[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village
of Rockville Centre 5-25-2010 by L.L. No. 8-2010. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
The Board of Trustees hereby finds that it would serve the public
interest to require a permit for use of public or private property
in the Village for filming, as defined in this chapter, and to establish
the standards and requirements which will govern application for such
permits.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
The recording, on film, tape, or other medium, of motion
pictures, commercials, documentaries, shows, performances, athletic
or sport events or other similar events or activities, including still
photography, with the intention that the end product be distributed
commercially or shown or exhibited at any place or locale where an
admission fee is charged. The term "filming" shall not include recording
of news, political events and local sports or school district events
for the purposes of providing news or information about such activities
or events, nor activities contained wholly within any building in
the Village and which involve no physical activity or presence outside
such building. The term "filming" shall not include any recording
by the Village or the Rockville Centre School District, nor any recording
where not more than two persons are involved in the recording activity
and there is no use of public property for storage or placement of
equipment or vehicles used in connection with or furtherance of such
recording. As used herein, "filming" shall include the use of public
property for persons, equipment, vehicles, props, cameras and any
other items or materials used in connection with such filming.
No person, firm, association or corporation shall commence,
conduct, permit, or cause filming in the Village of Rockville Centre
unless a permit therefor has been issued by the Mayor, and unless
such filming is in compliance with the terms and conditions of such
permit. Where a permit for filming has been issued in accordance with
this chapter, such activity shall be authorized in accordance with
the conditions of such permit. The Mayor may delegate to one or more
other persons the authority to issue permits or make other determinations
pursuant to this chapter.
A.
An application for a filming permit shall be made on forms provided
by the Village Clerk and shall contain at least the following information:
(1)
Name, address and telephone number of the person or entity owning
the rights to the film.
(2)
Name, address, telephone number, and written consent of the owner
of the property where the proposed filming is to be conducted, and
the name, address, and telephone number of the location coordinator
or other contact person.
(3)
Purpose of the filming.
(4)
Specific location of the property to be used.
(5)
Dates and times of day that the property will be used.
(6)
A description of the number and type of all vehicles and bulky equipment
to be used in connection with the filming, and all locations where
such vehicles will be located during the period when the filming permit
will be in effect.
(7)
Details of whether any streets are proposed to be closed during such
filming, and the periods of time of such anticipated closing.
(8)
Such other information as may be required by the Mayor.
B.
Any application for a filming permit shall include the written consent
of the owners of all property located within a radius of 400 feet
from any location where such filming, or any part of such filming
activity, is proposed to take place; provided, however, where such
consent is not provided as part of the application, the application
shall include the names and addresses of the owners of all such properties.
Where the application does not include such consent of all owners,
the applicant shall give at least five days' written notice,
by first class mail, return receipt requested, to all such owners,
stating a time and place designated by the Mayor when such owners
may be heard to object or comment on such application. No application
for a filming permit shall be granted unless the application includes
such consents or the Mayor grants such application after all owners
have had an opportunity to be heard as provided herein.
C.
Any material change in the date, time, place or scope of the filming
activities for which a permit has been requested or obtained shall
be submitted in advance of the filming, and shall be approved or denied
in the same manner as the original application.
D.
Application for a filming permit must be submitted at least 20 business
days prior to the first date of filming, unless the Mayor waives this
condition for good cause.
A.
The Mayor may deny an application for a filming permit if it does
not comply with the purpose and intent of this chapter or if the public
interest will be served by such denial. The Mayor may also deny any
application for a permit in connection with filming which, in the
Mayor's judgment, would conflict with other scheduled events
in the area of the filming location, would be detrimental to the community
because of anticipated excessive noise, illumination or other effect
caused by the proposed filming, including but not limited to the use
of explosives, or would unduly interfere for an extended period of
time with the day-to-day activities of citizens, property owners or
merchants.
B.
Every permit shall contain a date of commencement and an expiration
date and shall contain the location where and specific hours during
which filming shall occur. No filming shall take place except in accordance
with the terms and conditions of the permit.
C.
At no time shall filming, or the use of equipment in connection with
or furtherance thereof, be conducted in a residential area between
the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m., or on Sundays prior to 10:00
a.m., except that the Mayor may authorize filming during such hours
upon good cause shown and upon a finding that such filming will not
have any adverse effect on the neighborhood in which such filming
is proposed to be conducted.
D.
There shall be no rerouting of traffic in connection with the filming
activity except as specifically authorized by the Mayor as a condition
of the permit approval.
E.
Filming shall be conducted so as not to interfere with access to
fire stations and fire hydrants. Equipment, materials or obstructions
shall not be placed within 15 feet of fire hydrants. Passageways leading
to fire escapes or fire-fighting equipment shall be kept free of equipment,
materials or obstructions. Parking spaces for the handicapped shall
be kept free of equipment, materials or obstructions.
F.
In granting a permit for filming, the Mayor may impose reasonable
conditions and/or limitations on the activity, including hours of
operation, based on the needs of the particular neighborhood or the
existence of conflicting scheduled events, or to protect the public
health, safety and general welfare.
G.
A decision by the Mayor to grant or deny a filming permit, or to
impose or not impose conditions on a filming permit, shall be appealable
by any person aggrieved thereby to the Board of Trustees, whose decision
thereon shall be final.
A.
The fee for a filming permit shall be established, and may be amended,
by the Board of Trustees by resolution. The fee shall be paid in cash
or certified check prior to the issuance of the permit.
B.
In addition, the applicant shall pay the actual cost for the use
of any Village personnel, services or equipment in connection with
the filming, as determined by the Mayor. The applicant shall, prior
to the issuance of a filming permit, pay such costs on an estimated
basis and shall also post adequate security to ensure the payment
of any such costs which cannot be reliably estimated.
A.
The Mayor, on the Mayor's own initiative or upon the request
of any person, may suspend or revoke a filming permit for any of the
following reasons:
(1)
Violation of any law, rule or regulation of the United States, the
State of New York, the County of Nassau, the Village of Rockville
Centre or any department or agency thereof.
(2)
Violation of any condition of the permit.
(3)
Conduct that is detrimental to the health, safety or welfare of the
residents of the Village of Rockville Centre or that is detrimental
to public or private property within the Village.
B.
A decision by the Mayor to suspend or revoke a permit shall be appealable
to the Board of Trustees, whose decision thereon shall be final. The
Mayor's decision shall remain in effect until the determination
of any such appeal.
C.
In the event that a permit is suspended or revoked, the fee paid
therefor, and any actual costs paid, shall be forfeited and shall
not be refunded to the applicant except as may be authorized by the
Board of Trustees.
D.
Revocation of a filming permit shall bar the offender from applying
for a new permit within one (1) year from the date of the revocation,
and shall bar any further application for a filming permit at the
same premises for a period of one year from the date of revocation.
A.
No filming permit shall be issued until the applicant has deposited
with the Village Clerk a policy of liability, personal, bodily injury,
automobile, and property damage insurance coverage in an amount not
less than $5,000,000, or an endorsement to any such policy, naming
the Village of Rockville Centre, its officers, agents and employees
as additional named insured, thereby providing defense and indemnity
from and against any claim, loss or damage resulting from the filming
for which the permit is issued. The applicant also shall file proof
of any other insurance required by law, including workers' compensation
and New York State disability insurance, and any other insurance as
may reasonably be required by the Mayor.
B.
In addition, the applicant shall deposit with the Village Clerk a
cash bond or letter of credit in an amount to be determined by the
Mayor to guarantee the reconstruction or restoration of any public
or private property damaged as a result of the filming. Such bond
or letter of credit shall be in a form acceptable to and approved
by the Village Attorney.
A.
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate or fail, neglect
or refuse to comply with any provision of this chapter or any rule
or determination made thereunder, or who shall undertake filming without
a permit therefor, shall, upon conviction thereof, be guilty of a
violation, and shall be punished as provided for violations of this
Code.
B.
In addition to the penalties set forth hereinabove, the Village may
enforce any provision of this chapter by injunction or by civil action
to recover a civil penalty in an amount not greater than $2,500 for
each day on which a violation occurs.
