Duluth, MN Special Events & Permits: Commercial Filming on Public Right-of-Way (2026)

Chapter 45's special events ordinance does not create a separate permitting track for filming; it folds commercial film production into the same permit-fee structure used for block parties, festivals, parades and public assemblies, but splits filming into two size tiers. A 'low impact' shoot is defined at § 45-47(e) as one with fewer than five crew and fewer than ten talent, no trucks or other commercial vehicles, and no more than two personal vehicles. A 'high impact' shoot, § 45-47(f), is anything with more than five crew, more than ten talent, or more than two personal vehicles.

2(a) lists 'Commercial film production - low impact' and 'Commercial film production - high impact' as their own line items among the special event types for which the city council sets a nonrefundable permit application fee under § 31-6(a), separate from the fee charged to nonprofit-sponsored festivals, parades and assemblies. 2(b) lets the special events committee charge an event services fee equal to the actual cost of any city police, fire, streets or public works resources the shoot uses, due at least five days before it starts, with any shortfall billed after the fact.

2(c) authorizes the committee to set that services charge as a daily rate rather than a one-time cost, covering both low impact and high impact productions. 2(d), so a large production's daily charges are not capped the way a community festival's would be.