Filming in Union City, New Jersey

Who issues the permit, and who actually decides

The permit comes from the office of the City Clerk, but the Clerk is not the decision-maker. Under § 166-3A no permit issues unless it is applied for at least five days in advance and approved by the Director of Public Safety or a designee, and § 166-4A makes the Chief of Police responsible for reviewing every application and providing a recommendation.

The five-day period may be waived by the Director of Public Safety or a designee where there is sufficient cause and no undue interference with property owners or tenants, residential or commercial. That is a genuine waiver written into the text, which is less common than it sounds — the neighboring Weehawken ordinance has none.

Fees, and why Chapter 166 does not state them

Chapter 166 sets no amounts. § 166-2B and § 166-2C both say the fee is “in the amount set forth in Chapter 155, Fees”. Chapter 155 carries the two figures:

Read the structure carefully, because it is unusual. One $100 fee buys up to five days of filming under § 166-2C, and each further three-day block is $50. A ten-day shoot is $100 plus two blocks, not ten day rates. Compare Hoboken, where a commercial is charged per day at the Major tier.

The bond is an alternative, not a total: § 166-3D says a cash bond of $500 or a maintenance bond of $1,000. It is returned within seven days of completion if no damage to public property or public expense was caused. If the cost of putting public property right exceeds the bond, the permit holder is liable for the excess, and the application itself records that agreement.

Insurance and indemnity

§ 166-3B requires each application to include proof of insurance covering:

• Auto liability
• General liability of $1,000,000
• Property damage of $500,000

§ 166-3C requires an agreement to indemnify and hold the City harmless from any and all liability, expense, claims or damages resulting from the use of public land.

The ordinance does not specify how the City is to be named on the policy, nor whether the general liability figure is per occurrence or in the aggregate. Ask the Clerk what certificate wording is accepted before your broker issues it.

Police, traffic and hours

§ 166-4A puts the police question in the Chief’s hands and the cost in yours. The Chief reviews each application and determines whether the shoot’s impact on vehicular and pedestrian traffic requires a police presence. Where it does, the applicant hires an off-duty Union City police officer, so that the City does not bear additional personnel costs.

§ 166-4B adds the usual obligation once the permit issues: take all reasonable steps to minimize interference with the free passage of pedestrians and traffic over public lands, and comply with all lawful directives of the Union City Police Department.

Hours are set by § 166-5. Filming may not begin before 7:00 a.m. or continue after 10:00 p.m. without the express approval of the Director of Public Safety, who must first receive assurances from the Chief of Police that there will be no adverse impact on any resident or business.

There is no separate residential curfew and no weekday restriction in Chapter 166. That makes Union City more flexible on scheduling than Weehawken, which permits filming Monday to Friday only.

What the permit covers, and what happens if the weather turns

• Up to five days of indoor or outdoor filming per permit, by specific reference to the day or dates (§ 166-2A, § 166-2C).
• The permit must set out the approved location and be readily available for inspection by City officials at all times at the filming site.
• Chapter 166 applies to filming on public property within the City (§ 166-2A). “Public lands” is defined in § 166-1 as every public street, highway, sidewalk, square, park, playground or other public place within the City’s jurisdiction and control.
• Weather and good cause (§ 166-2D). If filming does not take place on the specified dates because of inclement weather or other good cause, the City Clerk — after authorization from the Director of Public Safety or a designee — may issue a new permit for other dates, subject to full compliance with the rest of the chapter.

§ 166-1 defines filming as taking still or motion pictures for commercial or educational purposes intended for viewing on television, in theaters or for institutional use, and expressly excludes the filming of news stories. “Motion picture” is defined separately and broadly enough to cover documentaries, commercial advertising, movies, music videos and television series financed or distributed by a studio, an independent filmmaker, or cable or network television.

Penalties under § 166-6 are the steepest of the three Hudson waterfront ordinances on this site: a fine of up to $1,000 per day, or imprisonment for up to 90 days, or both, with each day treated as a separate offense.

