West New York, NJ Filming & Production: Location Permits (2026)

Chapter 189 of the Town Code, amended in its entirety on 2-21-2024 by Ord. No. 2/24, governs filming in the Town of West New York. Section 189-1 defines filming as the taking of still or motion pictures for commercial or educational purposes intended for viewing on television, in theaters or for institutional uses, and it excludes news stories. Public lands means any street, highway, sidewalk, square, public park, playground or other public place under Town control.

Applications go to the Town Clerk during normal business hours, on a form the Clerk approves, with the fee attached. Under § 189-3A the Clerk will not issue a permit unless it is applied for at least 10 days before the day of shooting and approved by the Town Administrator or a designee. That ten-day period can be waived for sufficient cause when there will be no undue interference with property owners or tenants. A permit longer than three days is available only for a major motion picture, judged on traffic congestion from vehicles parked on public streets, the applicant's ability to remove film vehicles from public streets, requested restrictions on public parking, the accommodation of the shoot itself (indoors, outdoors, day or night) and the production company's prior filming history in the Town.

The fee list in § 189-2D prints a $75 permit application fee, or $125 where the applicant requires expedited processing, and a $750 permit for filming on public land. All fees are nonrefundable. If inclement weather or other good cause stops the shoot, the Clerk, after authorization from the Town Administrator or a designee, can issue a new permit for other dates, subject to full compliance with the rest of the chapter.

Section 189-3B adds three conditions for public lands: a certificate of insurance naming the Town as the assured, with $1,000,000 for bodily injury to any one person, $3,000,000 for any one occurrence, and $500,000 for property damage per occurrence; a written agreement to indemnify the Town; and a $500 cash or surety bond or a $1,000 maintenance bond. The Town returns the bond within seven days of completion if filming caused no damage or public expense.