Bergenfield, NJ Filming & Production: Street Closures (2026)

Chapter 149 does not create a separate street-closure permit; instead it draws the line inside the general filming permit process. Section 149-2B says incidental use of a public sidewalk or street that does not result in closing the street or sidewalk to public use is not considered filming on public land at all, so a crew shooting a few minutes of exterior footage without blocking pedestrians or cars needs no special closure handling beyond the ordinary location permit. Once a shoot does close a street or sidewalk, § 149-3C obligates the permit holder to take all reasonable steps to minimize interference with the free passage of pedestrians and traffic over public lands and to comply with every lawful directive issued by the Bergenfield Police Department on the subject.

Section 149-3K goes further for filming on public lands generally, requiring the permit holder to hire, at the holder's own cost, Bergenfield police officers to be present at the site for the entire filming, and § 149-3L limits vehicles used by the production to parking on only one side of the street. The Borough Clerk can also refuse a permit in the first place under § 149-3G if the closure would unreasonably impede vehicular or pedestrian traffic or endanger public safety, and any refusal can be appealed to the Mayor and Council under § 149-3H.