PERMITS & REGULATIONS No matter the crew size or impact, if you are filming on public property in the City of Austin (like a street or park), a permit is required. Permits are not required to film on private property.



If you have questions, concerns or need assistance with any of the City of Austin film permitting processes, please contact Kim McCarson , Economic and Business Liaison Austin for the Music & Entertainment Division of the City of Austin's Economic Development Department. Kim can be reached at 512-974-7963 or kimberly.mccarson@austintexas.gov.



The Austin Film Commission does not issue permits for filming but the following are local contacts (along with guidelines) for the various Austin-area film location permitting entities:

The following are additional regulatory resources for filming locally:

If you are working in the communities surrounding Austin, please reference the Film Friendly Texas Directory for permitting contacts in those jurisdictions.

CITY OF AUSTIN - STREETS & SIDEWALKS

Requests for the use of City of Austin Right of Way (city streets, sidewalks, and alleys) by commercial, student, or mobile filming, must be authorized by the Austin Transportation Department's Right of Way Division. It is recommended that requests be filed at least 5 days prior to the filming start date for the Transportation Department to accommodate the request.



Permits are free, but productions will need to provide the following as part of the permitting process: proof of insurance , description of filming/requested use , a map highlighting the filming impact , obtain sign off from the Austin Police Department and sign off from any impacted residents or businesses . If you are requesting any type of road closure, a Traffic Control Plan will also be needed as well as on-set police assistance. For complete road closures, productions are asked to have permit requests submitted 10 days prior to filming.



For full instructions and more information on requirements, please reference the Transportation Department's Right of Way Film Permit Guidelines.



Permit requests are filed online through the City of Austin Transportation Department's Right of Way Management Approval Network.



City of Austin Transportation Department:

Right of Way Management Division

512-974-7828

rightofway@austintexas.gov

CITY OF AUSTIN - PARKS & WATERWAYS

To film on Austin Parks properties—like Zilker Park, Pfluger Bridge, the Hike and Bike Trail, Mount Bonnell, Lady Bird Lake, Decker Lake, & Lake Austin—a permit must be obtained from the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD). The Park Directory includes a full list of the over 300 City of Austin Parks properties. It is recommended that requests be filed at least 7 days in advance of filming start date for small productions and 14 days for large impact projects.



Permit requests can be filed via the Parks & Recreation Office of Special Events.



City of Austin Parks & Recreation Department:

Special Events Office

512-974-6797

reservations@austintexas.gov

CITY OF AUSTIN - PUBLIC LIBRARY

Reservations for filming and photography are based upon availability as determined by library staff. It is recommended that all filming requests be made 21 days prior to the production day. Filming is welcome but must not interfere with the public’s regular use of the facility during open hours.



Commercial Filming and Photography Permit requests are available via the Austin Public Library Communications Office.



Guidelines



Rachel Nguyen

Communications Manager - Austin Public Library

512-974-9687

Rachel.Nguyen@austintexas.gov

AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Requests to film at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AIBA) must be submitted through the ABIA - Airport Filming Program.



Guidelines



Melissa Vidal

Properties Program Manager, Austin-Bergstorm International Airport

512-530-2461

Melissa.Vidal@austintexas.gov

STATE OF TEXAS - CAPITOL GROUNDS

To inquire about filming on the State Capitol Grounds, requests must be submitted to the State Preservation Board.



Guidelines



Robert Davis

Events & Exhibits Coordinator, State Preservation Board

512-463-3051

Robert.Davis@tspb.state.tx.us

STATE OF TEXAS - OWNED PROPERTIES

In order to film on a state-owned property—like a building or park—a request must be submitted to the Texas Film Commission. Permit requests can be filed online through the State Property Use - Request for Use Application.



512-463-9200

TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (TXDOT) - HIGHWAYS

To film on any State of Texas highway right of way in the area, you must obtain permission from the TxDOT Austin District Office, which oversees Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Hays, Gillespie, Lee, Llano, Mason, Travis, & Williamson counties. Local corridors overseen by TxDOT include: I-35, US 290, US 183, US 281, SH 71, SH 195, SH 130 toll road, Loop 1 (MoPac), & Loop 360.



Austin District Office

512-832-7019

AUS_events_film@txdot.gov

LOWER COLORADO RIVER AUTHORITY (LCRA)

Organizations and individuals wanting to film or take photographs on LCRA property can apply online. The LCRA oversees a number of parks, waterways, offices, and unique industrial spaces in the Austin area including McKinney Roughs Nature Park, Lake Bastrop, and the Dalchau Service Center. The Parks Directory includes a list of LCRA properties.



filming@lcra.org