Seattle, WA Filming & Production: Location Permits (2026)

Seattle's film permit program is administered through the Seattle Office of Economic Development and coordinated with SDOT. A film permit is required when production activities take place on public property including streets, sidewalks, parks, and city facilities. All permits cost a flat $25 per day regardless of the filming impact level, making Seattle one of the most affordable cities for filming. Productions with total budgets under $10,000 pay only $25 for up to 14 consecutive shoot days. Three impact categories determine application requirements: Low Impact filming (sidewalks, parks, no traffic control or parking reservation) requires 3 business days notice; Medium Impact filming (parking reservation, traffic control, hiring officers, off-hours work) requires 5 business days notice; High Impact filming (drones, street closures, stunts, pyrotechnics, large builds) requires contact with a Film Permit Specialist for review and typically needs 10 or more business days. Permits cover activities on all public property and coordinate approvals across city departments. Proof of general liability insurance is required for all productions.