Guidelines for Filming in Toronto

Application Timelines & Permit Issuance

The Film Office requires a minimum of two full business days, not including day of submission, to issue a filming permit. Road Closures or complex requests may require more time.

The Film Office requires a minimum of three full business days, not including the day of submission, to issue a permit if the request includes filming in a City park.

Please submit applications during our business hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Applications submitted after 4:30 p.m. on any given date will be date stamped as received on the following business day.

Timeline Examples

Requested Filming, Coning or Parking Date	Application Submission Deadline
Monday	Wednesday (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
Tuesday	Thursday (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
Wednesday	Friday (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
Thursday	Monday (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
Friday	Tuesday (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
Saturday, Sunday, Statutory Holidays	Wednesday (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

For filming requests in City parks, please add an extra business day to the application submission deadline.

Permits will be issued by the business day prior to your earliest filming, coning or parking date.

Notes on Timelines

• Changes to permits require 48 hours notice to affected residents and businesses and two full business days notice to the Film Office.
• Revisions that do not meet these timelines cannot be accepted, as Film Office staff require time to notify and coordinate with other City divisions.
• Changes to permits include:
  • Adding new streets or extending footprints on previously submitted streets
  • Adding parking meters
  • Extending filming and parking times
  • Adding filming dates
  • Adding prep, wrap and coning dates
  • Adding special effects
  • Adding unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)/drone work
  • Adding major set dressing, and/or
  • Any other significant filming component.
• Please plan ahead by including weather dates, extra parking and all potential filming needs to your original applications.

Permit Issuance

Permits for location filming are coordinated through and issued by the Film Office. Permits are required as per the Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 459 - Filming.

Notification

Community

The film company must provide written notice of filming to affected residents, occupants, businesses owners and business improvement areas (BIAs) a minimum of 48 hours prior to their earliest arrival. Notifications must include the location and duration of filming and parking; information about planned special effects; road and lane closures; sidewalk obstructions; lighting positions; the time that cones will be placed on the street to reserve parking; and any relevant details requested by the Film Office. Please request a copy of the notification letter template from your Film Permit Coordinator. Your letter of notification should be reviewed by your Film Permit Coordinator for accuracy and completeness before distribution.

City of Toronto Councillors

The Film Office will notify councillors in advance of filming in their respective wards. These notifications will include the title of the production, production company contact info, the names and contact numbers of the location managers, and the locations of filming and production vehicle parking.

Time Restrictions

• Permits authorizing filming/parking between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. in areas zoned residential will not be approved if the majority of affected residential property owners/authorized personnel object to the requested exemption. The Film Office will determine the impacted area in which the Have Your Say letter must be distributed for community feedback. Please visit the Letters of Notification page for the updated process.
• Permit exemptions authorizing filming/parking between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. in areas zoned residential will not be approved if the majority of affected residential property owners/authorized personnel object to the requested exemption. The Film Office will determine the impacted area in which the Have Your Say letter must be distributed for community feedback. Please visit the Letters of Notification page for the updated process.
• Permit exemptions authorizing filming/parking between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. in areas not zoned residential may still require the distribution of a Have Your Say letter to impacted residential property owners/authorized personnel. The Film Office will determine the impacted area in which the Have Your Say letter must be distributed for community feedback.
• Exemptions granted for film activity between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. include an exemption from the noise by-law for the activity authorized in the film permit.
• Filming by students is not permitted between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. without exception.

Usage Limitations

• Location filming/parking in areas zoned residential will be limited to two occasions per calendar year for each residential block. Productions may receive an exemption to this guideline by distributing a Have Your Say letter to impacted residential properties, and only when the majority of affected property owners/authorized personnel do not object. The Film Office will determine the impacted area in which the Have Your Say letter must be distributed for feedback. Please visit the Letters of Notification page for the updated process.
• Filming/parking in areas zoned residential for a period of seven consecutive days, inclusive, or longer, is not permitted unless productions distribute a Have Your Say letter to impacted residential properties and the majority of affected property owners/authorized personnel do not object. The Film Office will determine the impacted area in which the Have Your Say letter must be delivered. Please visit the Letters of Notification page for the updated process.
• The amount of filming/parking permitted in a given area, regardless of its zoning, may also be limited as determined by the Film Office in consultation with the local ward Councillor.
• Priority or even exclusive use for filming in specific residential areas may be given to larger-scale productions that have identified those areas as reoccurring locations for the duration of their feature production or series season.
• Filming by students satisfying curricular requirements is not considered commercial filming and will not be counted toward usage limitations in areas zoned residential.

Conduct & Disruptions

Production companies must ensure that their staff operate in a safe and professional manner in the course of their duties and adhere to the City of Toronto’s Code of Conduct for Cast and Crew.

Consideration to Residents, Occupants and Business Owners

Production companies should limit negative environmental conditions resulting from filming, including spill-over lighting, exhaust fumes and noise, which may affect the enjoyment or operation of surrounding properties.

Lighting

Production companies should orient lighting away from neighboring residences, unless residents have been contacted and do not express any objection. Lighting must not interfere with traffic safety. Exemptions for late night lighting are a subset of the late night filming activity exemption request process, as noted in the Time Restrictions section above.

