Letter in Lieu of Permit - MOME

Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment


Step 1Step 2Step 3More

Letter in Lieu of Permit
Online Application
Application Instructions

Letter in Lieu of Permit

Online Application

Application Instructions


Letter in Lieu of Permit

Certain kinds of filmmaking and photography activity on exterior public property owned by the City of New York do not require a film permit.* The Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment offers a document called a “Letter in Lieu of a Permit" for filmmakers and photographers working on exterior public property owned by the City of New York if (1) their activities meet certain criteria (below) and (2) they are not filming or photographing in a location on the same date and time covered by other permitted activity. Some filmmakers and photographers may wish to carry the letter when they are working on activity that does not require a film permit. (Carrying this letter is an option, not a requirement.) Please contact the Film Office at (212) 489-6710 with questions about when a film permit is required.

(* MOME does not have jurisdiction over private property, property owned by other government entities such as MTA or Port Authority, or State or Federal property. Filming and photography on such property is subject to the applicable government entity's rules and may require a different permit.)

By checking each box below, you certify that your activity meets each requirement below. At the end of the checklist, you may print a "Letter in Lieu of Permit" for your qualifying activity. The letter is valid for 30 days. If you cannot check a box, please visit the application portal for a required film permit.

Filming (using motion or still cameras to capture motion or still images) will be performed with hand-held devices. Hand-held devices include (a) motion or still cameras or other equipment that are held in the filmmaker's or photographer's hands and always carried with the filmmaker or photographer while filming and (b) tripods used to support motion or still cameras.

Filming takes place on a City sidewalk, City park pathway or walkway of a City bridge, and (i) a width of at least 8 feet is always kept free for pedestrian use if the total width is 16 feet or less (ii) half the width is always kept free for pedestrian use if the total width exceeds 16 feet.

If filming is in a City park, it takes place on a park pathway. Other areas, such as playgrounds, basketball courts, baseball fields, tennis courts, pools, buildings, etc. may require the Parks Department's approval; please check the Parks Department website.

Filming will not occur in the traffic lanes or curb lanes of city streets and will be contained to a City sidewalk, a City park pathway or a walkway of a City bridge only.

Filming will not involve activity that violates law, creates a safety hazard, and/or involves exclusive use of any part of a City sidewalk, City park pathway or walkway of a City bridge. "Exclusive use" means a physical, verbal or other assertion that a part of a City sidewalk, City park pathway or walkway of a City bridge will be used solely for filming activity for any amount of time.

Filming will not involve the use of any props that are not hand-held, including bicycles or other vehicles.

Filming will not involve actual or simulated weapons, police uniforms, reenactment of a crime on City property or other activity that would require the presence or approval of the NYPD Movie/TV Unit, or use of special effects (including pyrotechnics), use of prohibited wild animals, or use of drones.

I affirm that by clicking the "Download Letter" button below that my activity meets all of the criteria that I checked above and will occur only on exterior public property owned by the City of New York. If I use the letter for activity that requires a film permit or on other property, I may be subject to a fine or other penalties.

We recommend opening the letter with Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge.

Download Letter