The Dallas Office of Special Events offers a reduced student filming permit rate for currently enrolled film students with school ID and faculty letter, requiring liability insurance but waiving most location fees on city property when no street closure is needed.
Dallas Office of Special Events administers all film permits on city property under City Code Chapter 42A. Student filmmakers from SMU, UNT, UTD, Dallas College, and other accredited programs qualify for a reduced permit fee when they submit a current student ID, a faculty signature confirming the project is coursework, proof of $1 million general liability insurance naming the City of Dallas as additional insured, and a script or treatment. Standard permits run $200 to $500 per day; the student rate drops application fees substantially though insurance costs remain. Filming inside city parks routes through Dallas Park and Recreation. Street closures, drone use, gunfire props, and pyrotechnics still require full review and DPD off-duty officers regardless of student status.
Filming on city property without a permit is a Class C misdemeanor under Code 42A, fine up to $500. Office of Special Events may also blacklist the school program from future expedited permits.
See how Dallas's student filming rules stack up against other locations.
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