Shoreline, WA Filming & Production: Location Permits (2026)
Film location permits in Shoreline, WA, sometimes called film shoot permits, production permits, or filming authorizations, cover commercial photography, video shoots, and motion picture production.
Key Facts
- Governing section
- SMC § 5.25.030
- Permit tiers
- low, moderate, high impact
- Liability insurance
- $1,000,000/$2,000,000 minimum
- Violation penalty
- $250 per day per violation
- Deliberate violation penalty
- additional $2,000
- Appeal deadline
- 14 days to hearing examiner
Summary
The City of Shoreline requires a filmmaking permit before any production may use a city park or city building for filming. Chapter 5.25 SMC sets three permit tiers, low, moderate and high impact, administered by the city manager under the Shoreline Film Manual, and unpermitted use of a park or building triggers the chapter's penalty provisions.
A. Unless explicitly exempt in this chapter, it is unlawful for any person to make use of a public place for filmmaking or film production without first securing a filmmaking permit when the filmmaking or film production requires the: 1. Use of a city park or city building for filming;
Full Breakdown
In the City of Shoreline, SMC § 5.25.030 makes it unlawful to use a public place for filmmaking or film production without a permit whenever the activity requires use of a city park or city building for filming. Any person filming for commercial purposes must submit a completed application to the city under SMC § 5.25.040, along with the application fee set by the fee schedule in Chapter 3.01 SMC. Before the permit is issued, the applicant must pay all fees, may be required to post a bond or damage deposit set by the city manager, and must provide a certificate of insurance naming the city as an additional insured.
SMC § 5.25.050 sets that liability coverage at not less than $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 general aggregate, though the city manager may raise or lower it depending on the activity. Filmmaking permits fall into three tiers, low, moderate, and high impact, with the criteria for each spelled out in the Shoreline Film Manual adopted under SMC § 5.25.070. The city may deny a permit if the applicant had a permit revoked in the prior three years, had a permit suspended more than twice in that period, or obtained a permit through fraud or misrepresentation, and may also deny an application it finds unduly burdensome or contrary to public health, safety, and welfare.
"Roving" productions with five or fewer cast and crew, one camera, no traffic control, and no park use may qualify for the exemption in SMC § 5.25.060.
Violations & Fines
Filming in a Shoreline park or building without a permit, or violating a permit's terms, carries a civil penalty of $250 per day per violation under SMC § 5.25.080. An additional $2,000 penalty applies if the violation was deliberate or reckless, and the responsible party must repair or restore any damaged city property. Permit denials, suspensions, revocations or penalties may be appealed to the city hearing examiner within 14 days, with further judicial review available in King County Superior Court.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to film in a Shoreline city park?
How much liability insurance does a Shoreline filming permit require?
What happens if I film in a park without a permit?
Can a denied filming permit be appealed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Shoreline
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Location Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle location permits.