Paterson, NJ Filming & Production: Location Permits (2026)
Film location permits in Paterson, NJ, sometimes called film shoot permits, production permits, or filming authorizations, cover commercial photography, video shoots, and motion picture production.
Key Facts
- Max duration
- 7 consecutive days per location
- Issuing office
- Office of the Mayor
- Extension
- Required beyond 7 days
- On-site
- Permit must be available for inspection
- Covers
- Streets, sidewalks, parks, playgrounds
Summary
Filming on any Paterson public land, streets, sidewalks, parks, playgrounds, requires a location permit from the Mayor's Office naming the approved site and dates, capped at seven consecutive days.
No person or organization shall film or permit filming on public lands within the City of Paterson without first having made an application for a permit to the Office of the Mayor, or his designee, which permit shall set forth the approved location of such filming and the approved duration of such filming by specific reference to day or dates. No permit shall authorize filming for more than seven consecutive days in any one location. If filming exceeds seven days, an application for an extension of the permit must be made to the Office of the Mayor or his designee. Said permit must be readily available for inspection by City officials at all times at the site of the filming.
B. All permits shall be applied for and obtained from the Office of the Mayor, or his designee, during normal business hours. Applications for such permits shall be in a form approved by the Law Department and be accompanied by a permit fee in the amount established by this chapter in § 212-4 herein.
C.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4713536; v19 updated 2025-12-16; through 12-16-2025).
Full Breakdown
Before filming on public lands anywhere in Paterson, an applicant must apply to the Office of the Mayor, or a designee, for a permit that names the specific approved location and the approved filming dates. No single permit covers more than seven consecutive days at one location; longer shoots need a separate extension application to the Mayor's Office. Once issued, the permit must stay on-site and available for inspection by City officials for the full length of the shoot. 'Public lands' reaches well beyond streets: the definition folds in sidewalks, squares, parks, playgrounds, and any public land affected by filming taking place on nearby private property.
Violations & Fines
Filming on public land without an approved location permit violates Chapter 212, punishable by up to $1,000 per day or 90 days in county jail under § 212-5.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can a Paterson filming permit last at one location?
Where does the location-permit rule apply?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Paterson
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