Phoenix, AZ Filming & Production: Location Permits (2026)
Film location permits in Phoenix, AZ, sometimes called film shoot permits, production permits, or filming authorizations, cover commercial photography, video shoots, and motion picture production.
Key Facts
- Permit issuer
- City Manager
- Permit fee
- $350
- Applies to
- public property, facility, right-of-way
- Exempt
- news, studios, charitable use
- Default penalty
- Class 1 misdemeanor
Summary
Phoenix requires a City Manager-issued permit before any motion picture or TV production uses public property, facilities, or rights-of-way, with a $350 fee and exemptions for news coverage, established studios, and charitable productions.
No person shall use any public property, facility or right-of-way belonging to the City of Phoenix for motion picture or television productions without first applying for and receiving permit from the City Manager.
B. Exemptions.
1. Current news. The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the filming of news events concerning those persons, scenes, or occurrences which are in the news and of general public interest.
2. Studios. The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to or affect a motion picture or television studio operating at an established or fixed place of business in the City of Phoenix.
3. Charitable purposes. No permit fee shall be required for any motion picture or television production when found by the City Manager to be conducted or carried on wholly for a charitable or educational purpose, however, a permit as provided for in this chapter shall be required. (Ord. No. G-1403, § 1) State law reference—General power over streets and public places, A.R.S. §§ 9-499.01, 9-240(B)(3), (B)(4), (B)(15), 9-276(A)(1).
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance G-7524, passed June 17, 2026).
Full Breakdown
City Code § 10-60 bars using any public property, facility, or right-of-way belonging to Phoenix for a motion picture or television production without first applying for and receiving a permit from the City Manager. Section 10-62 applications must state the filming location, the inclusive dates and times, the nature of the activity, personnel count, and equipment involved. The City Manager sets permit rules based on traffic congestion, public safety, disruption of normal activities, and property safety, and may require bonds or insurance under § 10-63. Section 10-64 sets the permit fee at $350. Current news filming, productions by studios with an established Phoenix location, and charitable or educational productions are exempt from the underlying chapter, though charitable productions still must obtain the permit itself.
Violations & Fines
This article sets no dedicated penalty, so the Code's general penalty clause applies: filming on city property without the required permit is a Class 1 misdemeanor, punishable by up to a $2,500 fine, six months in jail, or both.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to film on Phoenix streets or sidewalks?
How much does a Phoenix filming permit cost?
Is news filming exempt from the Phoenix permit rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Phoenix
Compare Phoenix to another location·View the Arizona filming & production overview
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Location Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Maricopa County handle location permits.