[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the City of
Hoboken 7-5-1989 by Ord. No. P-59. Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
The taking of still or motion picture either on film or videotape
or similar recording medium, for commercial or educational purposes
intended for viewing on television, in theaters or for institutional
uses. The provisions of this chapter shall not be deemed to include
the filming of news stories within the City of Hoboken.
The body responsible for implementing the provisions of this
chapter, including reviewing and approving all applications for filming
within the City of Hoboken. The Local Film Commission ("the Commission")
shall be comprised of three members as follows: the Director of the
Department of Administration or his/her designee, the Director of
the Department of Environmental Services or his/her designee and the
Director of the Department of Human Services or his/her designee.
[Amended 12-2-1998 by Ord. No. R-358]
Any and every public street, highway, sidewalk, square, public
park or playground or any other public place which is within the jurisdiction
and control of the City of Hoboken. Incidental use of a public street
or sidewalk which is of minimal impact and does not result in a closing
of same to public use shall not be considered filming on "public land."
A.
No person or organization shall film or permit filming on public
property within the City of Hoboken without first having completed
an application and obtained a permit from the Commission, which will
be issued through the Office of the City Clerk located at City Hall
in Hoboken. The permit shall, whenever possible, set forth the approved
location of such filming and the approved duration of such filming
by specific reference to day or dates. Said permit must be readily
available for inspection by City officials at all times at the site
of the filming.
B.
All permits shall be applied for at and obtained from the office
of the City Clerk during normal business hours. Applications for such
permits shall be accompanied by a permit fee in the amount established
by this chapter.
C.
If a permit is issued and, due to the inclement weather or other
good cause, filming does not in fact take place on the dates specified,
the Commission 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.
D.
Permits shall be issued at the discretion of the Commission. The
Commission may deny issuance of a permit for good cause.
[Added 12-2-1998 by Ord. No. R-358]
A.
No permits shall be issued by the Commission unless applied for prior
to three days before the requested shooting date; provided, however,
that the Commission may waive the three-day period, if, in its judgment,
the applicant has obtained all related approvals and adjacent property
owners or tenants do not need to be notified.
B.
No permit shall be issued for filming upon public lands, unless the
applicant provides the City of Hoboken with satisfactory proof of
the following:
(2)
An agreement in writing whereby the applicant agrees to indemnify
and save harmless the City of Hoboken from any and all liability,
expense, claim or damages resulting from the use of public lands.
(3)
The hiring of an off-duty City of Hoboken police officer for the
times indicated on the permit, when deemed necessary by the Commission.
C.
The holder of the permit shall take all reasonable steps to minimize
interference with the free passage of pedestrians and traffic over
public lands and shall comply with all lawful directives issued by
the Hoboken Police Department with respect thereto.
D.
The holder of a permit shall conduct filming in such a manner so
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 previously
scheduled activities upon public lands and limit to the extent possible
any interference with normal activity on such public lands. Where
the applicant's production activity, by reason of location or otherwise,
will directly involve and/or affect any businesses, merchants or residents,
these parties shall be given written notice of the filming at least
three days prior to the requested shooting date(s) and informed that
objections may be filed with the Commission, which objections will
form a part of the applicant's application and be considered in the
review of same.
E.
The Commission will make every effort to work with residents to minimize
the inconvenience caused by filming in residential areas and will
require the applicant to give affected residents at least three days'
notice of parking restrictions, night shooting or other inconveniences.
All filming must be completed within 1/2 hour after sunset. Any night
shooting must be approved by the Commission. "Night shooting" is defined
as all filming occurring in residential neighborhoods 1/2 hour after
sunset. In no event, however, shall an applicant be allowed to film
in a residential area after 11:00 p.m.
F.
The Commission may refuse to issue a permit whenever it determines,
on the basis of objective facts and after a review of the application
and a report thereon by the Police Department and/or by other City
agencies involved with the proposed filming site, that filming at
the location and/or the 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. Further, the City reserves the
right to require one or more on-site patrolmen in situations where
the proposed production may impede the proper flow of traffic, the
cost of said patrolman to be borne by the applicant as a cost of production.
Where existing electrical power lines are to be utilized by the production,
an on-site licensed electrician may be similarly required if the production
company does not have a licensed electrician on staff.
G.
Any person aggrieved by a decision of the Commission denying or revoking a permit or a person requesting relief pursuant to Subsection H may appeal to the City Council. A written notice of appeal setting forth the reasons for the appeal shall be filed with the Commission. An appeal from the decision of the Commission shall be filed within 10 days of the Commission'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 Council shall be adopted at the first regularly scheduled public meeting of the City Council after the hearing on the appeal unless the applicant 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 Commission shall be deemed to be reversed and a permit shall be issued in conformity with the application or the relief pursuant to Subsection H shall be deemed denied.
H.
The City Council may authorize a waiver of any of the requirements
or limitations of this chapter whenever it determines that strict
compliance with such limitations will pose an unreasonable burden
upon the applicant and that a permit may be issued without endangering
the public's health, safety and welfare.
