[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of East Hampton 9-3-1993 by L.L. No. 24-1993; amended in its entirety 4-11-2017 by L.L. No. 11-2017. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
The Town Board of the Town of East Hampton recognizes that the Town's natural beauty and historical sites are attractive to individuals, organizations, corporations, groups and other entities involved in the businesses of still photography, motion pictures and television. Because such filming activities may create a threat to public safety, health or welfare due to the time, location or duration of the filming, or may unduly interfere with vehicular and/or pedestrian traffic, the Town desires to regulate such activities through the issuance of permits. The purpose of this local law is to set forth the procedure governing such permit process.
A. 
Whenever used in this chapter, words used in the singular include the plural, and vice versa, and pronouns used in the masculine gender also include the feminine, and vice versa.
B. 
For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
EQUIPMENT
Shall include, but is not limited to, television, photographic, film, digital or video cameras or transmitting television equipment, including radio remotes, props, sets, lights, backdrops, electric and grip equipment, dolly tracks, screens or microphone devices, and any and all production-related materials. Equipment shall not include a handheld device, as defined herein, and vehicles, as defined in the Vehicle and Traffic Law § 159, that are used solely to transport a person or persons while engaged in the activity of filming from within such vehicle, operated in compliance with relevant traffic laws and rules.
FILMING
The taking of still or motion pictures on any type of analog or digital recording medium, for commercial, educational or institutional purposes, intended for viewing on any device, including, but not limited to, television, projector screen, computer, smartphone, tablet, or other electronic device, or for viewing over the Internet or in any place of public assembly, or for educational or institutional use. Filming includes all rehearsals, preparations, assembly and dismantling of all equipment and structures, including, but not limited to, scaffolding, lights, backdrops, tools and food, and the loading and unloading of vehicles containing the equipment, structures and food.
HANDHELD DEVICE
(1) 
A film, still or television camera, video or digital camera, smartphone, tablet or other equipment held in the photographer's or filmmaker's hand, carried with the photographer or filmmaker during the course of filming, and not requiring the use of cables or any other item or equipment not carried by the photographer or filmmaker at all times during the course of photography, filming or transmission; or
(2) 
A tripod used to support film, still, television, video or digital cameras.
INCIDENTAL USE OF PUBLIC LANDS
Public lands used in conjunction with filming that occurs on private property.
PERSON
Any individual, partnership, corporation, organization, association, limited-liability company, partnership society or any other legal entity.
PRIVATE PROPERTY
Any property other than public lands, including both residential and commercial property.
PUBLIC LANDS
Any and every public street, highway, sidewalk or square, public park or playground, public waters, waterfront property or other public place within the Town which is within the jurisdiction and control of the Town or involving the use of any Town-owned or -maintained facilities or equipment.
A. 
No person shall film or allow filming on public lands within the Town of East Hampton without first applying for and obtaining a permit therefor from the Town Clerk in accordance with this chapter, except as provided for in § 138-4 hereof.
B. 
No person shall film or allow filming on private property within the Town of East Hampton without first obtaining a permit from the Town Clerk in accordance with this chapter, except as provided for in § 138-4 hereof. Any incidental use of public lands that obstructs any public lands or interferes with the use of any public lands shall be fully disclosed, described and included in any application for a permit; provided, however, that nothing contained in this section shall prevent persons from temporarily loading or unloading filming equipment on any public right-of-way, provided that such loading or unloading is done without unnecessary delay, and provided that such filming equipment is not allowed or permitted to remain on such public right-of-way for a period longer than 15 minutes.
C. 
Applications for permits shall be filed and completed in accordance with § 138-5.
D. 
A permit shall authorize filming at certain location(s) only, whether such filming shall occur indoors or outdoors, provided that the dates on which filming is to take place shall be specified in the permit. The application for the filming permit may list several potential locations, but the applicants' intent must be finalized before the permit is issued.
E. 