Noise

Production companies must comply with legislation governing noise, unless the activity has been approved in the film permit.  Affected residents, occupants and business owners should be advised in advance of any loud noises on location, such as special effects or simulated gunfire. Filming activity is not permitted between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., unless an exemption has been granted in the film permit.  Exemptions granted for late night filming activity include an exemption from the noise by-law for the activity authorized in the film permit.

Generators & Portable Washrooms

Production companies should not park generators or portable washrooms near residential units without prior notification to residents, occupants, or business owners. Productions are encouraged to find alternatives to diesel generators, such as hydro tie-ins, battery packs and cleaner-burning generators, or otherwise limit their use, in an effort to reduce greenhouse gases. Generators used on residential streets and in city parks should be soundproofed.  Productions should not park portable washrooms near patios at any time.

Disruption to Residents, Occupants and Business Owners

• Production companies are responsible for ensuring that there is minimal disruption to residents, occupants, business owners and City of Toronto employees where filming occurs. Residents, occupants, business patrons and the general public must retain pedestrian and vehicular access to properties surrounding the filming location.
• Production companies are not obligated by the City of Toronto to compensate residents, occupants or business owners for film-related disruptions, although they may do so voluntarily or if they are otherwise legally obligated to do so by another party.
• Production companies must make every effort to accommodate displaced residents with valid street parking permits and those persons requiring accessible accommodations.

Vehicles, Parking & Traffic

Identification of Production Vehicles

• All black-plated vehicles carrying equipment or otherwise involved in the production will be issued parking permits, which must be displayed with the parking information page(s) of the film permit on their dashboards.
• Production companies must determine in advance the number of production vehicles requiring parking permits. Productions are encouraged to limit the number of vehicles on location to only those required.
• Vehicles are not permitted to idle at any time.
• Blue-plated personal automobiles used by cast and crew or student filmmakers will not be issued parking permits. Personal automobiles must park where available and permitted, in accordance with all posted and non-posted parking regulations.
• Cast and crew are encouraged to carpool, take public transit or production shuttles, cycle and walk to locations whenever possible.
• Cast and crew are responsible for paying all applicable parking meters on site for their blue-plated personal automobiles. If a production requires that a blue-plated personal automobile be designated as a production vehicle, please advise your Film Permit Coordinator before the issuance of your film permit. Parking permissions for blue-plated personal automobiles cannot be retroactively added to film permits.

Traffic

• Production vehicles must comply with all traffic regulations, unless exempted under permit.
• Moving vehicles shall comply to the posted speed limits and to lawful road conditions, unless directed otherwise by a Paid Duty Police Officer or where the road has been closed under permit.
• Moving vehicles must comply with regulations governing traffic in city parks and on city properties, unless exempted under permit.
• To minimize congestion and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, road closures and traffic stoppages are restricted during rush hours. TTC vehicle and bicycle traffic travelling through on-street film locations will be prioritized.
• Anticipated disruptions to pedestrian and vehicular traffic must be noted on the film permit and letter of notification. Production companies must ensure that vehicular and pedestrian access is not impeded for persons requiring accessible accommodations.

Traffic Stoppages

• The Film Office may permit intermittent stoppages (to a maximum of three minutes or otherwise negotiated) outside of rush hours and under the supervision of a Paid Duty Police Officer.
• Production companies must coordinate through the Film Office any removal, alteration and reinstallation of traffic or street signage.

Parking, Standing and Stopping for Production Vehicles

• Production vehicles must adhere to all parking regulations specified on the permit and must not impede emergency response vehicles. Please read the list of the specific parking prohibitions.
• On city streets, production vehicles must not block driveways or other access points without the approval of the affected property owners.
• On city streets where vehicles are displaced for filming, production companies must make an effort to find alternate parking locations for residents in possession of valid street parking permits.
• Towing vehicles to accommodate filming or film-related parking is prohibited.
• In City parks, production vehicles and equipment must not block driveways or access points. Production vehicles must leave at least two feet of clearance on either side of a driveway, ramp, or other access points. Production vehicles should not be driven on the turf unless permitted by the park supervisor and noted in the film permit.

Filming Activities & Relationship to Emergency Services

• Specialized Paid Duty Police Officers are required for the detonation of pyrotechnic special effects or the use of simulated gunfire on set. Blast analyses or decibel measurements may be required in advance of filming and additional time may be needed to arrange for these tests.
• Qualified Emergency Medical Services personnel must be on set during the filming of dangerous situations, such as special effects or stunts.
• The Toronto Fire Department must be advised in advance when the use of flammable liquids or materials are used on set.
• Paid Duty Police Officers are required on set for the use of prop guns visible to the public, pyrotechnical and simulated gunfire special effects, intermittent traffic stoppages and traffic control on public property. Film productions must supply the Paid Duty Officer on set with a copy of the film permit and any other governing documents.
• Production companies are responsible for all associated costs when hiring police, fire or paramedic personnel.
• Emergency vehicle access must be maintained through all road closures related to filming.

