Newton County, GA Filming & Production: Location Permits (2026)

Newton County's chapter 12, article IV, Motion Picture, Television, and Photographic Productions ordinance requires notification and a permit or authorization before commercial filming can begin anywhere in the county. Section 12-78 defines a covered production broadly: staging or shooting a commercial motion picture, television show, program or commercial, or taking photographs for sale or commercial use, whenever the crew sets up stationary equipment on public or private property or in the public right-of-way in one location for longer than five consecutive minutes. Section 12-79 splits the requirement in two: a permit is required to use any public right-of-way or public property or facility, and a separate authorization is required to use private property, a facility, or a residence for the same purpose.

Applications go to the county film coordinator on the county's forms at least ten working days before filming, accompanied by required fees, deposits, hold harmless agreements, and insurance certificates; a complete application is processed within ten working days. 00 rush fee, but the coordinator may refuse it if processing isn't feasible, and no application may come in later than one full business day before the requested start. Under section 12-83, the coordinator issues the permit after consulting the sheriff's office, fire service, public works, and buildings and grounds, and can deny an applicant who owes the county money, previously damaged county property without repairing it, or previously violated a county, state, or federal law while filming locally. A denial can be appealed in writing to the board chairperson within five working days.