Filming in Montclair, New Jersey

Documented location character

Montclair’s official Historic Design Guidelines support these page descriptions:

• Four locally designated commercial historic districts: Town Center, Upper Montclair, Pine Street and Watchung Plaza
• Town Center commercial buildings generally one to three stories, using materials including brick, stone and terra cotta
• Late-19th- and early-20th-century commercial architecture in multiple styles
• Upper Montclair’s two- and three-story commercial structures along Valley Road and Bellevue Avenue
• Watchung Plaza’s early-20th-century shopping and transportation setting, including Tudor Revival architecture

Essex County separately describes Eagle Rock Reservation as a park of more than 400 acres between West Orange, Montclair and Verona, with New York City skyline views. It is county property, not a municipal Montclair park.

When a permit is required

Chapter 140 requires a permit before filming on public or private land in Montclair. The permit states the approved location and specific dates and must remain available for Township inspection at the filming site. News-story filming is excluded from the chapter’s definition.

The ordinance generally limits a permit to no more than three consecutive days at one location, and no more than six days at one location in a calendar year. Those limits may be extended only for a production meeting the code’s major-motion-picture definition and with Township Manager approval.

Application and lead time

The code says a permit must be applied for prior to five days before filming. The current official form gives a clearer calculation: the $500 expedited fee applies when an application arrives fewer than six full business days before filming, and day one is the first business day after receipt.

The form says the completed application and insurance certificate go to the Clerk’s Office.

Insurance and indemnity

The current application requires:

• $1,000,000 general liability
• Township of Montclair named as an additional insured
• $500,000 bodily injury per person
• $300,000 property damage

The code also requires written indemnification for public-land use. Obtain the current certificate-holder wording from the Clerk before issuance.

Bond

The code requires $500 cash or a $500 maintenance bond for public-land filming. It says the bond is returned within 21 days after filming if no public-property damage or public expense occurred.

Residential hours

Filming in residential zones is permitted Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. The code includes setup, production and breakdown within those hours. Night scenes require approval in the permit or a Manager waiver.

Notice

Businesses, merchants and residents directly involved or affected must receive written notice at least three days before filming. Proof of service to adjacent owners must be submitted to the Municipal Clerk within two days of the requested shooting date.

The current form repeats the three-day notice requirement and says the notice must explain that objections may be filed with the Clerk.

Police, fire and electrical coordination

Chapter 140 requires an off-duty Montclair police officer for the times stated in the permit. The current form says police are required unless the Police Chief or designee determines otherwise. Use the current form’s contacts:

• Police Traffic Bureau: 973-509-4752
• Fire Department: 973-509-4769 for open flames, propane, portable generators and related review

The code permits additional patrol officers when traffic may be impeded and may require a licensed electrician when existing electrical lines are used.

Current fees

The code’s major category includes a budget of at least $5 million or recurrent weekly television programming. Police, fire, parking, public-property repair, lost revenue and other costs may be additional.

Weather dates

When an approved shoot does not occur because of inclement weather or other good cause, the Clerk may issue a new permit for replacement dates without another permit fee, subject to full compliance with the chapter. Confirm service and location charges separately.

Who controls the location?

The guide must not imply that Montclair State University has a general open filming policy. No current public general commercial-filming policy was located during this research; contact the University for the appropriate written process.

Practical production planning

• File earlier than the six-business-day operational threshold for a meaningful footprint.
• Check whether the address is in a local historic district before proposing exterior dressing or temporary changes.
• Separate Township, Essex County, NJ TRANSIT, university and private approvals.
• Include setup and breakdown within the residential-hours calculation.
• Identify prop weapons, first-responder uniforms, stunts, flames, propane and generators at the start.
• Map trucks, generators, passenger vans, crew parking and basecamp before the tech scout.
• Scout train, road, aircraft, retail, school and neighborhood sound at the intended hour.

Documented productions

A production credit confirms prior filming only. It does not establish present availability or approval.

Common questions

Official sources

• OfficialNJ Motion Picture & Television Commission, current Film Ready certified-localities list
• OfficialMontclair Code, Chapter 140 Filming
• OfficialMontclair online filming page
• OfficialMontclair current filming application
• OfficialMontclair Office of the Township Clerk
• OfficialMontclair Historic Design Guidelines
• OfficialMontclair municipal parks and facilities
• OfficialEssex County, Eagle Rock Reservation
• OfficialEssex County park filming permits
• OfficialNJ TRANSIT commercial filming and photography policy
• OfficialMontclair State University
• OfficialNJ Motion Picture & Television Commission, 2019 Annual Report
• OfficialNJ Motion Picture & Television Commission, 2023 Annual Report

Checked July 26, 2026 against the Township’s official code, form and Essex County pages. 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.

BLL Films may provide crew, equipment or production services when requested.

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