General Information
The City of Lynchburg welcomes groups and organizations wishing to film and set up photo shoots in Lynchburg. Lynchburg offers a wide variety of locations and atmospheres, impressive and diverse architecture and beautiful scenery that make it suitable as a filming location for big and small screen.
The City’s Office of Economic Development & Tourism (OEDT), with the authority of the City Manager, coordinates the processing of all permit applications and provides guidance for securing City services and personnel required for filming activities. Please read all of the following before applying for permission/permit:
The Economic Development & Tourism office is entrusted with interpreting and upholding the City’s Filming Guidelines in the issuance of Filming Permits. Our decisions reflect an attempt to balance the needs of filmmakers with the needs and expectations of businesses, residents and the public interest, and to arrive at solutions that are favorable to everyone.
Whether or not you need permits from the City to film or take photos in Lynchburg depends on where you would like to film. All groups or organizations interested in filming or taking photos for commercial purposes in Lynchburg on public property must get permission from the Office of Economic Development & Tourism.
Based on the information you provide, and our adopted policies and ordinances, the OEDT will determine if you need any permits. Additionally, we will determine whether or not the City will need any additional information for permitting. For example, if you will be posting any signs (including small, directional signs) you may need to submit a Temporary Sign Permit Application.
The City’s Office of Economic Development & Tourism coordinates the permit process for those filming on location within the City’s limits. Securing required services such as insurance, police and fire protection, barricades and street shut down will be the responsibility of the applicant.
To submit your request, complete this online form and someone will contact you within 10 working days.
Film Permit Process
- A film permit application form is required for any filming activity taking place within Lynchburg’s city limits, whether on public or private property.
- For filming entirely contained on private property you need to fill out the top portion of the form, click “Private Property”, then sign the bottom of the form. This is to inform the Lynchburg Police Department and Emergency Services in case of neighbor complaints.
- Applications must be submitted to OEDT at least 30 days prior to the intended commencement of filming activities. This period may be shortened if, at the discretion of the OEDT, the desired filming activities are limited in scope or location, and the application can be processed within a shorter time period.
- A permit shall not be required for news coverage of contemporaneous events.
- If you are filming in a residential district the hours of operation are limited to 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. due to the City of Lynchburg Noise Ordinance.
- If you film project involves the use of city owned parking spaces/facilities or the interruption of traffic flow, please view these Addendum Guidelines before continuing.
Permit Requirement
Persons desiring to engage in filming activities on or in streets, parks or other public places are required to have a permit issued by the City of Lynchburg, except when a permit shall not be required for news coverage of contemporaneous events.
Although every reasonable attempt will be made to accommodate reasonable filming requests, there are certain conditions that may preclude the issuance of a permit. These include:
- When filming activities will substantially interrupt the safe and orderly movement of traffic contiguous to the filming site, or in or through the public place used for desired filming activities, and public traffic needs cannot be accommodated reasonably by temporary re-routing; and/or
- When its size or the nature of the filming activities will require the diversion of so great a number of police officers and/or other personnel of the City to properly police the film site or provide other services that normally required police or City obligations are impaired; and/or
- When the concentration of persons and vehicles at the filming site and surrounding areas will unduly interfere with proper fire and police protection of, or ambulance service to, locations contiguous to such areas; and/or
- When the filming will interfere with the movement of firefighting equipment en route to a fire.
- If it is determined other permits are needed, the film request contact must apply and secure the necessary permits.
- Contact information will be given upon approval.
- If it is determined an insurance rider is required, the film request contact must secure this rider. Contact information will be given upon approval.
IMPORTANT: The City of Lynchburg does NOT allow the use of real or fake firearms or explosives on public property.
The use of Drones for filming must follow the Federal Aviation Association rules and regulations.
Questions? Contact:
Krista Boothby, Marketing & Public Relations Coordinator
Lynchburg Office of Economic Development & Tourism
krista.boothby@lynchburgva.gov
(434) 485-7269