Guide · Locations
The best music video locations in Miami and Fort Lauderdale
Miami gives you neon Art Deco, murals, skyline rooftops, beaches and causeways within a 30-minute drive. Here's what each location looks like on camera, what it needs, and when to shoot it.
How to choose a location
Pick the location from the song, not from a list. A slow R&B track wants warm, close light and room for the artist; a club record wants movement, neon and crowds; a ballad wants space and a horizon. Then check three things: who issues the permit, when the light is right, and how busy it gets.
Miami Beach
Ocean Drive and the Art Deco district. Pastel facades by day and neon at night: the most recognizable backdrop in Miami. Weeknights after 10 pm are calmer than weekends. Permits come from the City of Miami Beach, which doesn't charge permit fees but asks for insurance and an indemnity agreement.
South Pointe Park and the pier. Sunrise over the ocean, cruise ships leaving Government Cut at sunset, wide lawns and a long walkway. Early mornings are almost empty. Miami Beach permit.
Lincoln Road. A pedestrian mall with modern architecture and storefront light. It's crowded in the evening, so plan for passers-by in the frame or shoot at dawn.
The beach itself. East-facing, so sunrise is the hero hour. Wind is constant: great for hair and fabric, hard on audio. The colorful lifeguard towers along South Beach give the classic Miami look.
Miami
Wynwood. Murals, warehouses and street life. The streets are in the City of Miami, which permits filming there, and the murals belong to building owners, so get their permission before featuring one. The Wynwood Walls is a private venue with its own rules.
Brickell and Downtown rooftops. The skyline at blue hour is the Miami shot for hip-hop and pop videos. Rooftops belong to hotels, bars and condo buildings and are rented as private locations with a fee and insurance.
Little Havana and Calle Ocho. Domino tables, murals, cigar shops and old Miami signage. City of Miami permit; agree any shots with the businesses in the frame.
The causeways. Venetian, MacArthur and Rickenbacker give you the skyline over the water. Car scenes on a causeway need a permit and usually police; state roads also need the Florida Department of Transportation.
Vizcaya Museum & Gardens. Italian Renaissance gardens on Biscayne Bay. Stunning and expensive: Vizcaya lists a commercial film day at $25,000 plus tax and asks for a written request at least 30 days ahead.
Coral Gables. Mediterranean Revival streets, banyan-lined avenues and the Venetian Pool area. Coral Gables runs its own permits.
Design District. Luxury storefronts and architecture. It's private property, so every shot needs the owners' agreement.
Fort Lauderdale and Broward
Las Olas Boulevard. Cafés, boutiques and soft night light in Downtown Fort Lauderdale.
Fort Lauderdale Beach and the A1A. The beach road at night is one of the best car-scene backdrops in South Florida.
FAT Village and Flagler Village. Murals and warehouse walls, quieter than Wynwood.
Hollywood Beach Broadwalk. A long open promenade with a vintage Florida feel. Sunrise is the best hour.
Broward County doesn't charge film permit fees except for services such as police or closures, and most Broward cities use the county's film office.
When the location is a studio
When the idea needs control, such as a colored cyclorama, smoke, practical lights or a set, rent a studio. Miami studios on Peerspace run from about $50 to $470 an hour, with minimums of one to eight hours. A studio day typically costs $300–2,500.
Light and weather in Miami
- Golden hour comes about an hour before sunset: around 5 pm in winter and 7 pm in summer. Bay-facing spots get the sunset; ocean beaches get the sunrise.
- Blue hour is the 20–30 minutes after sunset, and it's the moment for the skyline and neon.
- Summer storms build most afternoons from June to September. Shoot exteriors in the morning, keep an indoor backup, and plan the weather call 48 hours ahead.
- Heat and humidity fog lenses when you move from air conditioning outside. Give the camera ten minutes to adjust.
Permits at a glance
| Location | Permit from | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean Drive, South Pointe, Lincoln Road, the beach | City of Miami Beach | No permit fee |
| Wynwood, Brickell, Downtown, Little Havana | City of Miami | Application fee |
| County parks, county roads, unincorporated areas | Miami-Dade County (Film Miami) | $125–150 application |
| Coral Gables | City of Coral Gables | City fee |
| Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood and most of Broward | Broward County (Film Lauderdale) | No permit fee |
| Rooftops, hotels, Design District, Vizcaya | The owner | Location fee |
Full details in our permit guide. When you book a music video with us, we check the permits for every location and put them in the quote at cost.
Questions we get
Can I shoot a music video in Wynwood without a permit?
Commercial filming on the street in Wynwood needs a City of Miami permit, and featuring a mural needs the building owner's permission. Shooting inside a rented studio or venue in Wynwood needs only the venue's agreement.
Where can I shoot a music video at night in Miami?
Ocean Drive's neon, Brickell and Downtown rooftops, Lincoln Road, Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale and the causeways with the skyline behind them. Night exteriors on public property still need a permit.
How much does a music video location cost in Miami?
Public locations cost the permit and any police you need. Private locations range widely: a location day typically runs $150–1,500, a studio $300–2,500, and landmarks like Vizcaya list $25,000 for a film day.
Sources
- City of Miami Beach, Film & Print FAQs
- Film Miami (Miami-Dade County), FAQ
- Vizcaya Museum & Gardens, commercial filming and photography
- Visit Lauderdale / Film Lauderdale, Permit requirements
- Peerspace, Video studios in Miami
- Beats To Rap On, Music video cost (location and studio day rates, October 2026)