The Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting has amended Title 43 of the Official Compilation of Rules of the City of New York, by adding a new Chapter 9, which will regulate the permit and insurance requirements for filmmakers and photographers shooting in New York City.  A permit and insurance will be required if the shoot will block at least one lane of traffic or eight feet of sidewalk, or if it involves any vehicles or equipment that are not handheld.  Liability insurance obtained must be a minimum of $1 million for each occurrence, and the City of New York must be named as an additional insured.

Most filmmakers and photographers have always obtained permits and insurance in connection with filming or photographing on New York City streets but, before the addition of Chapter 9, there were no formal rules or regulations that required permits or insurance.  The Chapter 9 formal rules were established as part of the settlement in connection with a lawsuit filed against the City of New York by a filmmaker who was detained in 2005 while shooting on a New York City sidewalk with a handheld camera.

To view a copy of the notice of adoption of the Chapter 9 rule, click here.