Novi, MI Filming & Production: Location Permits (2026)

The permit covers use of any public right-of-way or public or private property, facility or residence for a commercial motion picture, television, radio or photographic production (§ 24-26). Six categories are exempt: current news crews, productions run by the city or its public/education/government access channel, work inside a licensed studio, jumbotron broadcast of a live venue performance, internet-only video, and private noncommercial shoots such as weddings or parties (§ 24-26). Applicants file with the city manager's designee and pay a nonrefundable processing fee, a daily property-use fee and a monitoring fee, all set by council resolution; the processing and property-use fees are waived for 501(c)(3) charities, cable-franchise productions off public property with fewer than two vehicles, and student filming directed by someone currently enrolled in a related course (§ 24-28).

The application must include a site sketch, a base-camp plan, a traffic-control plan listing roads or lanes to close, cleanup arrangements and insurance and bonding details (§ 24-29). Before issuance the city requires police-approved security personnel, resident and business notification, a 20-foot emergency-vehicle clearance around parked production vehicles, general liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 (rising to $5,000,000 if vehicles, aircraft, explosives or pyrotechnics are used), a $500 cash bond and a hold-harmless agreement (§ 24-31). The city manager must find the shoot will not unduly block traffic, threaten public safety or involve obscene material barred by MCL 752.361-.374 and 2008 PA 84 (§ 24-32). Cleanup is due within two hours of finishing (§ 24-37).