[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Rahway 7-13-2009 by Ord. No. O-24-09. Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
FILMING
The taking of still or motion pictures, either on film, videotape, or similar recording medium, for commercial or educational purposes intended for viewing on video receivers, television, on computer/internet or in theaters or for institutional use.
PUBLIC LANDS
Any and every public street, highway, or sidewalk within the City which is within the jurisdiction and control of the City.
A. 
No person shall film or permit filming within the City of Rahway without first obtaining a permit therefor, which permit shall set forth the location of such filming and the date or dates when the filming shall take place. Applicants must apply no less than five days prior to the first date that filming is to take place.
[Amended 9-11-2023 by Ord. No. O-38-23]
B. 
Permits shall be obtained in the office of the City Clerk or their designee during normal business hours. Applications for such permits shall be in a form approved by the City Clerk or their designee and shall be accompanied by a permit fee in the amount established by ordinance of the City of Rahway.
[Amended 9-11-2023 by Ord. No. O-38-23]
C. 
One permit shall be required for each filming location.
D. 
One permit shall be sufficient to authorize outdoor filming on two days and indoor filming on two days within a period of not more than 10 days beginning on the date of issuance of the permit, provided that each such date on which filming is to take place shall be specified in the permit.
E. 
If a permit is issued and, due to inclement weather or other good cause, filming does not in fact take place on the dates specified, the City Clerk or their designee may, at the request of the applicant, issue a new permit for filming on other dates subject to full compliance with all other provisions of this chapter. No additional fee shall be paid for this permit.
[Amended 9-11-2023 by Ord. No. O-38-23]
A. 
No permit shall be issued for filming upon public lands within the City of Rahway unless the applicant for such permit:
(1) 
Provides proof of insurance coverage for bodily injury for any one person in the amount of $1,000,000 and for any aggregate occurrence in the amount of $3,000,000. The City of Rahway shall be named as an additional insured on the policy and a certificate of insurance shall be delivered to the City at the time that the permit is issued.
(2) 
Agrees in writing to indemnify and save harmless the City of Rahway from any and all liability or damages resulting from the use of such public lands.
(3) 
Posts a bond in an amount to be determined by the City Clerk or their designee to guarantee and secure the City against any damage to person or property and to guarantee cleanup and restoration of areas in which the filming takes place or other areas which may be damaged or destroyed because of the activities of the filming. If no claim is made upon the bond, the bond shall be returned to the permit holder within 30 days of the completion of the filming.
[Amended 9-11-2023 by Ord. No. O-38-23]
B. 
The holder of a permit shall take all reasonable steps to minimize interference with the free passage of pedestrians and traffic over public lands and shall comply with lawful directives issued by the City Police Department with respect thereto. The holder of a permit shall be required to maintain security on filming locations to the satisfaction of the City Police Department. When, in the judgment of the Director of Police, or their designee, the presence of additional security in the form of police, fire or code enforcement personnel are required in connection with the filming, the applicant shall reimburse the City for the cost of such personnel.
[Amended 9-11-2023 by Ord. No. O-38-23]
C. 
The holder of a permit shall conduct filming in such a manner as to minimize the inconvenience or discomfort to adjoining property owners attributable to such filming and shall, to the extent practicable, abate noise and park vehicles associated with such filming off the public streets. The holder shall avoid any interference with the previously scheduled activities upon public lands and limit to the extent possible any interference with normal public activity on such public lands.
D. 
The holder of a permit shall take all reasonable steps to minimize the creation and spread of debris and rubbish during filming and shall be responsible for removing all equipment, debris and other rubbish from the filming location upon the completion of filming or the expiration of the permit, whichever comes first.
E. 
Filming shall be permitted only Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. or sundown, whichever is earlier, unless otherwise specifically included in the permit.
F. 
The City Clerk or their designee may refuse to issue a permit whenever they determine, on the basis of objective facts and after a review of the application and a report thereon by the Police Department and by other City departments 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 adjoining properties, unreasonably impede the free flow of vehicular or pedestrian traffic or otherwise endanger the public’s health, safety or welfare.
[Amended 9-11-2023 by Ord. No. O-38-23]
G. 
