Film Permits in Miami, Miami Beach & Fort Lauderdale (2026)

Check before you shoot. Fees and forms change, and some official pages disagree with each other. We last checked these sources in November 2026. Confirm the current fee and insurance minimums with the film office for your exact address before you budget.

Start with the address

South Florida has several film offices, and the right one depends on the exact address, not the neighborhood name. Brickell, Wynwood and Little Havana are in the City of Miami. Ocean Drive and Lincoln Road are in the City of Miami Beach. Key Biscayne, Coral Gables and other cities may run their own permits or use the county's office. Unincorporated areas and county property go through Miami-Dade County. In Broward, one county office handles most cities.

Where you shoot	Who issues the permit	Permit fee	Insurance
Unincorporated Miami-Dade, county property, several cities	Miami-Dade Office of Film and Entertainment (Film Miami)	$125 per permit per 28 days on its FAQ; $150 on its portal	General liability certificate naming the jurisdiction; $1 million is commonly cited
City of Miami: Downtown, Brickell, Wynwood, Little Havana, Little Haiti	City of Miami Office of Film and Entertainment	Application fee; amount varies by source, confirm with the office	Certificate of insurance and indemnity
Miami Beach	City of Miami Beach Film & Print Office	None; you pay only for services such as meters or off-duty police	Certificate of insurance and an indemnity agreement
Coral Gables	City of Coral Gables	Set by the city	Set by the city
Fort Lauderdale and most of Broward	Broward County film office (Film Lauderdale)	None, except cost recovery for police, closures or facilities	Certificate of insurance; one county guide lists $1 million general liability and $300,000 auto

Miami-Dade County

Miami-Dade's Office of Film and Entertainment, which runs as Film Miami, issues permits for filming on county property and county right-of-way in unincorporated Miami-Dade, and for several cities that let the county permit on their behalf. Its FAQ lists an application fee of $125 per permit per 28 days; the online application portal shows $150. Permit fees are non-refundable.

The office asks for a general liability certificate that names the jurisdiction where you're filming as additionally insured. Since January 7, 2025, permits that need Miami-Dade police also need the Office of the Sheriff named on the certificate. Requests that need sheriff's office personnel should go in at least five full working days before the shoot, and earlier for complex projects. Police coordination runs on weekdays, and off-hours coordination can add a fee.

The county doesn't require a film permit on private property unless the scene uses fake weapons or pyrotechnics. Airports and state roads have separate approvals: stunts or effects on a state road need the Florida Department of Transportation as well.

City of Miami

Downtown, Brickell, Wynwood, Little Havana and Little Haiti are in the City of Miami, which runs its own film office. After you apply, the office emails an invoice and then the permit once it's approved. Published application fees differ between city documents, so ask the office for the current amount. Apply early, especially if you need police or a street closure.

The permit covers the street, not the walls. Wynwood's murals are on private buildings, so if a mural is the backdrop, get the building owner's permission too.

Miami Beach

Miami Beach says it doesn't charge permit fees, square-footage fees or usage fees. Productions pay only for what they use, such as parking meter rentals or off-duty officers. A permit is required for commercial film, video and photography on public property and at residential locations. Most activity inside private, commercially zoned venues such as hotels and restaurants doesn't need one.

Every permit needs an indemnity agreement and a certificate of insurance. Citywide permits cover most streets, beaches and parks and generally don't require a police escort. Applications go through the city's Civic Access portal, and the Film & Print office answers at 305-673-7070 or film@miamibeachfl.gov.

Drones need a separate aerial permit, filed at least five business days before the shoot with the pilot's FAA license and the drone's registration number.

Fort Lauderdale and Broward County

The City of Fort Lauderdale says all film permits in the city and the county are processed by Broward County's film office, Film Lauderdale. The office permits county property, including parks, buildings, roads, bridges and parking facilities, and acts for most of Broward's 31 cities.

There are no film permit fees in Broward, except cost recovery for services such as police details, road closures or facility rentals. A certificate of insurance is usually required; one county guide lists minimums of $1,000,000 in general liability and $300,000 in auto liability, with more for larger shoots. Applications are reviewed in one to two business days. Filming at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International or North Perry airport needs approval from the airport as well. The office is at 954-357-8788 and film@broward.org.

Famous private locations

Private venues set their own rules and prices. Vizcaya Museum & Gardens, for example, lists small commercial photo shoots at $3,500 plus tax and a commercial film day at $25,000 plus tax, and asks for a written request at least 30 days ahead. Hotels, rooftops and restaurants usually charge a location fee and ask for a certificate of insurance.

Drones

Any commercial drone flight needs a pilot with an FAA Part 107 certificate. Much of Miami, including Downtown, Brickell and Miami Beach, is near Miami International and other airports, so the pilot also needs an airspace authorization before takeoff. Add the city's aerial permit where one is required.

A permit checklist for your shoot

Confirm the jurisdiction for every address on the call sheet.
Get a certificate of insurance naming each jurisdiction, and the sheriff's office if police are involved.
Apply at least five business days ahead, and 30 days ahead for complex shoots or venues like Vizcaya.
Get written permission from private owners, including for murals.
Book off-duty police if you're affecting traffic or using a road.
File the drone paperwork separately.
Keep the permit on set. Officers and residents will ask to see it.

In Palm Beach County, including Boca Raton and West Palm Beach, start with the Palm Beach County Film and Television Commission, which handles film permits for the county and points you to the right city office.

When you book a shoot with us, we check the jurisdiction for every location and add permit fees, and short-term production insurance when a location asks for it, to the quote at cost.

Questions we get

Do I need a permit to film in Miami?

For commercial filming on public property, such as streets, sidewalks, beaches, parks and causeways, yes. For most shoots inside a private business you need the owner's permission rather than a city permit. Miami-Dade County says it doesn't require a permit on private property unless the scene uses fake weapons or pyrotechnics.

How much does a film permit cost in Miami?

Miami Beach and Broward County don't charge permit fees, only for services you use, such as off-duty police or parking meters. Miami-Dade County's film office lists an application fee of $125 per permit per 28 days, and its online portal shows $150. The City of Miami charges its own application fee. Confirm the current amount with each office before you budget.

How far ahead should I apply?

At least five business days for most permits, and more if you need police, road closures or a drone. Broward reviews applications in one to two business days. Vizcaya asks for 30 days.

Do I need a permit to fly a drone for a shoot?

Commercial drone flights need an FAA Part 107 certificate, and much of Miami sits in controlled airspace, which needs an airspace authorization. Miami Beach also requires its own aerial permit, filed at least five business days ahead with the pilot's FAA license and drone registration.

Film permits in Miami-Dade, Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale