[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township
of Mount Laurel 9-12-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-13. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
The purpose and intent of this chapter is to attract commercial
filmmaking and photography, while also enabling the Township of Mount
Laurel to regulate activities within the Township to protect the community
from negative implications of such activities.
As used in this chapter, these terms shall have the following
meanings:
A motion picture, television picture, or still photography
produced to satisfy a course or curriculum requirement at an accredited
educational institution. A student filmmaker must supply proof of
current enrollment at an accredited educational institution.
Filming, videotaping, or still photography intended for solely
noncommercial private use.
A motion picture, television picture, streaming production,
commercial, videotape, or other similar visual recording which involves
a series of moving images intended for commercial or entertainment
purposes.
The taking of still or motion pictures either on film, videotape,
or similar recording medium, for any purpose intended for viewing
in movie theaters, television, streaming services, social media platforms,
or for any other commercial purpose. This term shall not include family
videos and photography and news media, as defined in or otherwise
provided for in this chapter.
Any film financed, produced, and/or distributed by a major
motion picture studio, corporation, or streaming service for presentation
in movie theaters or on streaming services, provided that the film
has a cumulative budget of, or exceeding $2,000,000.
All activities associated with the staging and/or shooting
of a film or taking of single or multiple photographs for commercial
purposes where the photographer, cameraperson, or person recording
the activities sets up stationary equipment in any one location for
longer than five consecutive minutes.
Photography, recording, or videotaping for the purpose of
a television broadcast, streaming service news program, online news
outlet, or reporting for print or other digital media by reporters,
photographers, or camerapersons.
Any area or building within the jurisdiction and control
of the Township of Mount Laurel, including, but not limited to, any
public street, highway, bridge, sidewalk, park, playground, public
building, public facility, and any other public place.
A.
No filming shall be conducted on public lands, private property,
or residence for the purpose of creating a film without first applying
and receiving a permit from Township Clerk or Township Manager of
the Township of Mount Laurel, provided the exceptions in this section.
B.
The permit must set forth the approved location and duration of the
filming, with specific reference to the dates. No permit shall authorize
filming for more than three consecutive days in any one location.
Filming at one location shall not exceed a total of six days in one
calendar year, regardless of the number of separate permits sought
to reach the six-day limit. Only when the filming satisfies the major
motion picture requirement may the filming extend past the three-consecutive-day
and six-day total limitations. Permits must be readily available for
inspection by Township officials at all times while on site of the
filming.
C.
All permit applications and accompanying fees must be submitted to
the Township Clerk, in a form and amount approved by the Township
Manager.
D.
If filming does not take place on the dates specified after a permit
is issued due to good cause, the Township Clerk, with approval from
the Township Manager, may issue a new permit without additional fees
for filming to occur on different dates subject to full compliance
with all other provision in this chapter. Good cause includes, but
is not limited to, inclement weather or other unforeseen circumstances
as determined by the Township.
E.
The provisions of this section do not apply to educational/student
films, family videos or photography, news media, and Township-sponsored
events.
F.
The provisions of this section shall not apply to any activities
related to filming that occur on private property and within a commercial
building or other structure not located in a residential area and
said activities are not visible outside of such building or structure.
A.
Permits shall be issued by the Township Clerk or Township Manager.
Review of permits must include a determination on whether additional
municipal services will be reasonably required based on the nature
of the activities proposed. Permits must be issued by the close of
the tenth business day after submission of a completed application
with the appropriate fees.
B.
Expedited permits may be issued by the close of the fourth business
day after submission of a completed application with the appropriate
fee. Prior to issuing an expedited permit, the Township Clerk or Manager
shall consult with the Chief of Police and Director of Public Works
to determine whether additional municipal services will be reasonably
required based on the nature of the activities proposed.
C.
Permits may on be issued after all appropriate fees and reimbursable
expenses have been received by the Township.
D.
A permit application must be submitted to the Township Clerk or Township
Manager on a form to be provided for that purpose. An application
must include the following for issuance of a permit:
(1)
Date(s) and location(s) of proposed filming activities.
(2)
Contact information for responsible parties, including the production
company, if applicable.
(3)
Any potential use of specialized or reasonably dangerous equipment,
including, but not limited to, firearms, other weapons, and pyrotechnics.
(4)
Proof of insurance coverage, including, but not limited to, $1,000,000
for bodily injury to any one person, $3,000,000 in the aggregate for
bodily injury for each occurrence, and $1,000,000 in the aggregate
for property damage for each occurrence.
(5)
A written hold harmless and indemnification agreement acceptable
to the Township Attorney.
(6)
The posting of cash or maintenance bond for the value of $500 protecting
that the property used for the filming will be free from damage and
debris, to the satisfaction of the Township, and that all Township
ordinances, laws, and regulations will be followed during the property's
use.
(7)
The permit holder must agree to take all reasonable steps to limit
interference with pedestrian and vehicular traffic, including adherence
to any directives or traffic control plans issued by the Township
Police Department, the Fire Chief, or the Township Manager.
(8)
The permit holder must agree to take all reasonable steps to limit
interference with the surrounding properties, including, but not limited
to, noise abatement, parking vehicles off public streets, and filming
during reasonable hours.
(9)
No sooner than one month and no later than one week before submitting
a permit application, the application must provide written notice
of the proposed filming to all businesses and residents within 200
feet of the proposed filming location. Notice shall include the proposed
date(s) and location(s) of the filming activities, the anticipated
application submission date, and the time to file objections with
the Township. Any noticed business or resident may file a written
objection to the permit application from receiving notice to three
days after the application's anticipated submission date. Proof
of notice must be filed with the permit application. Timely filed
objections shall be considered in review of the permit application.
The applicant may request a waiver of the notice requirement from
the Township Administrator. Waiver of the notice requirement may be
granted when notice will be more disruptive than no notice, subject
to the discretion of the Township Administrator. Should the applicant
receive waiver of the notice requirement, the waiver of notice must
be submitted with the application.
A.
The Township may refuse to issue a permit whenever it determines,
on the basis objective facts and after review of the application by
the Police Department and other Township agencies involved with the
proposed filming site, that filming at the location and/or time set
forth in the application would violate any law or ordinance or would
unreasonably interfere with the use and enjoyment of surrounding properties,
unreasonably impede the free flow of pedestrian and vehicular traffic
or otherwise endanger the public's health, safety, or welfare.
B.
When filming may impede the free flow of pedestrian and/or vehicular
traffic, the Township reserves the right to require one or more on-site
Township police officer(s) or Fire Department personnel. When the
filming will utilize existing electrical power lines, an on-site licensed
electrician may be required if the applicant or production company
does not have a licensed electrician on staff and available to be
on-site. The cost of such personnel shall be borne by the applicant.
C.
Prior to beginning filming, copies of the approved permit must be
provided to the Police and Fire Departments. The Police and Fire Department
may inspect the site and equipment, and should either department provide
safety instructions, the applicant must abide by said instructions.
A.
Filming and any related activities, including setup and breakdown,
shall be permitted in residential areas between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00
p.m., Monday through Friday.
B.
Filming and any related activities, including setup and breakdown,
shall be permitted on public lands within 1/2 hour before sunrise
and after sunset, Monday through Friday.
C.
Filming and any related activities proposed outside the permitted
hours, on weekends, or on federal holidays, may be permitted by waiver
from the Township Manager. The Township Manager may consider the following
factors:
(1)
Traffic congestion and safety concerns at the proposed location.
(2)
Ability to park production-related vehicles off public streets.
(3)
Whether the application requests restrictions on the use of public
streets, public parking, public buildings, public lands, or any other
public property.
(4)
Nature of the proposed filming, including, but not limited to, indoors
or outdoors, day or night, on public or private lands, proximity to
residences or businesses, and potential for disruption.
(5)
Prior history of the applicant and/or production company with the
Township, if applicable.
Filming for a major motion picture, as defined in § 75-2 of this chapter, may be granted an exemption from the day limitations provided in § 75-3B. At discretion of the Township, days necessary for setup and preparation may be counted as a filming day when setup will involve one or more of the factors provided in § 75-6 of this chapter.
A.
In addition to any and all fees and costs specified under this chapter,
the applicant shall reimburse the Township for any lost revenue, including,
but not limited to, required repairs to public property, and any revenues
that the Township was prevented from earning because of the filming.
B.
The following fees are prescribed below:
|
Filming Permit
|
Permit Fees
|
|---|---|
|
Filming permit
|
$100
|
|
Expedited filming permit
|
$250
|
|
Daily filming fee for filming permit
|
$150 per day
|
|
Daily filming fee for filming major motion picture
|
$500 per day
|
|
Use of Township buildings or public parks
|
$500 per day
|
|
Nonprofit filming for educational purpose
|
$0
|
|
Overnight parking/use of Township lot
|
Actual cost determined by Township
|
|
Police/fire protection
|
Actual cost determined by Township
|
Any person violating this chapter shall, upon conviction in
the Municipal Court, be subject to a fine not exceeding $500. Each
day a violation is committed or continued shall constitute a separate
offense.
