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

Chapter 9, Article 21 of the Plainfield Municipal Code treats a street as one of the City's public lands. Section 9:21-1 defines public lands as any public street, highway, sidewalk or square, public park or playground, or other public place within the City under City jurisdiction and control. Section 9:21-2(b) adds that incidental use of a public sidewalk or street that does not result in a closing of the street or sidewalk to public use is not filming on public land, so a shoot that closes a street or sidewalk is covered.

Section 9:21-4 sets the on-street duties. The permit holder takes all reasonable steps to minimize interference with the free passage of pedestrians and traffic and follows the City Police Director's lawful directives. On public lands the holder hires an off-duty police officer at the holder's sole cost, present at all times at the site, and the City can require more than one officer where the production could impede the proper flow of traffic. Vehicles used by the holder, for residential or public land filming, park on no more than one side of the street.

Before issuing a public land permit, the City requires proof of insurance of $500,000 for bodily injury to any person and $1,000,000 for any aggregate occurrence, a written indemnity, and a written promise to reimburse lost revenue such as parking meter revenue. The applicant also posts a cash bond of $500 or a maintenance bond of $1,000 (§ 9:21-3(b)). Section 9:21-6(a)(4) prints a daily fee of $2,500 for filming on public land in addition to the permit fee. The application needs the Police Director's approval, with any conditions he sets, for public land shoots (§ 9:21-2(f)(9)).

Separately, § 16:2-2 gives the Director of Public Affairs and Safety authority to promulgate a regulation temporarily closing streets or parts of streets to vehicular or foot traffic or diverting traffic, with warning signs posted.