A permit is required whenever any part of a city street or sidewalk is restricted or closed.
Lead time At least 3 weeks for right-of-way filming, to allow for notices and processing
Fees Street use permit fee: $250
| Do you need one? | A permit is required whenever any part of a city street or sidewalk is restricted or closed. Other locations (parks, Stockyards, Panther Island, West 7th, TCU, schools) each have their own process. |
| Who issues it | Visit Fort Worth Film Commission routes requests; the City's Transportation and Public Works right-of-way team issues street use permits, and Park & Recreation handles parks. |
| Lead time | At least 3 weeks for right-of-way filming, to allow for notices and processing. Full street closures longer than 3 days need City Council approval with 45 days' lead time. |
| Fees | Street use permit fee: $250. A damage deposit applies; repairs beyond it are billed at three times actual cost. |
| Insurance | Certificate naming the City of Fort Worth as additional insured on general liability of $1 million. |
| Police, fire and traffic | Off-duty Fort Worth police or other Texas peace officers must work closures for security and traffic control; the police department sets the number. Fire marshals or EMS may be required at the fire code official's discretion. Rates not published. |
| Street and lane closures | Need a written synopsis, site plan and traffic control plan; barricades must be staffed by an adult. Closures must not block emergency routes; weekends and holidays are favored. Interstates and frontage roads need TxDOT permission. Business and neighborhood access must be maintained. |
| Telling neighbors | Written notice (English and Spanish where appropriate) to every home, business and organization on closed streets and within one block, at least 3 weeks ahead, with a copy filed with the application. Concerns must be resolved before the permit issues. |
| Hours and noise | Amplified sound is barred from 10:30 p.m. to 7 a.m. and all day Sunday under the noise ordinance. |
| Drones | The commission points to the FAA; no city drone rule stated. |
| Also | Restroom plan and daily litter cleanup are permit conditions. Stockyards Heritage, Panther Island, West 7th, Billy Bob's, TCU, Tarrant County College and Fort Worth ISD forms are linked from the commission's permits page. |
From the official pages: Visit Fort Worth Film Commission - Film permits ↗︎ · City of Fort Worth - Filming in the right of way application (PDF) ↗︎. Rules and fees change; confirm with the office before you shoot. Not legal advice. Photo: DerekAyala27, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.