Any person aggrieved by a decision of the City Clerk or their designee denying or revoking a permit or a person requesting relief pursuant to Subsection F may appeal to the City Council. A written notice of appeal setting forth the reasons for the appeal shall be filed with the City Clerk or their designee. An appeal from the decision of the City Clerk or their designee shall be filed within 10 days of the City Clerk or their designee’s decision. The City Council shall set the matter down for a hearing within 30 days of the day on which the notice of appeal was filed. The decision of the City Council shall be in the form of a resolution. A resolution supporting the decision of the City Clerk or their designee or granting relief pursuant to Subsection I shall be approved by the City Council at the first regularly scheduled public meeting of the City Council after the hearing on the appeal unless the appellant agrees, in writing, to a later date for the decision. If such a resolution is not adopted within the time required, the decision of the City Clerk or their designee shall be deemed to be reversed and a permit shall be issued in conformity with the application or the relief pursuant to Subsection F shall be deemed denied.
[Amended 9-11-2023 by Ord. No. O-38-23]
H. 
The City Clerk or their designee may authorize a waiver of any of the requirements or limitations of this chapter, and may authorize filming on other public property not defined as "public lands" and may authorize filming other than during the hours herein described, or may extend the duration of a permit beyond 10 days or may waive any other limitation or requirement of this chapter whenever they determine that strict compliance with such limitations will pose an unreasonable burden upon the applicant and that such a permit may be issued without endangering the public's health, safety and welfare.
[Amended 9-11-2023 by Ord. No. O-38-23]
I. 
The applicant shall provide specific details as it pertains to Fire and Police related safety matters to the Economic Development Officer or their designee prior to obtaining a film permit. The specific details shall be transmitted to relevant City departments. City departments shall have the option to inspect the site and/or indicate required equipment or changes related to public safety. The applicant shall comply with all fire and safety instructions issued by the Fire Department, Police Department or other City departments.
[Amended 9-11-2023 by Ord. No. O-38-23]
J. 
No more than 10 permits may be issued for any location within any calendar year unless a waiver is granted by the City Clerk or their designee.
[Amended 9-11-2023 by Ord. No. O-38-23]
[Amended 9-11-2023 by Ord. No. O-38-23]
All application fees are nonrefundable and payable upon submission of the application to the City Clerk or their designee. All permit fees are payable upon issuance of a permit by the City Clerk. The fee scheduled for film permits shall be as follows:
A. 
Filming on public land, streets, rights-of-way or public buildings:
(1) 
Major motion picture/budget over $5,000,000 or recurrent weekly television program:
(a) 
Nonrefundable application fee: $100, payable upon submission of application.
(b) 
Daily filming fee: $1,500, payable upon issuance of permit by City Clerk.
(2) 
Budget under $5,000,000:
(a) 
Nonrefundable application fee: $100.
(b) 
Daily filming fee: $125, payable upon issuance of permit by City Clerk.
(3) 
nonprofit applicant filming for educational documentary or public television:
(a) 
Nonrefundable application fee: $25 (no daily rate required).
(4) 
Student applicant filming for educational documentary or public television:
(a) 
No application fee; no daily rate.
B. 
Filming on private property, written permission of property owner required:
(1) 
Major motion picture/budget over $5,000,000 or recurrent weekly television program:
(a) 
Nonrefundable application fee: $100, payable upon submission of application.
(2) 
Budget under $5,000,000:
(a) 
Nonrefundable application fee: $100.
(3) 
nonprofit applicant filming for educational documentary or public television:
(a) 
Nonrefundable application fee: $25 (no daily rate required).
(4) 
Student applicant filming for educational documentary or public television:
(a) 
No application fee, no daily rate.
C. 
Filming on both private property and public land, streets, rights-of-way or public buildings shall submit a single application fee based on the applicable rate in § 203-4A. The daily filming fee indicated in § 203-4A will apply for those days filming is scheduled on public land, streets, rights-of-way or public buildings.
D. 
And, in addition thereto, any meter revenue which is lost by the City due to the inaccessibility of the meters for parking on the days of production. The determination of which meters shall be dedicated to the filming shall be determined for safety reasons by the Police Director or their designee. Any denial by the Police Director or their designee shall first be appealed to the City Clerk or their designee and thereafter as set forth in § 203-3G hereinabove.
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the filming of news stories within the City of Rahway.