If a permit is issued and, due to inclement weather or other good cause not within the control of the applicant, filming does not in fact take place on the date or dates specified, the Town Clerk may, at the request of the applicant, issue an amended permit for filming on other dates subject to full compliance with all other provisions of this chapter. An administrative fee shall be required for an amended permit under this section, and the Town Board, by resolution duly adopted, from time to time shall establish or amend such fee amount.
F. 
If an additional date or dates of filming become required to complete any filming authorized pursuant to a permit issued under this chapter, the Town Clerk may, at the request of the applicant, issue an extension permit, subject to full compliance with all other provisions of this chapter. The conditions, requirements and fees for any extension permit shall be the same as those required for the existing permit(s), provided that there have not been any changes in the circumstances regarding the filming. If there are any changes in circumstances proposed for the filming under the extension permit, the Town Clerk may, in the Clerk's discretion, modify any of the conditions, requirements or fees and deposits required for the extension permit. In addition, an administrative fee shall be required for an extension permit under this section, and the Town Board, by resolution duly adopted, from time to time shall establish or amend such fee amount.
Notwithstanding the permit requirements of this chapter, the filming activities designated below do not require a permit to be obtained pursuant to this chapter, provided that such activity does not obstruct or interfere with the use of any public lands or private roads located within the Town. For purposes of this section, the term "obstruct or interfere with the use of any public lands or private roads located within the Town" shall mean any filming activity which impedes or which involves the blockage, interruption or closure, in whole or in part, of any public lands or private roads located within the Town.
A. 
Filming and coverage by news media.
B. 
Noncommercial filming by and intended for the exclusive use of the owner of private property and his/her immediate family.
C. 
Filming occurring on public lands or on private property resulting in an incidental use of public lands, and limited to the use of a handheld device, as defined herein.
D. 
Filming occurring on public lands for which the Town contracts with an applicant or has otherwise established by local law, resolution, or by the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter a fee schedule and/or policy governing such activity. In such instances, said contract, fee schedule and/or policy shall apply.
A. 
Application form. An applicant may obtain an application form from the Town Chief of Police or the Town Clerk. The information requested on the application form shall include, without limitation, the following:
(1) 
The name and address of the applicant.
(2) 
The proposed location(s) of the filming or still photography.
(3) 
The date(s) and time(s) the permit is intended to cover.
(4) 
The number in the cast and crew.
(5) 
The number of vehicles.
(6) 
The person in charge on site.
B. 
Submission to Town Clerk. The following materials shall be submitted by the applicant to the Town Clerk, if still photography at least seven days before and if video photography at least 14 days before, the proposed date to start the filming or still photography:
(1) 
A completed application form.
(2) 
A nonrefundable application fee. The Town Board, by resolution duly adopted, from time to time may establish or amend such fee amount.
(3) 
A certificate of insurance and indemnification agreement pursuant to § 138-15.
For each application, the Town Clerk has the discretion to waive the submission deadline.
C. 
Review.
(1) 
For applications for filming involving only still photography on private property, the application shall be reviewed and a determination shall be made by the Town Clerk to approve or disapprove based upon a determination whether the proposed filming or still photography will constitute a threat to public safety, health or welfare by reason of time, location or duration of the activity or will unduly interfere with vehicular and/or pedestrian traffic.
(2) 
For all other applications, the Town Clerk shall forward the application to the Chief of Police for approval or disapproval. Said approval or disapproval shall be based on the Chief of Police, or his designee, making a determination on whether the proposed filming or still photography will constitute a threat to public safety, health or welfare by reason of time, location or duration of the activity or will unduly interfere with vehicular and/or pedestrian traffic. The Chief of Police, or his designee, must refer all permits for comment to the Fire Marshal, Trustees, Highway Department and/or any other Town department or agency, should the application indicate that such entity may be affected by the approval of such application. Approval of the application by the Chief of Police, or his designee, may be conditioned on the payment of the traffic control fee set forth in § 138-6. The Chief of Police shall send the approved or disapproved application back to the Town Clerk.
D. 
Review by Town Attorney. The Town Clerk shall forward the certificate of insurance and the indemnification agreement to the Town Attorney for approval. The Town Attorney shall send such approved or disapproved documents back to the Town Clerk.
