Filming in Bayonne, New Jersey
A current guide to Bayonne’s Law Department and police process, published minimum fees, insurance, notices, parking and residential filming limits.
Bayonne’s current public process places the Law Department in the lead under City ordinance and provides a separate Police Department filming package for production activity requiring police coordination, parking and related documents.
Bayonne does not appear on the State’s current Film Ready certified-localities list. The absence of that label does not eliminate the City’s permit process.
Information checked July 24, 2026
- Law Department contact published by Police Department
- Lisa DiLorenzo · ldilorenzo@baynj.org
- Police filming documents email
- eventsadministrator@bayonnepd.org
- Police nonemergency
- 201-858-6900
- Traffic unit
- 201-858-6969
- Extra-duty coordination
- Extra Duty Solutions · 201-422-5966 · BayonneNJ@extradutysolutions.com
- Minimum application timing
- At least seven days before filming
- Film Ready
- Not on the current state certified-localities page
- Residential filming limit
- Ordinarily completed within one-half hour after sunset; specified night work requires approval
- Information checked
- July 24, 2026
Permit and police process
Bayonne’s ordinance covers filming on public and private property and directs the permit through the Mayor or designee. The City’s Police Department filming page identifies the Law Department as the lead and publishes a package that includes:
- Filming questionnaire
- Police permit
- Hold-harmless agreement
- Certificate of insurance
- Identification
- No-parking sign request when needed
Send police-package material to eventsadministrator@bayonnepd.org and coordinate the municipal permit with the published Law Department contact. Apply at least seven days in advance; complex parking, public-safety or night requests should begin earlier.
Published minimum fees
| Item | Published minimum |
|---|---|
| Basic filming permit | $500 per day |
| Additional use of public buildings, parks or other public facilities | $1,000 per day |
| Private-property filming | $50 per day |
The ordinance states these as minimums and allows the final amount to reflect the Law Department’s impact review. Police, fire, emergency medical, parking, maintenance and other services may add costs. A qualifying student or educational production may request a waiver under the ordinance; a waiver is not guaranteed.
Insurance and security
For public-property filming, the ordinance publishes bodily injury liability of at least $1,000,000 per person and $1,000,000 aggregate, property damage liability of at least $1,000,000, statutory workers’ compensation, the City of Bayonne as an additional insured, and indemnification of the City.
For private-property filming, the same coverage is stated and the property owner must also be named as an additional insured.
The Police Department’s current package instructs productions to use this certificate holder: CITY OF BAYONNE, 630 AVENUE C, BAYONNE, NJ 07002, ITS OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES.
The ordinance also requires a minimum $500 cash or security deposit or a minimum $1,000 maintenance bond, subject to increase based on the production.
Hours, notice and parking
The ordinance requires notice to affected residents and businesses at least seven days before filming.
Residential filming must ordinarily be completed within one-half hour after sunset. Filming after that point in the ordinance’s identified R-1, R-2 and R-M residential districts is night shooting and requires approval by the Mayor or designee. This is not a citywide sunset rule for every zoning district, confirm the approved schedule and the zoning classification of your location.
The ordinance allows up to 20 reserved parking spaces and generally limits parking to three consecutive days at one location unless extended. Required signs or meter bags are at the production’s cost and must be posted at least 48 hours before the restricted period.
The Police Department page states that officers are required for film productions handled through that process and routes extra-duty arrangements through Extra Duty Solutions. Obtain staffing and cost details for the exact footprint.
1888 Studios development
The City announced a December 2025 groundbreaking for the future 1888 Studios site at 2 Avenue A. The City described 23 stages on 58 acres and more than one million square feet, while the project’s official website describes a planned 1.6-million-square-foot development. NJEDA announced that Paramount entered a 10-year lease covering more than 285,000 square feet of the future campus.
These figures come from different sources and are kept separate rather than combined. 1888 Studios is a development project; it is not currently open or available for bookings. Check the operator’s official site for any later opening announcement.
Common questions
How much does a Bayonne film permit cost?
The current ordinance publishes minimum charges of $500 per day for a basic permit, $1,000 per day for additional use of public buildings, parks or facilities and $50 per day for private-property filming. The Law Department may set a higher final amount after reviewing the impact, and municipal services can add costs.
How far ahead should a Bayonne film permit be filed?
The ordinance requires the application at least seven days before filming. Begin earlier when the request includes parking, police, public facilities, traffic effects or residential night filming.
How late can a production film in a Bayonne residential area?
The ordinance says residential filming must ordinarily finish within one-half hour after sunset. Specified residential night filming after that point requires approval from the Mayor or designee. The permit should state the approved setup, filming and wrap schedule.
Is 1888 Studios open for bookings?
The cited City, NJEDA and project sources describe a future studio development. They do not establish current availability. Check the studio operator’s official site for any later opening or booking announcement.
Official sources
- OfficialBayonne Police Department filming page
- OfficialBayonne Code, Chapter 4, Section 19
- OfficialCity of Bayonne 1888 Studios groundbreaking announcement
- OfficialNJEDA Paramount Studio Partner announcement
- Reference1888 Studios official site
- OfficialNew Jersey Film Ready certified localities
Checked July 24, 2026 against the City code and Police Department filming page. 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 productionBLL Films may provide crew, equipment or production services when requested.
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.