Clean-up & Waste Diversion

• Productions are encouraged to avoid single-use and disposable materials on location, where possible, and should follow the City of Toronto’s regulations and best practices for waste diversion.
• Permanent or toxic materials may not be used for set dressing City properties. Material Safety Data Sheet documentation may be requested by the Film Office for review before permitting the use of certain materials on location.
• At the end of the filming day, production companies must clean and return each location to its original condition, with a minimal amount of disruption to the surrounding community. Refuse, recycling and organic waste must be taken by the production away from the location for lawful disposal.
• At the expense of production companies, arrangements for cleaning can be made with divisions of the City of Toronto.
• Debris or materials from set, such as but not limited to temporary paints or artificial snow dressing, must not be washed into catch basins.

Costs

Insurance

• All production companies filming in the City of Toronto must provide the Film Office, prior to permit issuance, a certificate of comprehensive general liability insurance in the amount of $2,000,000, per occurrence, or such higher limits as the City of Toronto reasonably requires depending on the nature of filming.
• All such policies shall add the City of Toronto as an additional insured party and shall not call into contribution any other insurance available to the City of Toronto.
• In addition, such policies, may not be cancelled or amended without the prior written consent of the City of Toronto via the Film Office.
• If a production company desires for privacy or security reasons to use an alias project title for a major feature or television series, its location manager should speak to the Film Permit Coordinator assigned to the production. The production company may be requested to revise its certificate of insurance to ensure that all necessary parties are sufficiently insured.

Learn more about Insurance Requirements.

Expenses

The production company is responsible for all out-of-pocket expenses related to the use of City roads, properties, parks or equipment and shall be given an estimate of these costs prior to permitting. Whenever expenses are anticipated, production companies should liaise with the City Division issuing the charge back to determine the most appropriate method of payment.

Security Deposit

Where deemed necessary by the appropriate City department or agency, a security deposit shall be required prior to the issuance of a film permit. This deposit shall not be returned, in whole or in part, until all invoices, charges and claims have been cleared. Security deposits can be paid by credit card or certified cheque made payable to “Treasurer, City of Toronto” and delivered to the Film Office.

Safety

The Film and Television Industry is a unique business. It also presents unique and unusual occupational health and safety hazards to its workers.

Representatives from the film industry and the Ontario Ministry of Labour formed the Ontario Film and Television Safety Committee in 1998.

The Safety Committee has developed guidelines for everyone in the film and television field. They aim to educate every worker, in all disciplines, at all levels, in the value of hazard recognition and safe working practices.

All production companies should obtain a copy of this booklet for reference prior to the commencement of production.

The guidelines can be downloaded from the Ministry of Labour website. A hardcopy of this publication can be ordered online.

Existing safety signage and equipment on location must not be altered or disabled, unless expressly agreed to by the property manager/owner, and in accordance with all applicable safety regulations.

Production companies must also adhere to the most updated standards in the Ontario Ministry of Transportation’s Ontario Traffic Manual Series.

Student Filming Instructions

• Student filming is not considered commercial filming.
• Student filming, conducted with or without a film permit, must abide by the safety guidelines for the film and television industry in Ontario, as well as the Code of Conduct for Cast and Crew.
• The City of Toronto remains committed to nurturing the next generation of film makers and working with educational institutions that require their students to apply for film permits as academic exercises.
• Student film makers applying for permits as part of school work must apply using their school name as the production company name and provide to the Film Office with a copy of their educational institution’s certificate of insurance.
• Film makers who are post-secondary students but applying for commercial film permits for projects not associated with their academic work must provide a certificate of insurance separate from their educational institution’s certificate of insurance. The production company name on their application form must match the production company named on their certificate of insurance.
• Students will be issued grid permits instead of location permits when and where possible.
• Blue-plated personal automobiles used by student filmmakers will not be issued parking permits. Personal automobiles must park where available and permitted, in accordance with all posted and non-posted parking regulations.
• Student filming, conducted with or without a film permit, will not be counted towards usage in residential areas.
• Student filming, conducted with or without a film permit, will not be permitted between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.
• Student filming is not permitted to undertake any special effects, use of prop weapons in public view or traffic stoppages requiring Toronto Police Services approval or Paid Duty Office supervision.
• Film makers below the post-secondary level will not be issued permits by the Film Office.

Film Location Restrictions

• Filming may be restricted or prohibited at particular properties in the City of Toronto. For example, filming the United States Consulate at 360 University Avenue is strictly prohibited.
• Filming on controlled access highways, such as the Don Valley Parkway and Gardiner Expressway, requires special consideration.
• Filming at or around locations deemed sensitive by the Film Office due to tragic or violent incidents will require additional lead time for the Film Office to review and coordinate requests for these areas. Productions will also need to provide a copy of the script with their applications to ensure the suitability of the location for their proposed scenes. Violent content or scenes that may alarm the public are not suitable for these locations.
• The Film Office reserves the right to refuse permits to production companies or individuals who have failed in the past to adhere to these guidelines or any filming guidelines of the former municipalities now forming the City of Toronto.