Town guide

Filming in Asbury Park, New Jersey

A production guide to Asbury Park’s film permit, published fees, insurance, notice rules and the separate private and transit authorities that may control a location.

Asbury Park combines an oceanfront boardwalk and beach, parks, commercial streets, residential areas and an NJ TRANSIT station. Those locations do not share one approval: the City, a private owner or operator and NJ TRANSIT may control different parts of the same production footprint.

The City publishes a film-permit page, application, code standards, a named contact and a detailed municipal fee schedule. Because several charges can depend on the location and services requested, obtain one written City estimate before approving the budget.

Information checked July 24, 2026

Checked Jul 24 2026

County: Monmouth County
Film Ready treatment: Not listed on the current State certified-localities page as of July 27, 2026
Municipal starting point: City film and photography permit process
City contact: Leesha Floyd
Phone: 732-502-5759
Email: Leesha.floyd@asburypark.gov
Published lead time: 30 working days; an application submitted with less time is treated as expedited
Basic permit charge: $500 one-time permit fee
General daily filming charge: $750 per day
Published major-motion-picture charge: $2,500 per day for shooting of six days or more
Expedited charge: $500 when submitted less than 30 working days before filming
Insurance: Different published requirements for organizations and individuals; obtain the City’s exact current certificate wording
Possible damage deposit: The City may require a refundable deposit of at least $500
Neighbor and business notice: Written notice within 200 feet at least three days before filming
Published fixed filming-hours window: None located in the film section; approved hours are production-specific

Documented location character

Official City materials support the following location descriptions:

The City’s film page specifically identifies beaches, the boardwalk, parks and facilities among the City-owned settings for which commercial filming requires municipal permission.
The same page notes Asbury Park’s history with film and television and identifies The Sopranos, Food Network programming and City by the Sea as examples.
The City publishes a separate film application that accounts for streets, municipal locations, personnel, parking and other operational impacts.

These statements establish production relevance and municipal process. They do not establish the present availability, control or rate of any individual venue, business or private property.

When a permit is required

The City’s public film page says commercial filming and photography on City-owned property, including beaches, the boardwalk, parks and facilities, require a permit.

The current municipal code states that no person or organization may film a motion picture, television program or commercial on public lands or commercial property without first obtaining a permit from the City’s Director of Community and Cultural Affairs. City-sponsored events, family films and news media are among the stated exceptions.

Ask about private residences

Because the code says “commercial property” but does not expressly resolve every private-residence scenario, ask the City in writing whether the proposed private residential work requires the municipal film permit, in addition to owner permission and approvals for any public impacts.

Application and lead time

The code requires filing at least 30 working days before the first filming date. An application filed with less time is subject to the published expedited fee. Earlier contact is appropriate when the production needs:

Street closure or traffic control
Meter, curb or parking use
Police, fire, emergency medical, public-works or lifeguard personnel
Beach, boardwalk, park or public-building use
Night work
Large vehicles, generators, cable crossings or a substantial public footprint

Submit dates and hours for setup, filming and breakdown rather than only the camera schedule.

Insurance and indemnity

The code publishes different insurance rules for an organization and an individual. For an organization, the code requires at least:

$1,000,000 per occurrence
$2,000,000 aggregate
The City and the additional City parties specified in the code named as additional insureds
Primary and noncontributory coverage
Waiver-of-subrogation terms
Coverage from a carrier licensed to do business in New Jersey

For an individual applicant, the code requires proof of at least $1,000,000 in personal-liability coverage and requires the City parties identified by the code to be additional insureds.

The City may amend its insurance requirements. Obtain its exact current certificate-holder and additional-insured instructions rather than copying this summary onto a certificate.

Deposit and damage

The City may require a refundable deposit of at least $500 to protect against damage to public property or other municipal costs. The required amount is production-specific. Do not treat $500 as a universal maximum.

Notice

The applicant must give written notice to all businesses and residents within 200 feet of the filming location at least three days before filming and provide evidence of that notice.

Ask the City to approve how the 200-foot area is measured, the required form and contents, the delivery method, treatment of multi-unit properties, the proof that must be submitted, and whether changed dates or hours require new notice.

Hours

No universal filming window

The film section does not publish a universal daily filming window. It allows the reviewing authority to consider late-night filming when deciding whether a permit would unreasonably interfere with the public. Publish only the dates and setup, filming and breakdown hours approved for the particular permit.

Public safety, streets and municipal services

The application says a street closure requires an off-duty police officer. Police, fire, emergency medical, public-works, lifeguard, electrician, parking and other municipal services can create separate costs.

The production must minimize inconvenience and noise and, where practicable, park vehicles off street. Give the City: vehicle count, type and length; requested curb, meter and street footprint; generator and cable locations; traffic and pedestrian-control plan; special effects, flame, smoke or safety activity; estimated cast, crew and background count; and proposed holding, catering and restroom arrangements.

