Queens County, NY Filming & Production: Location Permits (2026)

New York City operates a streamlined one-stop film permit system through the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) Office of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting. Productions register online via the MOME production portal and submit a permit request listing shooting dates, locations, cast/crew size, equipment, and any street closures or parking holds required. Basic location permits are free, though productions must carry at least 1,000,000 dollars general liability with the City of New York named as additional insured. Processing typically takes 2 to 5 business days. Astoria and Long Island City are the beating heart of NYC production: Kaufman Astoria Studios (where many iconic TV shows and Sesame Street are produced), Silvercup Studios in LIC, and Broadway Stages all cluster in western Queens. Weekly permit requests for these neighborhoods are among the highest in the city. Community notification letters must be delivered to every residence and business on the affected block at least 48 hours before filming, describing activity, hours, and crew contact. Shoots inside NYC parks require coordination with NYC Parks and additional fees. Shoots on MTA property (subway stations, buses, LIRR trains) route through separate MTA Film Unit approvals. Student and non-profit productions have an expedited Student Film/Low-Budget process. Drones require FAA Part 107 compliance and separate NYPD notification; flying drones within NYC is broadly restricted under Admin Code 10-126 and requires coordination through FDNY and NYPD.