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

Richmond does not run a stand-alone film permit; commercial filming and drone work on City park property are folded into the same permit and fee structure that governs picnics, festivals and other special events. 00 per-day, per-location staff cost for on-site film productions, both charged under the 'Grounds fees' table alongside the Category 1 through 3 special-event fees for Kanawha Plaza, the 17th Street Market and Monroe Park. Producers still route the underlying application through the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities' general park-permit process at § 8-372: applications are handled first-come, first-served and generally cannot be filed less than 30 days before the shoot, though the Director can shorten or lengthen that window.

The Director may require liability insurance whenever a shoot involves airborne objects such as drones, food service, pyrotechnics, vehicle traffic rerouting or the erection of tents or stages, under § 8-372(a)(6). 00 if the application is filed seven days or less before the event date. The Director can deny or later revoke a filming permit that would create a public nuisance, endanger public safety, or conflict with another scheduled use of the same park space.