Current published fees

Charge	Published amount or rule
One-time film permit	$500
General filming	$750 per day
Major motion picture shooting for six days or more	$2,500 per day
Expedited application submitted less than 30 working days before filming	$500
Public building	$500
Park or beach	$500
Nonprofit permit	$50
Student permit fee	Exempt; public-location fees may be waived at the City Manager’s discretion
Non-metered street closure	$250 per block, per day
Metered street closure	Formula stated in the application, with a $250 minimum
Damage deposit	At least $500 when required

The current application also publishes hourly rates for police, fire, emergency medical, lifeguard, electrician and public-works services. Those assignments and totals depend on the approved plan and can change. Ask for a current written quote instead of relying on a calculated crew-services total.

For this section, the code defines “major motion picture” as a production financed or distributed by a major motion-picture studio or corporation with an overall budget of at least $2,000,000. The $2,500 daily line is expressly labeled for a major motion picture shooting for six days or more. Do not apply that line based on shoot length alone without confirming that the production meets the full definition.

Get a written all-in quote

The code and application do not make every possible combination of the one-time, daily and public-location charges explicit. Treat the figures above individually and obtain a written all-in estimate from the City for the approved footprint.

Who controls the location?

Location or impact	Starting authority
City beach, boardwalk, park, public building, municipal street, sidewalk, curb or meter	City of Asbury Park film-permit process and the departments assigned during review
Commercial or other private property	Property owner or authorized operator, plus the City permit process where the current code applies
Private residence	Owner permission; ask the City in writing how the current film code applies and obtain approvals for all public impacts
Asbury Park Station or other NJ TRANSIT property	NJ TRANSIT Real Estate Development and Planning commercial-filming process
A station-area parking lot	Confirm the owner of the exact lot; the NJ TRANSIT station page identifies municipal parking in the station area
County or State roadway or property	The agency that owns or controls the exact segment

NJ TRANSIT’s current commercial-filming policy requires its own permit and insurance for commercial filming or photography on NJ TRANSIT property. A City permit does not replace that process.

Practical production planning

Apply earlier than 30 working days when multiple agencies, closures or public-safety assignments are involved.
Ask the City to identify all charges that stack and return one written estimate.
Map ownership of the beach or boardwalk position, venue, curb, lot, station area, basecamp and every equipment location.
Include setup and breakdown in the application, approved hours and resident or business notice.
Scout ocean wind, surf, boardwalk music, seasonal crowds, events, trains and nearby businesses at the intended hour.
Confirm delivery access, vehicle weight or height limitations, generator placement, cable protection and pedestrian clearance.
Obtain a separate signed agreement for every private property.

Documented productions

Ponyboi

The State’s 2022 production list identifies Asbury Park, Bayonne, Kearny and Palisades Park as New Jersey filming municipalities.

Uncle Peckerhead

The State’s 2018 production list identifies Asbury Park and Toms River.

Last Call

The State’s 2019 production list identifies Asbury Park, Bayonne and Rutherford.

Where Is Wendy Williams?

The State’s 2023 production list identifies Asbury Park.

Prior filming documents a past use only. It does not establish current availability, ownership, permission or a current permit price.

Common questions

Is Asbury Park a Film Ready certified community?

Asbury Park does not appear on the State’s current Film Ready certified-localities page as of July 27, 2026. This guide makes no broader claim about its history with the program.

How far ahead should I apply for an Asbury Park film permit?

The current code requires the application at least 30 working days before the first filming date. Filing with less time is treated as expedited and carries a published expedited charge.

How much is an Asbury Park film permit?

The City publishes a $500 one-time permit fee, a $750 general daily filming fee and other location, street and personnel charges. It also publishes a $2,500-per-day category for a major motion picture shooting for six days or more. Because the sources do not make every combination explicit, obtain a written all-in quote.

Does Asbury Park require insurance for filming?

Yes. The code publishes insurance and additional-insured requirements, with different provisions for organizations and individual applicants. Ask the City for its exact current certificate wording.

Does an Asbury Park permit cover the train station?

No. Commercial filming on NJ TRANSIT property requires a separate NJ TRANSIT process. Confirm the owner of an individual station-area lot before assuming which approval applies.

Are filming hours fixed by the Asbury Park film code?

The film section does not publish one universal daily window. The approved production schedule is case-specific, and late-night impact can be considered during permit review.

Official sources

Checked July 27, 2026 against the City’s film page, application, code and NJ TRANSIT policy. Report a correction or updated permit requirement.

Planning a production in New Jersey?

BLL Films provides production support for interviews, commercials, branded content, documentary work and other productions across New Jersey. We can help translate a creative brief into a practical crew, equipment and location plan.

Ask about your New Jersey production

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Reviewed by Sam Moskowitz, producer & director of photography

This guide is researched and reviewed by Sam Moskowitz, a New Jersey-based producer and DP who runs BLL Films. Sam’s production and cinematography credits include work for Netflix, History Channel, Hulu, the NFL and Google. Every changing fact on this page carries a verification date; see how this site is researched for the full process.