Town guide

Filming in Red Bank, New Jersey

A production guide to Red Bank’s current filming chapter, its published fees and insurance, and the superseded provisions still attached to the Borough’s older application.

Red Bank combines a riverfront downtown, municipal parks, commercial and residential streets, private venues and an NJ TRANSIT station. Those locations do not share one approval process.

The Borough’s current Chapter 355 controls filming rules. An older application version still circulating contains provisions that the current chapter has since changed or removed, so verify which text you are working from.

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: Red Bank Municipal Clerk
Municipal Clerk: Mary Moss, RMC, CMR
Phone: 732-530-2777 ext. 0257
Clerk’s main line: 732-530-2740
Clerk’s office: 90 Monmouth Street, second floor, Red Bank, NJ 07701
Published office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., office hours, not filming hours
Approving official: Borough Manager or designee
Borough Manager: James Gant · 732-530-2777 ext. 0449
Published normal lead time: Not stated in the current film chapter
Basic permit: $100
Expedited permit: $250
Public facility, park or street-closure use: $750 per facility, per day
Insurance for public land: $1,000,000 bodily injury to one person / $3,000,000 aggregate, plus $1,000,000 property damage per occurrence
Bond: $500 cash or maintenance bond
Notice: Affected businesses and residents in proximity no later than two days before filming
Residential hours: Monday–Friday, 7:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. camera wrap; 10:00 p.m. crew wrap, unless approved otherwise

Which Red Bank rules are current

Do not use the ordinance text attached to the older application

The Borough’s v.2024 Film-Making Permit Application remains useful as a form, but the ordinance copy attached to it contains provisions the current Chapter 355 later changed or removed. Do not rely on a three-consecutive-day limit, a six-days-per-calendar-year location limit, older 7:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. residential hours, superseded notice language, or the former major-production threshold and special major-production provisions.

Those provisions do not match the current code checked July 27, 2026. Use the live Chapter 355 for every rule on this page.

Documented location character

The Borough’s own facility pages document a riverfront downtown with municipal parks including Marine Park and Riverside Gardens Park, a commercial core, residential streets and an NJ TRANSIT station.

These descriptions support visual and planning context. They do not establish current availability, ownership or permission for any venue or property. Confirm the present construction or event status of a park rather than relying on an older project page.

When a permit is required

Chapter 355 requires a permit for commercial motion-picture, television and still-photography activity on public or private property. News coverage and private family use are stated exceptions.

For a production entirely on private property that uses no municipal resources, the current fee section provides that no permit fee is charged. This does not eliminate the permit requirement stated elsewhere in the chapter or the need for owner permission.

Identify every public impact, including vehicles, curb use, meter loss, cables, generators, pedestrian control and public-safety staffing.

Application and lead time

Applications are made through the Municipal Clerk and approved by the Borough Manager or designee.

No ordinary lead time is published

The current chapter does not publish a standard number of days for an ordinary application. It defines an expedited permit as one issued by the close of the third business day after a complete application. That definition is not a normal deadline, and this guide does not convert it into one.

Ask the Clerk how far ahead a standard production should submit; when an application is considered complete; whether department and property approvals must precede filing; what timing applies to police, fire, parking, notice and street review; and whether revised dates or hours require a new filing or amendment. Apply well before the requested dates when the footprint is complex.

Insurance and indemnity

For filming on public land, the current code requires:

At least $1,000,000 bodily-injury coverage for any one person
At least $3,000,000 aggregate bodily-injury coverage
At least $1,000,000 property-damage coverage for each occurrence
A hold-harmless agreement protecting the Borough

Obtain the Borough’s exact current certificate-holder, additional-insured and endorsement instructions before ordering coverage. Do not infer missing certificate wording from another municipality.

Bond

The current code requires a $500 cash or maintenance bond. It provides for return within seven days after filming when the Borough has no damage or cost claim. Confirm the payment method, payee, due date and release process with the Clerk.

Notice

The current code requires notice to businesses and residents affected and in proximity to the location no later than two days before the first filming day. It also says objections may be filed within the next two business days.

Those two periods can overlap

The stated windows can overlap or extend beyond a literal two-day pre-shoot notice. This guide does not devise a schedule. Ask the Borough to approve in writing the recipient area, required text, delivery method, proof of delivery, a deadline that preserves the intended objection period before activity starts, and treatment of changed dates, hours or locations.

Residential hours

For residential areas, current Chapter 355 states: Monday through Friday; activity beginning no earlier than 7:00 a.m.; camera wrap by 9:00 p.m.; crew wrap by 10:00 p.m.; with setup, production and breakdown included.

