Film Friendly Perth

Approval is generally required for commercial, promotional or non-private filming on council-owned or managed land, buildings, roads, footpaths, parks and other public places. Approval may also be required where filming affects public access, traffic, parking, surrounding businesses, residents or community amenity.

Small-scale personal filming and non-commercial still photography may be exempt in some council areas, provided there is no disruption or use of council facilities.

• For commercial filming enquires – please contact the Film Liaison Officer or refer to the City’s Film Friendly City Guidelines
• For non-commercial filming enquires - please refer to the City’s Film and Drone Guidelines

Submit your application as early as possible and at least 10 business days before filming.

Higher-impact productions, road closures, traffic management, complex equipment, multiple locations or approvals involving other agencies may require 4 - 8 weeks.

Late applications may not be approved.

Contact the Film Liaison Officer as soon as possible if your dates, locations or production requirements are still being developed.

The Film Liaison Officer is the City’s main point of contact for filming enquiries.

They can help identify relevant approvals, council-managed locations, application timeframes, traffic and access requirements, stakeholder notification needs and other council contacts.

The Film Liaison Officer can help connect productions with local suppliers, services and location information and can assist in obtaining permits and approvals for their production.

Applicants remain responsible for obtaining all permits and approvals required for their production.

The City may classify applications according to the anticipated impact on public places, services and the surrounding community. Medium and High impact classifications are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

The City provides the following categories as a rough impact guide for producers.

Note that the level of Impact is subject to multiple factors so please contact the Film Liaison Officer to discuss your potential filming impact if you are unsure.

The City reserves the right to confirm the final impact category after reviewing the application.

A higher category may require longer lead times, additional supporting documents and additional fees.

Applications should identify the production, responsible contacts, proposed locations, filming dates and times, cast and crew numbers, activities, equipment and expected community impacts.

A site plan and evidence of public liability insurance.

Additional documents may be requested depending on the location, scale and impact of the production.

Fees vary and may be based on the production’s impact, the resources required to assess and support the application.

There is a standard $100 application and $100 assessment fee.

Additional charges may apply for:

• venue or reserve hire
• parking bays or unit-base areas
• road closures and traffic management
• waste, cleaning, security or other council services
• repairs or reinstatement where council property is damaged.

City partnerships, sponsorships or grant funding may be considered where demonstrable community, cultural, tourism or economic benefits justify support.

Non-financial support may include location advice, coordinated referrals, stakeholder introductions, a support letter or temporary City space, subject to approval and availability.

Contact the Film Liaison Officer for more information.

Applicants will generally need to provide a current Certificate of Currency for public liability insurance depending on the level of impact their production is intended to have.

Please refer to our Film and Drone guidelines for more information.

A risk assessment or risk management plan may be required, particularly where filming involves temporary structures, generators, lighting towers, cranes, drones, special effects, stunts, smoke, pyrotechnics, simulated weapons, large crews or activity near the public.

Productions remain responsible for maintaining a safe set, briefing cast and crew, complying with applicable laws and permit conditions, and having appropriate emergency arrangements in place.

Please contact the Film Liaison Officer for more information.

Provide details of any proposed road closure, traffic control, pedestrian control, parking reservation, essential production vehicles or unit-base arrangements.

A Traffic Management Plan, pedestrian management arrangements or separate obstruction permit may be required. These documents may need to be prepared by an appropriately qualified provider and may require approval from road authorities, police or other agencies. Allow additional assessment time.

Please contact the Film Liaison Officer for more information.

The City may require notification where filming could affect access, parking, noise, trading conditions or residential amenity.

A notification should clearly state:

• The filming location, date and operating hours
• Expected impacts, including noise, lighting, access or parking
• How impacts will be managed
• A production contact for enquiries during filming.

Please contact the Film Liaison Officer for more information.

Drone operators must comply with current Civil Aviation Safety Authority requirements, including applicable operating, licensing, airspace and safety rules. Council approval to use land does not replace any aviation approval.

Additional consent may also be required from the landowner, location manager or other government agencies.

Include proposed drone use in your filming application so the City can identify any local land-use or public-safety considerations.

Please contact the Film Liaison Officer or refer to the City’s Film and Drone Guidelines.

Filming approval generally applies only to land and facilities owned or managed by the City.

Written permission should be obtained from private landowners and from any government agency or organisation responsible for the proposed location.

Separate approvals may apply to national parks, waterways, ports, public transport facilities, heritage places, culturally significant sites and controlled roads.

The Film Liaison Officer can help identify the appropriate authority but cannot approve activities outside the council’s responsibility.

Applications may be assessed against:

• Public safety and legislative compliance
• Impacts on access, traffic, businesses, residents and community amenity
• Suitability and availability of the proposed location
• Environmental, cultural and heritage considerations
• Adequacy of insurance, risk controls and supporting documents
• Requirements for council services or third-party approvals.

Submitting an application does not guarantee approval. 

The Film Liaison Officer is here to help commercial filming projects – please refer to our Film Friendly City Guidelines for more information on how the Film Liaison Officer can help with your production.

Essential information to help the council assess your application

Production details

• Production title, type and short description
• Production company and responsible contact details
• Proposed filming location or locations
• Filming dates and operating times, including setup and pack-down
• Estimated cast and crew numbers

On-site activity and impacts

• Description of filming activities
• Equipment, vehicles, temporary structures and special effects
• Parking, unit-base and site-access requirements
• Expected impacts on traffic, pedestrians, businesses, residents or public access
• Proposed drone use, if applicable

Supporting documents

Required

• Certificate of Currency for public liability insurance
• Site plan, location map or annotated photograph

If applicable

• Risk assessment or risk management plan
• Traffic management plan or pedestrian management plan
• Stakeholder notification letter
• Landowner, road authority or other agency approvals
• Details of stunts, pyrotechnics, smoke, simulated weapons or other higher-risk activities.