E. 
Permit fee. The Town Clerk shall calculate the permit fee required to be paid by an approved applicant as follows:
(1) 
Film fee. The Town Board may, by resolution duly adopted, from time to time establish, amend or suspend film fees for each day covered by the permit.
(2) 
Cleanup deposit. A fee for each location covered by the permit shall be paid pursuant to § 138-7, and the Town Board, by resolution duly adopted, from time to time may establish or amend such fee amount.
(3) 
Traffic control fee. A fee for each day covered by the permit shall be paid if the Chief of Police, or his designee, requires payment of the traffic control fee pursuant to § 138-6.
(4) 
Town property parking fee. If the applicant requests parking to facilitate the filming pursuant to the permit, and Town property is suitable and available for such parking, a parking fee shall be paid, and the Town Board, by resolution duly adopted, from time to time may establish or amend such fee amount.
F. 
Issuance of permit. The Town Clerk shall countersign an approved application. The Town Clerk shall collect the permit fee calculated pursuant to Subsection E from the applicant. Payment of the permit fee shall be in the form specified in § 138-8. Upon payment of the permit fee, the Town Clerk shall issue the permit to the applicant. The permit shall set forth the name of the applicant and the location(s), date(s) and time(s) of the filming or still photography.
G. 
The Chief of Police, or his designee, may deny an application for a permit under this chapter after a review of the application, whenever a determination is made that the proposed filming would violate any law or ordinance or would unreasonably interfere with the public's use of public lands; unreasonably interfere with the use and enjoyment of adjoining properties; unreasonably impede the flow of vehicular or pedestrian traffic; be detrimental to the community because of anticipated excessive noise, illumination or other effect caused by the proposed filming, including, but not limited to, a potentially dangerous activity or creation of a dangerous condition, such as the use of explosives, the use of stunts, helicopters, firearms or simulated firearms; or otherwise endanger the public's health, safety or welfare. Such denial shall be in writing and shall specify the reasons for the denial.
H. 
The Town reserves the right to impose additional and further requirements up to and through the date or dates of the filming activity, as deemed by the Town to be necessary to assure compliance with the requirements and purposes of this chapter.
I. 
The Town reserves the right to immediately revoke any permit issued due to noncompliance with the requirements of the permit.
A. 
In the event that the Chief of Police, or his designee, determines that police officers or traffic control officers will be necessary for the protection of the citizens or for the control of traffic during the filming or still photography, the applicant shall submit to the Town Clerk a fee for each day covered by the permit pursuant to Subsection E of § 138-5, and the Town Board, by resolution duly adopted, from time to time shall establish or amend such fee amount.
B. 
If the Chief of Police, or his designee, determines that a traffic control fee will be fully expended prior to the termination of the permit period, the Chief of Police, or his designee, shall notify the Town Clerk. The Town Clerk shall contact the applicant in writing and require payment of an additional sum of money, said specific amount to be determined by the Chief of Police, or his designee, based on the salaries and the number of hours to be worked by the Town police and traffic control personnel. Said additional traffic control fee shall be paid within seven days of said notice. The applicant's failure to pay such additional fee within said seven-day period shall result in the Town Clerk's providing the applicant with written notice that the permit has been suspended and the date of such suspension. The applicant's receipt of the Town Clerk's suspension notice shall not be construed as altering the date of suspension set forth in said written notice, the effective date of the suspension being the day immediately following the completion of the seven-day notice period.
C. 
The procedure set forth in Subsection B may be repeated as necessary to ensure that the applicant pays for all costs incurred by the Town in providing traffic control services.
D. 
After termination of the filming, the Chief of Police, or his designee, shall provide the applicant with a statement regarding the actual cost to the Town of providing said police officers or traffic control officers. If the actual cost is less than the moneys that the Town has collected pursuant to Subsection A, B or C, the Town shall remit the balance to the applicant. If the actual cost is more than the moneys that the Town has collected pursuant to Subsections A, B or C, the applicant shall be responsible for providing the balance to the Town within 30 days of the permit period.
