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Who needs a film permit?

Film Permits are generally required throughout Miami-Dade County and each of its municipalities for film, video or still photo shoots that are conducted on public property;  on roads, streets, sidewalks, parks, beaches or public buildings. Some municipalities - City of Miami, Coral Gables, Homestead, Key Biscayne, Medley, Miami Beach, South Miami, Virginia   Gardens - may require a filming permit for shoots that are conducted on residential /private property in addition to public property. 

Required. Except as provided below, no person shall film or take photos within a publicly owned or controlled site, facility, or right-of-way within the participating incorporated or unincorporated area of Miami-Dade County without first obtaining a permit. Within the unincorporated area of Miami-Dade County, the County Mayor or County Mayor’s designee shall establish the criteria and procedures to be followed for film and photo permits.

Within the participating incorporated areas, the municipality having jurisdiction shall establish the criteria and procedures to be followed for film and photo permits through interlocal agreement with Miami-Dade County. Permits shall be authorized by the governmental
body having jurisdiction over the public site. Students and faculty who do not meet the exceptions below may obtain a film or photo permit free of charge if production is exclusively for educational purposes and the institution provides proof of said purpose.

Exceptions. Nothing in this section shall require any permit from:
(i) Individuals filming, taking photos, or videotaping while using a hand-held camera, one camera on one tripod (with the exception of such use on public transit and public transit platforms), handheld props and/or hand-held equipment with a cast, crew, and personnel size of less than three people who are (1) not asserting exclusive use of County owned or controlled property; (2) not using prop weapons, fire, pyrotechnics, animals, prop vehicles, stunts, or actors in police uniform; (3) not requesting parking privileges for production vehicles; (4) not fighting, whether real or simulated; (5) not using or projecting noise with profane, vulgar, or indecent language or other language in public that are likely to incite violence or panic; (6) not creating noise which is frequent, habitual or long, and plainly audible at a distance of one hundred (100) feet from the area where the individual is located; (7) not filming or taking photos at County owned or controlled property subject to contract by a private party; (8) not simulating the use or sale of drugs; and (9) not otherwise requesting an exemption from the County’s rules and regulations or engaging in conduct that would require an exemption from the County’s rules and regulations
(ii) Employees of print or electronic news media when filming breaking news events whether or not such news media meets the criteria provided in section (i) above. The term “breaking news” is defined as an event that is currently occurring or developing. This exception shall not apply to simulations or reenactments orchestrated by print or electronic news media, pre-arranged interviews or any scripted content.

A permit for filming on Miami Beach may be applied for through the FilMiami permitting system at http://filmiami.org/permits.asp or on their website https://secure.miamibeachfl.gov/cmbfilmprint/public/homepage.aspx

Film permits submitted through the Filmiami.org system for Miami Beach, are NOT issued through the Miami-Dade County Office of Film and Entertainment but are issued by the Office of Film and Event Production Management. 305-673-7070