DeKalb County, GA Filming & Production: Location Permits (2026)
Film location permits in DeKalb County, GA, sometimes called film shoot permits, production permits, or filming authorizations, cover commercial photography, video shoots, and motion picture production.
Key Facts
- Covered activity
- Commercial still photography
- Public property
- Permit always required
- Private property
- Permit only if an element applies
- Minimum fine
- $499 on conviction
Summary
DeKalb County's film ordinance defines commercial still photography as filming, so a photo shoot on public property needs the same county permit as a movie or video production.
Filming means creating motion picture images and all activity attendant to staging, shooting, and associated basecamp operations associated with the production of commercial motion pictures, independent filmography, documentaries, music videos, television shows, and commercials. Filming also means creating still photography images for commercial use and all activity attendant to staging or shooting such images.
Permit means the authorization issued by the department necessary to conduct filming.
Producer means an individual, organization, corporation or any other entity that is responsible for the filming.
Public property means real property owned by the county, or of which the county is a tenant, including, without limitation, parks, streets, sidewalks, other rights-of-way, and buildings. Public property shall not include real property which is being leased by the county to a tenant.
(Ord. No. 16-05, Pt. I, 5-10-16)
Full Breakdown
Sec. 15-552 folds still photography into the definition of filming: creating still photography images for commercial use, plus all staging and shooting activity around it, is treated the same as motion-picture filming. Because Sec. 15-554 requires a permit for any filming on public property, a commercial still-photo shoot on county streets, sidewalks or parks needs a planning department permit; on private property a permit is needed only if the shoot includes an element listed in Sec. 15-556.
Violations & Fines
Shooting without a required permit, or violating a permit's material terms, carries a minimum $499 fine on conviction plus any other court-ordered penalty under Sec. 15-554(d).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a personal photo shoot need a permit?
Who issues the permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in DeKalb County
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