[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township of Robbinsville 1-29-2026 by Ord. No. 2026-01. 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.
MAJOR MOTION PICTURE
Any film which is financed and/or distributed by a major motion picture studio, including but not limited to the following: NBC Universal, including Peacock; Warner Bros. Discovery, including New Line Cinema, HBO, DC Studios and Castle Rock Entertainment; Paramount Pictures, including Miramax, MTV Films, Showtime, Skydance, Dreamworks and Nickelodeon Movies; Walt Disney Studios, including 20th Century Studios, Searchlight Pictures, Hulu and Marvel Studios; Sony Pictures, including Columbia Pictures, Screen Gems and Tristar Pictures; Amazon MGM Studios; Netflix Studios; A24; any film for which the budget is at least $20,000,000; or any recurrent weekly television series programming.
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, 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 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. Said permit must be readily available for inspection by Township officials at all times at the site of the filming. Municipal film permits shall not be required when filming occurs entirely on county, state or federally-owned properties (i.e.: county parks, courthouses, etc.) when no municipal services are being used (i.e.: parking on public streets, etc.) or public rights-of-way are being obstructed (i.e.: blocked sidewalks or public access) and when the required permit is obtained from the applicable county, state or federal authority.
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 in § 109-30.
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 at least four or more business days prior to the requested shooting date; provided, however, that the Township Business Administrator may waive the four-day period if, in the Administrator's 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 $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 per occurrence, together with a certificate of insurance naming the Township of Robbinsville as an additional insured and containing a provision giving the Township five days' notice before cancellation.
(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 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 posting of a cash bond in the amount of $1,000, 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 and any costs incurred by the Township are paid. Within 15 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.
D. 
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. 
Before filming, the Township may ask the project's contact person to attend a meeting with the Township Clerk, Police Division, Fire Division, Business Administrator and other departments involved with public safety, either virtually or in person, whichever is most feasible, to create a public safety plan.
C. 
The holder of a permit 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 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. Notice shall include:
(1) 
Company letterhead.
(2) 
Address where filming will take place.
(3) 
Company contact person.
(4) 
Contact person's phone number.
(5) 
Date letter sent.
(6) 
Dates of filming, with start and end time.
(7) 
The contact information of the film permit representative.
(8) 
Information reflecting the nature and number of your vehicles, where they will be parked, and whether you'll have an officer present.
(9) 
Information explaining how you will be following all state and local COVID-related regulations and about how you plan to keep everyone safe.
D. 
Filming shall be permitted between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Camera wrap is expected at 9:00 p.m. and crew wrap at 10:00 p.m., Monday through Sunday. Night filming restrictions shall only apply to a project with exterior filming, provided that all requests for night scenes shall be approved in the permit or by a waiver to be granted in accordance with § 112-7 hereof.
A. 
The Township Business 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 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. 
Further, the Township reserves the right to require one or more on-site police officers in situations where the proposed production may impede the proper flow of traffic, the cost of said officers 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 Township Business Administrator denying or revoking a permit or a person requesting relief may appeal to the Township 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 Business Administrator shall be filed within 10 days of the Administrator's decision. The Township 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 Township Council shall be in the form of a resolution supporting the decision of the Township Business Administrator at the first regularly scheduled public meeting of the Township 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 relief shall be deemed denied.
The Township Business 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 Business 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 Township's prior experience with the applicant, if any.
Copies of the approved permit will be sent to the Robbinsville Police and Fire Divisions before filming takes place and to the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission at njfilm@njeda.gov. The applicant shall permit the Fire Division or other Township 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 Division or other Township inspectors.
In addition to any other fees or costs mentioned in Chapter 109, Fees, specifically § 109-30, Commercial filming fees, the applicant shall reimburse the Township for any lost revenue, such as parking meter revenue, repairs to public property or other revenues that the Township was prevented from earning because of filming.
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.