[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township
of Egg Harbor 10-3-2018 by Ord.
No. 42-2018. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A.
The Township Committee of the Township of Egg Harbor recognizes that
the filming of motion pictures, television shows or programs within
the Township of Egg Harbor has been increasing and will continue to
increase in the future.
B.
Filming within the Township of Egg Harbor requires various regulations
to preserve the general health, safety and welfare of Egg Harbor Township
inhabitants; in addition, the imposition of various fees is required
to offset administrative costs incurred in processing permit applications
and conducting the requisite inspections.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
The taking of still or motion pictures either on film, videotape,
digital or similar recording medium, for commercial or educational
purposes intended for viewing on television, in theaters, on video
receivers, on computers/internet or for institutional uses. The provisions
of this chapter shall not be deemed to include the "filming" of news
stories within the Township. Filming performed by one individual using
a handheld camera without assistance from others shall be excluded
from this chapter.
Any film shoot or production requiring 15 or more crew members
or more than five commercial vehicles, including, but not limited
to, trucks, mobile homes, catering vehicles, vans and other such similar
vehicles that are used in connection with the shoot or production.
Any and every public street, highway, sidewalk, square, public
right-of-way, public park or playground or any other public place
or building within the Township which is within the jurisdiction and
control of the Township of Egg Harbor.
A.
No person or organization shall film or permit filming on public or private land within the Township without first having obtained a permit from the office of the Municipal Clerk, which permit shall set forth the approved location of such filming and the approved duration of such filming by specific reference to day or dates. No permit shall authorize filming for more than seven consecutive days in any one location and in no event shall filming at one location within the Township exceed a total of 28 days in any one calendar year, regardless of the number of permits utilized in reaching this twenty-eight-day maximum. Either or both of the seven-consecutive-day and the twenty-eight-day limitations may be extended only if the filming requested constitutes a major motion picture as defined by § 108-12 of this chapter. Said permit must be readily available for inspection by Township officials at all times at the site of the filming.
B.
All permits shall be applied for and obtained from the office of the Municipal Clerk during normal business hours. Applications for such permits shall be in a form approved by the Municipal Clerk and be accompanied by a permit fee in the amount established by this chapter in § 108-13 herein. A completed permit shall be submitted, with the application fee, at least 15 calendar days prior to the first date of filming.
C.
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 Municipal Clerk 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.
A.
No permits will be issued by the Municipal Clerk unless applied for
prior to 15 days before the requested shooting date; provided, however,
that the Township Administrator may waive the fifteen-day period if,
in his 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 shall provide the Township with satisfactory proof of the
following:
(1)
Proof of insurance coverage as follows:
(a)
For bodily injury to any one person in the amount of $1,000,000
and any occurrence in the aggregate amount of $3,000,000.
(b)
For property damage for each occurrence in the aggregate amount
of $500,000.
(c)
A certificate of insurance shall be delivered to the Municipal
Clerk which shall name the Township as an additional insured on the
policy.
(2)
An agreement, in writing, whereby the applicant agrees to indemnify
and save harmless the Township from any and all liability, expense,
claim or damages resulting from the use of public lands.
(3)
The posting of a security deposit, the amount of $1,000, by cash
or certified check or a performance bond of $1,500 running in favor
of the Township and protecting and insuring that the location utilized
will be left after filming, in a satisfactory condition, free of debris,
rubbish and equipment, and that due observance of all Township ordinances,
laws and regulations will be followed. Within 21 days of the completion
of the filming, the Township will return the bond if there has been
no damage to public property or public expense caused by the filming.
(4)
An agreement with the Township Police Department for paid police
coverage during the time indicated on the permit.
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 Egg Harbor Township Police Department with respect thereto.
A.
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.
B.
The holder shall avoid any interference with previously scheduled
activities upon public lands and limit, to the extent possible, any
interference with normal public 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 five days prior to the requested shooting date and be informed
that objections may be filed with the Municipal Clerk, said objections
to form a part of applicant's application and be considered in
the review of the same. Proof of service of notification to adjacent
owners shall be submitted to the Municipal Clerk within two days of
the requested shooting date.
Filming in residential zones shall be permitted Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., provided that all requests for night scenes shall be approved in the permit to be granted in accordance with § 108-9 hereof. The setup, production and breakdown required by all filming shall be included in the hours as set forth herein.
A.
The Municipal Clerk may refuse to issue a permit whenever it is determined,
on the basis of objective facts and after a review of the application
and a report thereon by the Police Department and by other township
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.
B.
The Township 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.
A.
Any person aggrieved by a decision of the Municipal Clerk denying or revoking a permit or a person requesting relief pursuant to § 108-9 may appeal to the Township Committee. A written notice of appeal setting forth the reasons for the appeal shall be filed with the Municipal Clerk.
B.
An appeal from the decision of the Municipal Clerk shall be filed
within 10 days of the Clerk's decision. The Township Committee
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 Township
Committee shall be in the form of a resolution at the first regularly
scheduled public meeting of the Township Committee 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 Municipal Clerk shall be deemed sustained.
The Township Administrator may authorize filming other than
during the hours herein described. In determining whether to allow
an extension of hours under this section, the Administrator shall
consider the following factors:
A.
Traffic congestion at the location caused by vehicles to be parked
on the public street.
B.
Applicant's ability to remove film-related vehicles off the
public streets.
C.
When the applicant is requesting restrictions on the use of public
streets or public parking during the course of the filming.
D.
Nature of the film shoot itself; e.g., indoor or outdoors; day or
night; on public or private lands.
E.
Prior experience of the film company/applicant with the Township,
if any.
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 Township inspectors to inspect the site and the equipment
to be used. The applicant shall comply with all safety instruction
issued by the Division of Fire Inspection or other Township inspectors.
In addition to any other fees or costs mentioned in this chapter,
the applicant shall reimburse the Township for any lost revenue, repairs
to public property or other revenues that the Township was prevented
from earning because of filming.
A.
When filming is requested with respect to a major motion picture, the approved location of such filming and approved duration of such filming by specific reference to day or dates may exceed seven consecutive days and/or may exceed 28 days in duration if approved by the Township Administrator in his discretion following a favorable review of the factors set forth in § 108-9 herein.
The schedule of fees for the issuance of permits authorized
by this chapter are as follows:
A.
Basic filming permit: $150. Where an applicant requests a waiver of the provision of § 108-4A requiring expedited processing of a permit application within 24 hours of the filming date, the basic filming permit fee for processing the application on an expedited basis shall be $500.
B.
Daily filming fee payable in addition to the basic filming permit:
$500 per day.
C.
Daily filming fee payable for major motion picture: $1,500 per day.
D.
Filming permit for nonprofit applicants filming for educational purposes
(no daily rate required): $25.
E.
Waiver of fees for student. The fees set forth herein shall be waived
when filming is done by a student in grade school, middle school,
high school, college or university upon receipt by the Municipal Clerk
of a written certification from a teacher or administrator at the
school attended by the student stating that the filming is for educational
purposes only and is not intended for commercial use.
Violation of any provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction
thereof, be punished by a minimum fine of $100 or a maximum of $2,000
or by imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days or by a period
of community service not exceeding 90 days. Each and every violation
shall be considered a separate violation. Any person who is convicted
of violating the provisions of this chapter within one year of the
date of a previous violation and who was fined for the previous violation
may be sentenced by the court to an additional fine as a repeat offender.
The additional fine imposed as a repeat offender shall not be less
than the minimum or exceed the maximum fine provided herein, and same
shall be calculated separately from the fine imposed for the violation
of this chapter.
