Filming in Leonia, New Jersey
A production guide to Leonia’s Chapter 126 permit, its published fees, insurance and bond, and the notice timing that runs ahead of the standard application cutoff.
Leonia’s official Film Ready location library documents tree-lined residential streets, varied house styles, an older central business district, municipal parks and terrain ranging from hills and woods to riverbank settings. The Borough publishes a current filming chapter, Clerk contact and amended fee structure.
The procedure contains two points that require written confirmation: affected-party notice is due earlier than the standard application cutoff, and the daily-fee table does not classify a budget of exactly $20 million.
Information checked July 24, 2026
- County
- Bergen County
- Film Ready treatment
- Film Ready certified locality
- Municipal starting point
- Leonia Borough Clerk
- Borough Clerk
- Jonathan Mandel
- Clerk phone
- 201-592-5780 ext. 264
- Clerk email
- jmandel@leonianj.gov
- Borough Administrator
- Marisa Mesropian
- Administrator phone
- 201-592-5780 ext. 222
- Administrator email
- mmesropian@leonianj.gov
- Office
- Borough Hall, 312 Broad Avenue, Second Floor, Leonia, NJ 07605
- Clerk hours
- Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Tuesday, 8:30 a.m.–7:00 p.m.; Friday, 8:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m., office hours, not filming hours
- Controlling law
- Chapter 126, amended February 19 and April 7, 2025
- Basic permit
- $75
- Expedited permit
- $125 when the Administrator waives the standard filing period
- Daily filming fee
- $150 for a production budget below $20 million; $500 for a budget above $20 million
- Exactly $20 million
- Not classified by the published daily-fee rows
- Major motion picture
- Includes a qualifying major studio or a production budget of at least $5 million; also includes recurrent weekly television
- Residential hours
- Monday–Friday, 7:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m., including setup, production and breakdown; night-scene waiver available
- Insurance for public-land filming
- $500,000 per person / $1 million aggregate bodily injury; $300,000 property damage
- Security for public-land filming
- $500 cash or maintenance bond
- Affected-party notice
- At least seven days before filming; proof described as due within five days of the filming date
Documented location and jurisdiction character
The Borough’s official Film Ready location library documents:
- Dutch Colonial, Colonial Revival, Tudor, Craftsman, modern and garden-apartment residential looks
- A central business district with pre-1950s commercial character
- Municipal parks, sports areas and nature settings
- Hilly and flat terrain, woods and riverbank settings
The Borough overview describes Leonia as a historic, walkable community with tree-lined streets, a central business district and proximity to Overpeck County Park. The Recreation Department identifies Wood Park as a municipal recreation facility. Overpeck County Park is a separate Bergen County property of more than 805 acres with fields, trails, water access and the Bergen County Equestrian Center.
These official materials support location categories only. They do not establish present availability, interior access, owner consent, event conflicts, parking capacity or permission to film.
When a Borough permit is required
Chapter 126 requires a Borough filming permit for motion-picture, television and similar production activity on public or private property in Leonia.
A Borough permit does not replace written private-owner permission; Bergen County approval for County property; State, utility, institutional or other agency approval; or separate fire, police, road, electrical or safety authorization when directed.
Application and timing
The standard application must be filed more than four days before the requested filming date. The Borough Administrator may waive that period; the expedited permit fee is $125.
Affected businesses and residents must receive written notice at least seven days before filming, while the standard application category is more than four days out. The code also describes proof of notice as due “within five days of” the filming date. Because the notice requirement precedes the standard filing category, contact the Clerk before distributing notice.
Ask the Borough to confirm the complete application package; whether days are calendar or business days; the affected-party area and recipient list; required notice text and delivery method; the meaning of “within five days” for proof; and when the application is considered complete.
Residential filming hours
Residential filming is permitted Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. The published window includes setup, production and breakdown. The Borough Administrator may waive the hours for night scenes; obtain the waiver before scheduling work outside the published window.
The checked chapter does not publish the same fixed window as a universal rule for every nonresidential location. Put all working, setup and breakdown hours in the permit application.
Major-production duration
Chapter 126 limits a major motion picture to no more than six days of filming. Setup activity may count toward that limit.
The chapter’s major-motion-picture definition includes a production produced or distributed by specified major studios or comparable qualifying companies; a production budget of at least $5 million; or recurrent weekly television programming.
Do not substitute the $20 million daily-fee threshold for this separate $5 million major-production definition.
Insurance, indemnity, bond and public safety
For public-land filming, Chapter 126 publishes:
- $500,000 bodily-injury coverage for one person
- $1,000,000 aggregate bodily-injury coverage
- $300,000 property-damage coverage
- Borough named as additional insured
- Written indemnification
- $500 cash or maintenance bond
- An off-duty Leonia police officer during the permit period
- Fire Prevention or Fire Department personnel if the Fire Marshal requires them
The code describes bond return within seven days when the property is left in satisfactory condition. The Borough may require additional patrol personnel at the applicant’s expense, and may require an electrician when existing electrical lines are used and the production does not have an appropriately licensed electrician on staff.
