Film location permits in Cook County, IL — sometimes called film shoot permits, production permits, or filming authorizations — cover commercial photography, video shoots, and motion picture production.
Forest Preserves of Cook County issue filming permits for productions on FPDCC's 70,000 acres under FPDCC Ordinance Article VI. Suburban Cook municipalities typically run their own film offices; Chicago has its own DCASE Film Office. The county itself has no countywide film office.
Productions filming in Cook County typically need three different permits depending on location. The Forest Preserves of Cook County (FPDCC) issues filming permits for any commercial photography or video on the district's 70,000 acres of preserves and trails under FPDCC Ordinance Article VI; fees range roughly $250–$2,500 per day plus insurance. Suburban Cook municipalities such as Evanston, Oak Park, Schaumburg, and Skokie run their own film coordinators with permit fees set locally. The City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events Film Office handles filming inside Chicago. There is no consolidated countywide Cook film office; producers contact each jurisdiction separately.
Filming on Forest Preserve property without an FPDCC permit can lead to ejection and citation under FPDCC ordinance, with fines up to $750 plus permit forfeiture. Suburban municipal violations carry local fines and right-of-way closure liability.
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See how Cook County's location permits rules stack up against other locations.
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