Mount Vernon, NY Filming & Production: Location Permits (2026)

City of Mount Vernon Code § 128-1 requires any person, organization, corporation or group to obtain a permit before filming a commercial, movie, documentary, television program or any other presentation on the streets, sidewalks or other property within the City, and the application, filed with the City Clerk, must state the applicant's name and address, the organization's name and address if applicable, the proposed filming location, and the dates and times requested. The application fee is $750, though it is waived for applicants filming on City property who instead pay the separate daily permit fee under § 128-4 or § 128-5.

Section 128-2 requires proof of a public liability insurance policy, approved by the Corporation Counsel, naming the City of Mount Vernon as an additional insured in an amount of $1,000,000 single limit for the duration of filming, and the applicant must agree to indemnify and hold the City harmless for any resulting damage. Where filming occurs on public property not supervised by the Commissioner of Recreation, § 128-4 layers on an administrative fee of $2,000 per day in the City's Commercial Business, Downtown Business, Neighborhood Business or Office Business zoning districts, $1,500 per day elsewhere, dropping to $1,000 per day after the seventh day, plus $1,000 for each additional filming location and a cash or check deposit against City cleanup costs. Permits issue only after countersignature by the Mayor and City Clerk under § 128-7, with a copy sent to the Fire Commissioner.