Obtaining filming permits

Only the Paris Film Office is authorized to apply for permits on behalf of a production company or an individual. You should not apply independently to municipal departments for permits or services.
The Paris Film Office will:
-    study your requirements
-    inform you about the rules and regulations to be respected
-    coordinate requests to organize shoots in locations belonging to the City of Paris (parks, gardens, public buildings, museums, etc.)
-    manage requests for technical operations to create a specific setting for a shoot (eg. masking of road markings, removal of road signs and street furniture, electrical modifications for lighting effects, etc.)
-    provide information on permits required to film in private or state-owned locations, and advise on questions concerning image rights.

When applying to the Paris Film Office for a filming permit, you must supply a file containing the following documents:
-    a letter of intent
-    a completed application form
-    a filming plan specifying by dates, intended locations and times of shoots, sequences concerned and technical resources
-    a synopsis of the film
-    a copy of the screenplay
-    a comprehensive insurance certificate.

Application Form For Filming Permit

These documents may be sent by post or e-mail.

-    Paris Film Office receives your application and studies your project.
-    It transfers your requests to the municipal departments concerned.
-    Each department carries out a feasibility study and prepares an estimate for performance of the requested services.
-    Each department sends you its estimate for the work required. After accepting these estimates, you are sent the corresponding invoices. All invoices must be paid before a filming permit can be issued.
-    You supply the Paris Film Office with proof of payment, and you are issued with a City of Paris filming permit.

The time needed to obtain permits and technical services will depend on the complexity of your film project. Applications are usually processed within five to fifteen working days following receipt of your application.
For feature films and TV dramas, please contact us to arrange a preparatory meeting where we can discuss your production plan and shooting schedule.

Filming permits are processed and issued entirely free of charge.
Permits to film in the street are also free.
The costs to be factored into your filming budget and paid before shooting begins are:
-    fees for occupation of locations belonging to the City of Paris
-    fees for requested technical operations
-    parking charges.

Once you have received permits from the City of Paris and the Préfecture de Police, you must go to the main police station (commissariat de police) in the district(s) concerned to obtain authorization to reserve parking spaces for your production vehicles and prop vehicles.

-    You must comply with all the technical instructions given by the different municipal departments.
-    You must follow the recommendations of the district police station(s) concerning parking places for all your production and prop vehicles.
-    You must inform us if you are filming inside a building and your production vehicles are parked nearby.
-    Parking spaces may not be cordoned off without the prior agreement of the City of Paris and the police station of the district concerned.
-    You are responsible for the action and behaviour of the persons hired to cordon off parking spaces prior to a shoot. Due respect must be shown to local residents.
-    Locations used must be treated with respect. They must be cleaned and tidied up after filming is completed.
-    You must occupy the specified locations only.
-    You must supply a list of all film crew members (names and mobile phone numbers).

If you wish to acknowledge our assistance in the film credits, please use this wording:
City of Paris - Mission Cinéma