which would be disruptive to the normal flow of traffic;(3)Filming involving the closure of a street, lane and/or sidewalk;(4)Occupation or interference of a right-of-way;(5)Use of pyrotechnics or other explosives, smoke effects, water effects, flame effects, or other potentially dangerous instrumentalities;(6)Display or use of real or artificial firearms, grenades, or other weaponry;(7)Vehicle chases and/or vehicle crashes;(8)Dangerous stunts that have a reasonable likelihood of causing substantial personal injury;
Full Breakdown
Article XIV of chapter 15 covers commercial motion pictures, independent filmography, documentaries, music videos, television shows, and commercials, plus still photography for commercial use (section 15-561). Section 15-563(a) requires a permit whenever any portion of filming takes place on public property, meaning city-owned or city-leased parks, streets, sidewalks, other rights-of-way, and buildings. On private property a permit is required only when a listed element exists: outdoor filming between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. within a 300-foot radius of a dwelling unit, residence, place of worship, or business, traffic disruption, a street, lane, or sidewalk closure, pyrotechnics, firearms, vehicle chases, dangerous stunts, or noise regulated by the city's noise ordinance.
The Community Development Department issues permits, and only to an individual person, so a company names a designated agent who is solely and fully responsible for compliance (sections 15-565 and 15-567(d)). Applications are due at least seven days before filming begins in a residential area and 48 hours ahead for all other locations, and none is accepted earlier than one year before the date. The application needs a site plan, insurance information, a crowd and traffic control plan, a clean-up plan, and the nonrefundable application fee. At the department's discretion the producer carries comprehensive general liability insurance with $1,000,000.00 for each occurrence and names the city as additional insured (section 15-571). A cash bond can be required, and a 501(c)(3) charity benefit can request a 50 percent fee reduction (section 15-568).
Denial grounds in section 15-573 include traffic disruption beyond practical solution, blocked access to fire stations and fire hydrants, an outstanding debt to the city, and two prior violations of the article within the last three years. A denied producer has five days to ask the city manager for review, and the city manager decides within five days (section 15-575).
Violations & Fines
Filming without a permit, filming that violates the material terms of a permit, or any other violation of the article draws a citation or summons from the police chief, a code enforcement officer, or another authorized city employee. On judgment or conviction by the Municipal Court the section 1-11 penalties apply: a fine not exceeding $1,000.00, up to six months in jail, or both. Each day a violation continues is a separate offense (section 15-566). Permits can also be suspended or revoked under section 15-573(b).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does filming on private property in Brookhaven need a permit?
How far ahead must a producer apply for a Brookhaven film permit?
Who receives the film permit in Brookhaven?
What can a film producer do if Brookhaven denies or revokes the permit?
Who pays for police and other city services at a shoot?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Brookhaven
Compare Brookhaven to another location·View the Georgia filming & production overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.