Filming in Newark, New Jersey
Current contacts and a practical path through Newark’s film permit, public-property, insurance and departmental requirements.
Newark operates a dedicated Office of Film and Television that acts as the City’s liaison for productions. The City’s published process covers municipal permits and coordination, while parks, schools, street operations, public safety, private properties and other agencies can require separate approvals.
Newark is a Film Ready certified municipality. Start with the film office before contacting individual departments so the production’s location, footprint and schedule can be routed correctly.
Information checked July 24, 2026
- Primary contact
- Desireè Hadley, Executive Director, Newark Office of Film and Television
- Direct email
- hadleyd@ci.newark.nj.us
- Direct phone
- 973-468-8569
- General film email
- filmnewark@ci.newark.nj.us
- General phone
- 973-733-8004
- Office
- NJPAC, 1 Center Street, Tier 1 Salon H, Newark, NJ 07102
- Published office hours
- 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m., these are office hours, not a filming window
- Application portal
- Eproval special-permit portal
- Film Ready
- Yes, on the current New Jersey certified-localities list
- Minimum lead time
- At least 20 days before filming
- Information checked
- July 24, 2026
Permit path
Newark’s film guide says filming on public property requires a permit through the City’s Eproval portal. The guide directs productions to apply at least 20 days before filming.
For private property, obtain a signed owner letter. When public property is used, the production may also need a location license agreement. A film permit does not replace engineering, police, fire, parking, park, school or property-owner approvals.
Application checklist
Build the submission around the complete operational footprint:
- Exact locations and ownership
- Prep, filming and strike dates and hours
- Cast and crew count
- Production and personal vehicles
- Parking and meter requests
- Sidewalk, lane or street effects
- Lifts, condors and special equipment
- Stunts, prop weapons, emergency vehicles, fire or pyrotechnics
- Basecamp, catering and holding
- Resident and merchant notifications
- Insurance certificate and additional-insured endorsement
- Private owner letters and public-property license agreements where applicable
Newark’s guide states that an interdepartmental meeting is required. Do not plan around departmental approval before that review.
Insurance
Newark’s published guide requires insurance for filming on public and private property. It lists:
- Bodily injury: $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate.
- Property damage: $300,000.
- The City of Newark named on the certificate.
- A separate additional-insured endorsement.
- Certificate holder: City of Newark, 920 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102.
Obtain the film office’s current certificate and endorsement wording before ordering coverage.
Fees and services
The current film-office guide does not publish one complete schedule of Newark film-permit fees. Permit, property, police, fire, parking, engineering and other operational costs can depend on the request. Newark filming is not free, and there is no standard daily figure to budget from. Request a written estimate from the film office after submitting the full footprint.
Timing, notices and hours
- File the film-permit request at least 20 days before filming.
- The guide calls for no-parking signs and notices to affected residents at least five days in advance.
- Major thoroughfare intermittent traffic control is considered only on Sundays and is not guaranteed.
- Obtain the approved setup, shooting, strike and parking times in writing.
The published 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. schedule is the film office’s business schedule. It is not a citywide filming-hours rule, and it does not authorize or restrict production activity by itself.
Department contacts published by the City
Use these only for the functions shown, and continue coordinating through the film office:
| Function | Published contact |
|---|---|
| City film liaison | Desireè Hadley · hadleyd@ci.newark.nj.us · 973-468-8569 |
| Parks | Quatisha Bronson · Bronsonq@ci.newark.nj.us · 973-733-6454 |
| Downtown parks questions | Marcy Depina · depinam@ci.newark.nj.us |
| Newark public schools | Begin with Facilitron; the guide also lists Nancy Deering · NDeering@nps.k12.nj.us |
| Fire, open flame and pyrotechnics | Yvonne Bass · 973-733-7495 · Gwendolyn Bullock-Saleem · Saleemg@ci.newark.nj.us |
| Hydrant requests | 973-733-8151 · 239 Central Avenue |
| Streetlights | Richard Fernandez · Fernandezri@ci.newark.nj.us |
| Police coordination | Sgt. Taibu Thomas · thomast@ci.newark.nj.us · edanpd@ci.newark.nj.us |
| Parking meters | Jenean Shiggs · 862-339-6870 · Jshiggs@newarkparking.org |
Staff assignments change. If an individual mailbox does not respond, go back to the Newark film office.
Operational cautions
- Blocking a sidewalk or road, requesting a closure or using a lift, condor or other specified equipment can require an Engineering permit.
- Exterior scenes, traffic effects, stunts and other listed activities can require Newark Police support.
- The City’s guide says prop weapons must be examined by a police officer.
- Open flame and pyrotechnics require fire coordination.
- A Newark permit does not authorize NJ Transit, Port Authority, county, state, federal, school or privately controlled property.
Documented production activity
Newark’s official film-office site lists productions including The Best Man: The Final Chapters, Wu-Tang: An American Saga, Law & Order: Organized Crime, The Perfect Find, The Equalizer, FBI: Most Wanted, Bros, House Hunters, American Sports Story: Gladiator, The Real Housewives of New Jersey and The Walking Dead.
These are titles identified by Newark’s own film office. They do not indicate that a particular building, scene or location is available now.
Common questions
Who handles film permits in Newark?
The Newark Office of Film and Television is the City’s production liaison. Its published executive director is Desireè Hadley, reachable at hadleyd@ci.newark.nj.us or 973-468-8569. The general office email is filmnewark@ci.newark.nj.us.
How far ahead should a Newark film permit be filed?
Newark’s current film guide directs productions to apply through Eproval at least 20 days before filming. Complex public-safety, traffic, park, school or property requests should begin earlier.
What does a Newark film permit cost?
The current official guide does not publish one comprehensive standard fee table. Costs can depend on the permit, location, parking, police, fire, engineering and other services. Obtain a written estimate from the film office.
Does Newark publish standard filming hours?
The film office publishes business hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., but the current guide reviewed here does not establish those times as a citywide filming window. Ask for approved production hours by location.
Official sources
- OfficialNewark Office of Film and Television
- OfficialNewark film-office about page
- OfficialNewark film-office contact page
- OfficialNewark filming permit guide
- OfficialNewark special-permit portal
- OfficialNew Jersey Film Ready certified localities
Checked July 24, 2026 against the official Newark film-office 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.
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.