I.
Copies of the approved permit will be sent to the Police and Fire
Departments before filming takes place and to the New Jersey Film
Commission. The applicant shall permit the Fire Prevention Bureau
or other City inspectors to inspect the site and the equipment to
be used. The applicant shall follow all safety instructions issued
by the Fire Prevention Bureau or other City inspectors.
J.
In addition to any other fees or costs mentioned in this chapter,
the applicant shall reimburse the City for any lost revenue, such
as parking meter revenue, repairs to public property or other revenues
that the City was prevented from earning because of the filming. This
may include the payment of fees to the City to cover costs related
to sanitation and modifications to infrastructure within the public
right-of-way.
[Amended 7-10-2024 by Ord. No. B-685]
K.
Applicants shall be obligated to pay for temporary "no parking" signs
in an increased amount, which shall account for the City providing
free parking in a municipal garage to residents who are unable to
park on their block due to the film production's use of the parking
spots. The fees for temporary "no parking" signs related to a film
production shall be as follows:
[Added 7-10-2024 by Ord.
No. B-685]
|
Time
|
Cost per Day
|
|---|---|
|
4 hours
|
$30
|
|
8 hours
|
$50
|
|
12 hours
|
$80
|
|
24 hours
|
$120
|
[Added 12-2-1998 by Ord. No. R-358]
A.
Appointments. There shall be a Mayor's Office of Film and Television,
which entity shall be comprised of five members, each of whom shall
be appointed by the Mayor to a term of three years from the date of
appointment. Should a vacancy in membership occur, a replacement member
shall be appointed to fill the vacancy for the unexpired term. Members
shall serve as volunteers without compensation.
B.
Purpose. The Mayor's Office of Film and Television shall have among
its purposes the following:
(1)
To promote the City as a site for the filming of motion-picture and
television productions;
(2)
To encourage motion-picture and television producers to portray the
many positive aspects of the City and its residents;
(3)
To encourage motion-picture and television producers to hire local
residents as actors, actresses and extras in their productions;
(4)
To encourage motion-picture and television producers to support local
employers and to patronize City businesses;
(5)
To act as a liaison between motion-picture and television producers
and the City Business Administrator and assist in the resolution of
problems and difficulties that arise during the course of production;
and
(6)
To review and propose changes to the City Code that would further
promote the City as a site for film and television productions.
[Amended 2-6-1991 by Ord. No. P-126; 3-17-2010 by Ord. No. Z-31; 7-10-2024 by Ord. No. B-685]
A.
The permit
for filmmaking shall issue for an amount of time as determined appropriate
by the Commission after review of the permit application and upon
payment of fees as described below. In addition to the license fee,
the permittee shall be required to pay a fee of $5 per workday for
each commercial vehicle used by the permittee or a flat fee of $250
for each 14 workdays' term.
B.
Permits shall be issued in the following categories and corresponding
fines:
(1)
Minor Permit: Noncommercial still shoots, web series, and short films,
which consist of: 1) four to 15 total cast and crew; 2) two or fewer
cameras on tripod, handheld, gimbal or steady cam; 3) no jibs or cranes;
4) no special effects; 5) no dollies, grip stands, lighting or reflectors
on stands on any public right-of-way (street, sidewalk, park, etc.);
6) no ITC or street closure; 7) no off-duty officers; 8) permitted
parking for three or fewer eighteen-foot production vehicles. Permit
fee: $100 nonrefundable application fee payable one time per calendar
year and $250 per day.
(2)
Intermediate Permit: All commercial still and smaller film shoots,
web series, indie films, and short films, which consist of: 1) 16
to 25 total cast and crew; 2) total of five eighteen-foot parking
spaces permitted; 3) no ITC or street closure; 4) no special effects.
Permit fee: $200 nonrefundable applicable fee payable one time per
calendar year and $1,000 per day. A pre-production meeting may be
required if requested by the City Administration. The City may set
such additional permit requirements as may be necessary for the specific
production.
(3)
Major Permit: Major motion pictures, commercials or series, whether
for web, streaming, broadcast or theatrical release. Permit fee: $300
nonrefundable application fee payable one time per calendar year and
$1,500 per day. A pre-production meeting is required with the City
Administration and such other City departments as necessary, wherein
additional permit conditions may be determined. If ITC, street closure
or off-duty police are needed, parking, ITC, or street closure plan
must be submitted at least 15 days prior to shoot day. Setup and wrap
days will be charged as shoot days; adjustments will be made if the
film footprint is significantly smaller, subject to the sole discretion
of the City Administration and relevant City departments.
Any person violating this chapter or rules and regulations contained
herein shall be subject to a fine not to exceed $500 or imprisonment
for a term not to exceed 90 days, or both.
If any sentence, section, clause or other portion of this chapter
or the application thereof to any person or circumstance shall for
any reason be adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction to be
invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair or repeal the remainder
of this chapter.
This chapter shall take effect immediately upon passage and
publication as required by law.
