[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Garwood 7-24-2025 by Ord. No. 25-21. 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 or videotape or similar recording medium, for commercial or educational purposes intended for viewing on television, in theaters, major linear broadcast network or streaming platforms, or for institutional uses. The provisions of this chapter shall not be deemed to include the "filming" of news stories within the municipality.
PUBLIC LANDS
Any and every public street, highway, sidewalk, square, public park or playground or any other public place within the municipality which is within the jurisdiction and control of the municipality.
A. 
No person or organization shall film or permit filming on public or on private property where such filming involves the use of public property for the operation, placement or temporary storage of vehicles or equipment utilized in such filming, including, but not limited to, any temporary structure, barricade or device intended to restrict or block off pedestrian or vehicular traffic, without first having obtained a permit from the office of the Borough 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. Said permit must be readily available for inspection by Borough officials at all times at the site of the filming.
B. 
All permits shall be applied for and obtained from the office of the Borough Clerk during normal business hours. Applications for such permits shall be in a form approved by the Borough Clerk and be accompanied by a permit fee in the amount established by this chapter in § 162-10 herein.
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 Borough 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 Borough Clerk unless applied for at least four business days prior to the requested shooting date; provided, however, that it is at the discretion of the Borough Administrator to waive the four-day period if 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 municipality 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 $500,000 and any occurrence in the aggregate amount of $1,000,000.
(b) 
For property damage for each occurrence in the aggregate amount of $300,000.
(2) 
An agreement, in writing, whereby the applicant agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the municipality from any and all liability, expense, claim or damages resulting from the use of public lands.
(3) 
The hiring of an off-duty police officer, if required by the Chief of Police, according to the agreed upon public safety plan, for the times 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 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 three days prior to the requested shooting date and be informed that objections may be filed with the Borough 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 Borough Clerk within two days of the requested shooting date.
A. 
The Borough Administrator may refuse to issue a permit whenever the Administrator determines, on the basis of objective facts and after a review of the application and a report thereon by the Police Department and by other Borough 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. 
Further, the Borough 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 Borough Administrator denying or revoking a permit or a person requesting relief may appeal to the Borough Council. A written notice of appeal setting forth the reasons for the appeal shall be filed with the Administrator.
B. 
An appeal from the decision of the Administrator shall be filed within 10 days of the Administrator's decision. The Borough Council shall set the matter down for a hearing within 45 days of the day on which the notice of appeal was filed. The decision of the Borough Council shall be in the form of a resolution supporting the decision of the Borough Administrator at the first regularly scheduled public meeting of the Borough 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 Administrator shall be deemed to be reversed, and a permit shall be issued in conformity with the application or the relief shall be deemed denied.
The Borough Administrator may authorize a waiver of any of the requirements, provisions or restrictions of this chapter if the Administrator determines that a waiver thereof may be granted without endangering the public health, safety and welfare. In determining whether to issue a waiver, the Administrator shall consider the following factors:
A. 
Potential traffic congestion at the location.
B. 
The applicant's ability to remove the applicant's vehicles and equipment from the public streets or other public property.
C. 
The extent to which the applicant is requesting restrictions on the use of public streets or public parking facilities during filming.
D. 
The nature of the filming, including whether filming will take place indoors or outdoors, and the proposed hours for filming.
E. 
The extent to which the filming may affect adjoining and nearby property owners and occupants.
F. 
The Borough's prior experience with the applicant, 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 Motion Picture and Television Commission at njfilm@njeda.gov. The applicant shall permit the Fire Prevention Bureau or other Borough inspectors to inspect the site and the equipment to be used, if deemed necessary. The applicant shall comply with all safety instruction issued by the Fire Prevention Bureau or other Borough inspectors.
In addition to any other fees or costs mentioned in this chapter, the applicant shall reimburse the Borough for any lost revenue, such as parking meter revenue, repairs to public property or other revenues that the Borough was prevented from earning because of filming.
Category
Fee (Not to exceed)
Basic filming permit (one-time; with 5 or more days advance notice of the first day of filming)
$100
Expedited basic filming permit (one-time; with 4 or less days advance notice of the first day of filming)
$250
Basic filming permit for nonprofits, including student films (one-time; no daily rate required)
$25
Daily filming on public property
 
Film and television projects with a budget under $20mm
$150
Film and television projects with a budget over $20mm
$500
Daily filming on private property
No fee charged by municipality
Public Safety
 
Hiring of off-duty police and fire inspections, according to agreed upon public safety plan
The municipality's standard hourly rates for police and fire
Inconvenience fees
 
Street closures - less than 10,000 residents
$1,000 per day
Properties in background - or used - in shot
Fee is negotiated between a production company and a private business or residence
Daily prep of business that is being "dressed"
Fee is negotiated between a production company and a private business or residence
Daily filming of business that is "dressed"
Fee is negotiated between a production company and a private business or residence
Parking fees
Same rates that are charged to the public
Any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine not exceeding $2,000, imprisonment in the county/municipal jail for a term not exceeding 90 days, or a period of community service not exceeding 90 days, or any combination thereof as determined by the Municipal Court Judge. Each day on which a violation of an ordinance exists shall be considered a separate and distinct violation and shall be subject to imposition of a separate penalty for each day of the violation as the Municipal Court Judge may determine.