Because these fixed insurance, bond and officer terms appear in the public-land subsection, ask the Borough what applies to an entirely private-property production, and what applies when a private shoot uses a street, sidewalk, curb, parking space or other public asset.
Current published fees
| Charge | Current published amount |
|---|---|
| Basic filming permit | $75 |
| Expedited permit | $125 |
| Daily fee, budget below $20 million | $150/day |
| Daily fee, budget above $20 million | $500/day |
| Daily fee, budget exactly $20 million | Not classified in the published table |
| Public-land cash or maintenance bond | $500 |
| Police, fire, electrical, property, parking or road services | Obtain a written quote |
The published rows do not state which daily fee applies at exactly $20 million, and they do not fully state how the application fee, daily fee and personnel or property charges combine. Obtain an itemized written quote.
Who controls the location?
| Location or impact | Starting authority |
|---|---|
| Borough street, sidewalk, municipal building, Wood Park or other Borough property | Leonia Borough Clerk and assigned departments |
| Private residence, apartment, business, restaurant, office or lot | Owner or authorized representative, plus Borough permit |
| Overpeck County Park or Bergen County Equestrian Center | Bergen County Film & Television Office and controlling County department |
| County road or facility | Bergen County |
| School property | Leonia Public Schools or the controlling school entity |
| Utility, State, institutional or other public property | Controlling entity |
The Bergen County Film & Television Office publishes a separate County approval route, BCFilmOffice@bergencountynj.gov, 201-336-7325, and a minimum $1 million insurance requirement for County facilities. Confirm the current application, exact endorsement and department-specific conditions directly with the County.
Practical production planning
- Contact the Clerk more than seven days before filming so notice can be completed lawfully.
- Ask the Borough to classify an exactly-$20-million budget in writing.
- Keep the $5 million major-production definition separate from the $20 million fee threshold.
- Identify every public asset used by a private-property shoot.
- Ask whether the fixed public-land insurance, bond and officer requirements apply to the proposed footprint.
- Include setup and breakdown in the residential 7:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. window.
- Obtain an approved waiver before scheduling a residential night scene.
- Ask whether setup counts toward the six-day major-production limit for the specific plan.
- Coordinate separately with Bergen County for Overpeck County Park or the Equestrian Center.
- Obtain an itemized quote for police, fire, electrical, road, parking and property use.
Documented productions
The Adventures of Pete & Pete
The Borough’s official production history says the series was filmed largely in Leonia and identifies Vreeland Avenue exteriors.
The Sopranos
The Borough’s official history records 2002 exterior filming at Overpeck County Park and the Bergen County Equestrian Center.
The Accompanist
The Borough identifies a Glenwood Avenue house as a 2024 filming location, and the State’s 2024 production list includes Leonia among the municipalities used.
Lorna Shore music-video production
The Borough’s official history records 2025 filming at Wood Park and other Leonia locations.
Prior filming documents a past use only. It does not establish current availability, ownership, permission or price.
Common questions
Is Leonia Film Ready certified?
Yes. Leonia appears on the State’s current Film Ready certified-localities list.
How far ahead should a production apply?
Chapter 126’s standard category says more than four days before filming, but written notice to affected businesses and residents is due at least seven days before filming. Contact the Clerk and file more than seven days ahead.
What hours may a production film in a residential area?
Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., including setup, production and breakdown. The Borough Administrator may approve a waiver for night scenes.
What insurance does Leonia require?
For public-land filming, the chapter publishes $500,000 bodily injury per person, $1 million aggregate and $300,000 property damage, with the Borough named as additional insured. Ask the Borough for the current certificate and endorsement wording.
Which daily fee applies at a $20 million budget?
The current table publishes $150 below $20 million and $500 above $20 million, leaving exactly $20 million unclassified. Obtain the Borough’s written determination.
Does a Leonia permit cover Overpeck County Park?
No assumption should be made. Overpeck is Bergen County property and has a separate County filming route. Coordinate with the Bergen County Film & Television Office.
Does filming in Leonia automatically qualify for the New Jersey film tax credit?
No. A location alone does not establish eligibility. Production type, qualified spend and the current NJEDA program rules determine treatment. Confirm incentive questions with NJEDA and qualified advisers.
Official sources
- OfficialBorough of Leonia, Mayor’s Advisory Committee on TV & Movie Productions
- OfficialBorough of Leonia, Film Ready Leonia location library
- OfficialBorough of Leonia Code, Chapter 126, Filming
- OfficialBorough of Leonia Code, § 126-5, Hours and fees
- OfficialBorough of Leonia, Borough Clerk and Records
- OfficialBorough of Leonia, Employee Directory
- OfficialBorough of Leonia, Overview
- OfficialBorough of Leonia, Parks
- OfficialBergen County, Overpeck County Park
- OfficialBergen County Film & Television Office
- OfficialNJ Motion Picture & Television Commission, current Film Ready certified localities
- OfficialNJ Motion Picture & Television Commission, 2024 Annual Report
Checked July 29, 2026 against Chapter 126 as amended in 2025, the Borough’s Film Ready library and Bergen County pages. Report a correction or updated permit requirement.
Planning a production in New Jersey?
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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.