Film permitCity
Filming in Houston
Filming on general public property inside Houston city limits requires the commission's Motion Picture/TV Registration plus a certificate of insurance on file before….
What it takes
| Do you need one? | Filming on general public property inside Houston city limits requires the commission's Motion Picture/TV Registration plus a certificate of insurance on file before shooting. The registration itself is informational and is not a permit for city, county, state, federal or private property; most city parks need a separate park permit, arranged through the commission. |
| Who issues it | Houston Film Commission (Houston First Corporation) registers productions and arranges city police, fire marshals, park permits and sound permits. |
| Insurance | At least $1 million general liability; the certificate should name the City of Houston, care of the Houston Film Commission. |
| Police, fire and traffic | City of Houston police officers are required for traffic or pedestrian control and for blocking a lane or street. A fire marshal must be on set for squibs and pyrotechnics, and may be required for other effects or chemicals. Both are booked through the commission; rates not published. |
| Street and lane closures | Any lane or street block requires hired Houston police officers. |
| Hours and noise | A sound permit, arranged through the commission, covers loud amplified playback. |
| Students and nonprofits | Student projects use the same registration form; no waiver stated. |
| Also | Keep the signed registration (with its number) in the production kit while shooting in city limits. Houston airports and Memorial Park have their own film permit processes. |
From the official pages: Houston Film Commission - Production FAQ ↗︎ · City of Houston Motion Picture/TV Registration (PDF) ↗︎. Rules and fees change; confirm with the office before you shoot. Not legal advice. Photo: Hequals2henry, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons.