Salt Lake County, UT Special Events & Permits: Commercial Filming on Public Right-of-Way (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing definition
- §14.56.030
- Permit required by
- §14.56.040
- Size threshold
- Over 50 people
- Scope
- Unincorporated county only
Summary
Salt Lake County treats movie and television filming as an 'entertainment event' under its special events ordinance, so any unincorporated-area film shoot involving more than 50 people needs a special event permit before filming starts.
"Entertainment event" means an organized event involving the preplanned participation of more than fifty people, having as its primary purpose the entertainment or amusement of a group of people, including but not limited to parades, carnivals, fairs, concerts, block parties;sub\sub; movie or television film events, or neighborhood gatherings, on any county street or sidewalk in or upon county property.
"Nonpublic forum" means county property that is not designated or traditionally considered a place for public expression or speech. Examples of non-public forums include county offices and employee office space, backstage at a theater, or any other county property that is not designated or traditionally used for public expression or speech.
"Political event" means an organized event involving the preplanned participation of more than fifty people, not including an athletic or entertainment event, having as its primary purpose the exercise of expressive activities of a political nature, including but not limited to speechmaking, picketing, protesting, marching, demonstrating or debating public issues, on any county street or sidewalk or upon county property.
"Protest zone" means an area set aside on county property specifically designated for persons to exercise free speech rights.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 49).
Full Breakdown
Salt Lake County Code §14.56.030 defines 'entertainment event' to expressly include movie or television film events staged on county streets, sidewalks or county property. Because film shoots fall inside that definition, county ordinance §14.56.040 requires the organizer to obtain a special event permit before holding the shoot in the unincorporated county. The rule applies only outside city limits: a production filming inside Salt Lake City, West Jordan, Sandy or another incorporated city must instead follow that city's own permitting process, not the county's.
Violations & Fines
Producing or holding a film event without a permit is unlawful under §14.56.040; the county sheriff's office may issue citations or stop the shoot under §14.56.140, a class B misdemeanor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does filming a movie in Salt Lake County require a permit?
Does this cover filming inside Salt Lake City?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Salt Lake County
Compare Salt Lake County to another location·View the Utah special events & permits overview
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