Work outside those terms may be approved. Obtain the approved setup, camera and final-departure schedule in writing.

This is a residential provision, not a universal window

Do not apply this rule to every nonresidential setting as though it were the Borough’s general filming window. Ask the Clerk what hours will be approved for the exact location.

Fire, electrical and public-safety review

The current code requires Fire Marshal inspection when pyrotechnics are used or a gas-fueled vehicle is operated indoors. A fire-safety professional may be required.

The Borough may also require police, fire or other specialized officials at production cost. When existing electrical power is used and the production does not have an appropriately licensed person on staff, the Borough may require a licensed electrician.

Disclose special effects, weapons, flame, smoke, vehicles indoors, rigging, generators, cable runs and traffic impacts in the initial application.

Current published fees

Charge	Published amount or rule
Basic permit	$100
Expedited permit	$250
Borough building	$750 per facility, per day
Public park	$750 per facility, per day
Street closure	$750 per facility or closure, per day
Entirely private filming with no municipal resources	No permit fee; permit and owner-approval rules still apply
Student production	No permit fee, subject to the code’s school requirements; other production costs can remain
Overnight or Borough parking lot use	At cost
Police, fire and specialized officials	At cost
Bond	$500

No current major-production surcharge

The current chapter defines a major motion-picture production using a $20 million threshold, but the special major-production provisions found in older text were repealed. Do not assume a current major-production surcharge, extended-hours entitlement or day-limit exception.

Obtain a written quote covering the permit, public locations, street or parking use, personnel, lost revenue, services and bond.

Who controls the location?

Location or impact	Starting authority
Borough street, sidewalk, park, public building, curb, meter or municipal lot	Red Bank Municipal Clerk, Borough Manager or designee, and assigned departments
Marine Park or Riverside Gardens Park	Borough permit process plus the department or facility contact assigned by the Borough
Private theater, cinema, restaurant, club, shop, residence, marina or other venue	Owner or authorized representative, plus the Borough permit
Red Bank 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 page identifies separate owners
County or State roadway or property	The agency that owns or controls the exact segment

NJ TRANSIT’s current commercial-filming policy requires a separate permit and insurance for activity on its property.

Practical production planning

Ask the Clerk to confirm the current form, ordinary lead time and governing Chapter 355 version.
Do not use the old day caps, hours, notice language or major-production rules attached to the v.2024 application.
Obtain a Borough-approved notice schedule that preserves the intended objection period.
Map Borough, transit and private boundaries before the tech scout.
Include setup, production and breakdown in the requested schedule.
Provide vehicle sizes, parking and curb counts, generator location, cable crossings and pedestrian-control needs.
Scout trains, traffic, riverfront wind, downtown deliveries, performances, events and public use at the intended hour.
Obtain a signed agreement for every private location.

Documented productions

The Beast in Me

The State’s 2024 production list identifies Red Bank among the New Jersey filming municipalities.

Clerks III

The State’s 2021 annual report says the production used Basie Center Cinemas and Gianni’s Pizza in Red Bank.

Miranda’s Victim

The State’s 2022 annual report identifies the Red Bank Elks Club and the Basie Center among locations that, together with Monmouth University and period vehicles, provided a backdrop for 1960s Phoenix.

Which Brings Me to You

The State’s 2022 production list identifies Red Bank.

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

Common questions

Is Red Bank a Film Ready certified community?

Red Bank 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 earlier program participation.

Which Red Bank film rules should I use?

Use the current live Chapter 355. The ordinance copy attached to the Borough’s v.2024 application contains older provisions that were later changed or removed.

How far ahead should I apply for a Red Bank film permit?

The current film chapter does not publish a normal application deadline. It defines an expedited permit as one issued by the close of the third business day after a complete application. Ask the Clerk for the appropriate filing date for an ordinary production.

How much is a Red Bank film permit?

The current code publishes a $100 basic permit and $250 expedited permit. It publishes $750-per-facility, per-day charges for a Borough building, public park or street closure, plus actual costs for certain parking and municipal personnel.

What are Red Bank’s residential filming hours?

The current code allows residential filming Monday through Friday beginning at 7:00 a.m., with camera wrap by 9:00 p.m. and crew wrap by 10:00 p.m., including setup and breakdown. Work outside those terms requires approval.

Does a Red Bank permit cover the NJ TRANSIT station?

No. Commercial filming on NJ TRANSIT property requires a separate NJ TRANSIT permit and insurance.

Official sources

Checked July 27, 2026 against the live Chapter 355, Borough directories 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

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

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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.