There are three types of permits recognized by the Town of Bedford.
Type is determined by the size and scope of the production as noted
on the application and its impact on the Town and its residents, at
the discretion of the Town Clerk.
A. Type
I permit (basic).
(1) Type I permits may be issued by the Town Clerk if filming or photography
meets all of the following conditions:
(a)
Filming or photography is limited to an indoor location or outdoor
location contained to private property;
(b)
The size of the entire cast and crew is limited to 20 individual
members or fewer;
(c)
Filming or photography is limited to daytime hours;
(d)
Filming or photography is limited to five or fewer continuous
days at the location; and
(e)
Filming or photography involves no potential noise, traffic
or light impacts, including, but not limited to, the use of any pyrotechnic
device or high-powered artificial lighting other than camera-mounted
or handheld equipment.
B. Type
II permit.
(1) Type II permits may be issued by the Town Clerk if there are any
special conditions that could potentially cause additional inconvenience
or disruption to neighboring properties or traffic.
(a)
Special conditions include, but are not limited to:
[1]
Filming or photography will occur on public property.
[2]
Filming or photography may impede normal vehicular or pedestrian
traffic or disturb neighboring property owners.
[3]
The size of the entire cast and crew is greater than 20 individual
members.
[4]
Filming or photography is outside normal daytime hours.
[5]
Filming or photography exceeds five continuous days at the location.
[6]
Filming or photography involves potential noise or light impacts,
including, but not limited to, the use of any pyrotechnic device,
high-powered artificial lighting, or generators.
[7]
Production requires oversized vehicles, such as motor homes,
trailers, and/or box trucks or excessive numbers of vehicles that
cannot be contained to private property.
[8]
Production requires the use of special effects on the property,
such as artificial rain, snow, fire, sound effects or others.
[9]
Production requires the use of any off-site or public areas
for staging areas, crowd control, parking, sanitary facilities, cleanup
or any other use related to the production but not on the permitted
property itself.
[10]
Productions involves drone photography, which must be compliant
with FAA regulations and requirements.
C. Type III permits. Applications under Type III permits are those which entail special conditions set forth in §
56-3B above, and the Town Clerk also determines that such filming or photography may cause a significant impact on neighboring properties and/or vehicle or pedestrian traffic within the Town of Bedford. The Town Clerk may issue a Type III permit with the imposition of mitigation measures.
D. In
the event the applicant disagrees with the Town Clerk's designation
of the type of permit, the applicant may appeal the Town Clerk's
determination to the Town Board, and the Town Board, in its discretion,
may either affirm the Town Clerk's designation or modify such
designation.
E. In
the event that the Town Clerk denies an application for any type of
permit, the applicant may appeal the Town Clerk's determination
to the Town Board, and the Town Board, in its discretion, may affirm
the Town Clerk's denial, grant the permit, or grant the permit
with revised conditions and/or restrictions.
All film permit applications shall be submitted to the Town
Clerk in person, by electronic mail or by United States mail.
A. All permit applications be submitted on the Town application for
permit for filming and photography form and must contain at least
the following:
(1) The name of the applicant.
(2) The location of the property where filming, videotaping, etc., is
to take place.
(3) The name and authorization of the owner of property, if the applicant
is not the owner.
(4) The name of the person or entity the applicant wishes to allow to
film, videotape, photograph, etc., and the name, local address and
telephone number of the on-site contact person who will be available
24 hours a day during the production and who shall have control of
and responsibility for the direction of all participants in the permitted
activity and for the property for which the activity is permitted.
(5) A use plan giving a brief description of the purpose of the production
as well as showing the days and hours of proposed production, size
of the cast and crew, vehicle types and numbers, parking plans, etc.
(6) A listing of any special conditions applicable to the production
and any mitigating measures proposed.
(7) A signed hold-harmless and indemnification agreement together with
a certificate of insurance naming the Town of Bedford as an additional
insured and relieving the Town from any potential liability by virtue
of the applicant's activities.
(8) The fee commensurate with the permit type as determined by the Town
Clerk upon review of the application in its entirety.
B. The Town Clerk, in reviewing a permit application, may seek the advice
of other Town Departments including but not limited to the Police
Department, Assessor's Office, Fire Department, Public Works,
Building Department, etc., and in reviewing any applications and for
Type II and Type III permits may require coordination by the applicant
with other Town Departments including but not limited to the Police
Department, Assessor's Office, Fire Department, Public Works,
Building Department, etc. The extent of the coordination will be determined
at the discretion of the Town Clerk.
C. For Type II and Type III permits, the applicant shall be required
to notify and provide all property owners located adjacent to (or
directly across from) the property being utilized for filming and/or
photography with a copy of its use plan and any supporting documents
in the form and manner prescribed by the Town Clerk, and the applicant
shall provide proof of such notice to the Town Clerk before beginning
any preparation for filming.
D. The Town Clerk may attach additional conditions and safeguards to
any permit to ensure the orderly conduct of the activity and the minimization
of impacts of such use and shall specify the duration and hours of
operation of such activity.
E. The Town Clerk, for Type II and Type III permits, may further require
as a condition of any permit that the applicant utilize the services
of a Town of Bedford police officer at the rate on file with the Department
of Finance, for each four-hour period or part thereof.
F. The applicant shall pay the actual cost, if any, for any Town of
Bedford personnel, services or equipment required in connection with
permitted filming activities.
G. The Town Clerk, for Type II and Type III permits, may require the
applicant to post reasonable bond or cash security to assure adherence
to any permit conditions.
Each applicant shall pay a permit fee to the Town for filming,
videotaping, photography or recording on private or public property,
as set forth in the Fee Schedule adopted by the Town Board.
This chapter shall be enforced by the Building Inspector, or
his or her appointed authority, and the Town of Bedford Police Department.
Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, an applicant who has been
previously convicted of or plead guilty to a violation of this chapter
shall not be granted a permit hereunder for a period of 18 months
from the date of such conviction.