E. 
The Chief of Police, or his designee, shall forward a copy of the statement of actual cost to the Town Clerk, who will file said statement with the original application form.
A. 
Each applicant whose application has been approved shall give the Town Clerk a check for a cleanup fee deposit for each location covered by the permit, which check shall be held and not deposited by the Town during the duration of the permit period. The Town Board, by resolution duly adopted, from time to time shall establish or amend such deposit fee amount.
B. 
At the termination of the permit period, the Town Superintendent of Parks and Recreation or the Town Superintendent of Highways, as appropriate, shall, inspect the locations listed on the permit and determine if the locations require cleanup efforts by Town personnel.
C. 
If cleanup is required, the Town Superintendent of Parks and Recreation or the Town Superintendent of Highways, as appropriate, will coordinate that effort. Said Superintendent will provide the Town Clerk with a statement setting forth the actual cost to the Town of providing said cleanup services. If the actual cost is less than the fee deposit collected pursuant to Subsection A, the Town shall remit the balance to the applicant. If the actual cost is more than the fee deposit collected pursuant to Subsection A, the applicant shall be responsible for providing the balance to the Town within 30 days of the termination of the permit period.
D. 
If no cleanup is required, the Town Superintendent shall notify the Town Clerk of that fact, and the Town Clerk shall promptly remit the check to the applicant.
Any fee collected under this chapter shall be paid either in cash or by check made payable to the Town of East Hampton and shall be delivered to the Town Clerk.
Other than the required fees, the Town shall not accept any donations from the applicant in connection with the granting of the permit. In addition, no Town official or employee shall make a recommendation to the applicant regarding a donation to a third party.
The Town Board, upon consent of a majority of its members, after due consultation, may authorize a waiver of the requirements and/or limitations of this chapter whenever it determines that strict compliance with such limitations or requirements will pose an unreasonable burden upon the applicant and that such permit may be issued without endangering the public's health, safety or welfare. In such instances, the Town Board may attach additional conditions and safeguards to ensure the orderly conduct of the activity and to minimize the impact of such use.
During the course of filming, any authorized Town Code enforcement official, peace officer or a police officer may suspend any permit where public health or safety risks are found or where exigent circumstances warrant such action.
The Town Clerk shall give notice to the Chief of Police, the Chief Building Inspector, the head of the Ordinance Enforcement Department and the Chief Fire Marshal, the Superintendent of Highways and the Superintendent of Parks and Recreation of each permit issued pursuant to this chapter.
A permit holder shall be responsible for any damage to Town property or facilities that may result from the permit holder's activities. No alterations are to be made at filming or photography sites, including, without limitation, cutting trees, digging holes and trimming bushes, without the express authorization of the Town Board.
Issuance of a permit pursuant to this chapter does not relieve the permit holder of its duty to comply with all other Town local laws, ordinances and regulations during the duration of the filming or photography.
Every application for a permit pursuant to this chapter shall include a certificate of insurance that evidences a public liability insurance policy covering the Town as an additional insured in the minimum amount of the $1,000,000 per occurrence for the duration of the filming or still photography. The applicant shall also submit an indemnification agreement that states that the applicant agrees to assume all liability for and will indemnify and hold the Town harmless of and free from any and all damages that occur to persons or property by reason of said filming or still photography.
The permit holder shall be required to have the permit available for inspection by the Town Police Department, or its designees, at the site of the filming or still photography for the duration of the permit period.
A. 
Any action by any person, organization, corporation, group or other entity which violates or does not comply with any provision of this chapter shall be punishable by a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $1,000, and in addition, anyone convicted hereunder of not complying with the requirements of § 138-6 and/or § 138-7 may be subject to a fine of not less than the amount of the actual costs incurred and owed to the Town and not more than an amount equal to twice said actual costs.
B. 
Each continuing day of violation of this chapter shall constitute a separate offense.
C. 
In addition to the above-provided penalties, the Town may also maintain an action or proceeding in the name of the Town in a court of competent jurisdiction to compel compliance with, or to restrain by injunction the violation of, this chapter.