Perth Amboy, NJ Filming & Production: Street Closures (2026)

Chapter 217 of the Perth Amboy City Code, rewritten by the City Council on 4-30-2025 as Ord. No. 2232-2025, governs filming on public lands in the City of Perth Amboy, Middlesex County, New Jersey. "Public lands" covers every public street, highway, sidewalk, square, park or playground under city control. A production that makes only incidental use of a street or sidewalk, with minimal impact and no closing of it to public use, is not treated as filming on public land. Once a crew actually closes the street, the permit rules apply.

Every permit comes from the Filming Review Committee (FRC): the Director of the Office of Economic and Community Development or the Film Ready Liaison, the Chief of the Police Department or a designee, and the Mayor or a designee. Permits are issued at the discretion of the FRC, and § 217-2(D) lets the FRC deny one for good cause. A basic permit is issued on an application made four or more days before the first day of filming. An expedited permit needs an application no less than three days ahead plus the expedited fee.

The street closure fee in § 217-5(E) is $5,000 per day. It is separate from the basic filming permit ($100 for a period not to exceed 14 consecutive days), the $5 per work day for each commercial vehicle, and the daily filming fee of $500 for major motion pictures or $150 per day for all other filming. Under § 217-4(J) the applicant also reimburses the City for lost revenue such as parking meter revenue and for repairs to public property.

Traffic control is the practical cost. Under § 217-4(A) the permit holder must minimize interference with the free passage of pedestrians and traffic and follow every lawful directive of the Perth Amboy Police Department. Under § 217-3(C)(3) an off-duty City of Perth Amboy police officer must be hired for the times on the permit when the Police Department deems it necessary, paid at issuance, and § 217-4(H) lets the City require one or more on-site patrolmen where the production could impede the flow of traffic. Where a production directly affects businesses, merchants or residents, written notice is due no less than three days before the requested shooting dates, and those parties are entitled to file objections with the FRC. Under § 217-4(G) the FRC can refuse an application when the location or time would unreasonably impede the free flow of vehicular or pedestrian traffic.