Practical production planning

• Budget $100 plus the bond, then add $50 per three-day block beyond day five. Confirm both figures with the Clerk, since they live in the fee chapter and can be amended without touching Chapter 166.
• Decide cash bond or maintenance bond before you apply, and know which your production insurer or completion bond provider will actually issue.
• Ask the Chief of Police about officer requirements early. It is a per-application determination, and you are hiring the officers.
• Five days in advance is the published floor and it is waivable, but do not plan on the waiver — it is written as discretionary and conditioned on there being no undue interference with residents or tenants.
• Ask for the Film Advisory Commission’s current application rules in writing. They are not published, and they are the part of this process that can surprise you.
• The 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. window is generous by Hudson County standards, and it is the same window whether you are in a residential or commercial block.
• One permit, one approved location and one set of dates. Confirm how the City handles a multi-location day before you assume one filing covers it.

Common questions

How much does a film permit cost in Union City, NJ?

A $100 application fee, set out in Chapter 155 of the City Code, covers up to five days of indoor or outdoor filming. Each three-day period after the initial five days is a further $50. A bond is also required: either $500 in cash or a $1,000 maintenance bond, returned within seven days of completion if no damage to public property or public expense was caused.

How far in advance do I apply for a Union City film permit?

At least five days before the day of shooting, under § 166-3A. The Director of Public Safety or a designee may waive that period where there is sufficient cause and there will be no undue interference with any property owners or tenants, residential or commercial. The waiver is discretionary.

How long does a Union City film permit last?

Up to five days, indoor or outdoor, by specific reference to the day or dates (§ 166-2A and § 166-2C). Beyond five days, an additional fee applies for every three-day period thereafter. The permit must state the approved location and be available for inspection by City officials at all times at the filming site.

What insurance does Union City require for filming?

Under § 166-3B, proof of auto liability, general liability of $1,000,000 and property damage of $500,000. § 166-3C also requires an agreement to indemnify and hold the City harmless from any liability, expense, claim or damage resulting from the use of public land. The ordinance does not specify certificate wording, so confirm what the Clerk accepts before your broker issues it.

Do I have to hire police for a shoot in Union City?

Sometimes, and it is not your decision. § 166-4A makes the Chief of Police responsible for reviewing each application and determining whether the shoot's impact on vehicular and pedestrian traffic requires a police presence. Where it does, the applicant must hire an off-duty Union City police officer so the City does not bear the personnel cost.

What hours can I film in Union City?

Filming may not commence before 7:00 a.m. or continue after 10:00 p.m. without the express approval of the Director of Public Safety, who must first receive assurances from the Chief of Police that there will be no adverse impact on any resident or business (§ 166-5). Chapter 166 sets no weekday-only restriction and no separate residential curfew.

Is Union City a Film Ready certified community?

No. Union City does not appear on the New Jersey Motion Picture & Television Commission’s current certified-localities list, checked September 17, 2026. Take care with search results here: Union Township in Union County and Union County itself are both on that list, and neither is Union City in Hudson County.

Who do I contact about filming in Union City?

The Office of the City Clerk, City of Union City, 3715 Palisade Avenue, Union City, NJ 07087. Applications are obtained from and filed with the Clerk during normal business hours. Ask at the same time for the current application rules developed under § 166-2E by the Chairperson of the Union City Film Advisory Commission, which are not published online.

Official sources

• OfficialCity of Union City Code Chapter 166, Filming (Ord. No. 1999-6)
• OfficialCity of Union City Code Chapter 155, Fees — filming application fee and extension fee
• MunicipalCity of Union City, contact and City Hall address
• MunicipalCity of Union City film permit application form (posted as a scanned image with no machine-readable text; cited as existing, not relied on for content)
• OfficialNJMPTVC Film Ready certified-localities list, checked September 17, 2026

Chapter 166 and the Chapter 155 filming fee lines were read in full on September 17, 2026. Film Ready status was checked against the State certified-localities list the same day. The application rules developed under § 166-2E are not published and were not reviewed. Municipal requirements, fees and staffing change; confirm with the City before relying on any figure. Report a correction or updated permit requirement.

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