COMMERCIAL FILMING PERMITS

In 2015 the Borough adopted Ordinance 2015-03 (Code §109 entitled Filming) which requires that a license must first be obtained from the Borough Clerk before any commercial filming within the Borough of Haddonfield.  These permits can be obtained in Room 101 of Borough Hall.  The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with the exception of federal holidays.

The permit fee is $100.00 per day for the first 3 days and $50.00 per day thereafter.
The provisions of this ordinance shall not apply to the filming of news stories within the Borough of Haddonfield.
Click HERE for the permit application
Click HERE for the complete ordinance.

The definitions for filming, per this ordinance are as follows:

FILMING shall mean the taking of motion pictures, either on film, video tape or similar recording medium for commercials or education purposes intended for viewing on video receivers, television or in theaters or for institutional use.
PUBLIC LANDS shall mean any and every public street, highway, sidewalk or public Property within Borough of Haddonfield which is within the jurisdiction and control of the Borough of Haddonfield.

The Permit requirements are as follows:

A.       No person shall film or permit filming within the Borough of Haddonfield without first obtaining a permit therefor, which permit shall set forth the location of such filming and the date or dates when filming shall take place.  A permit is required to be applied for at least 3 days prior to the first date that filming is take place.

B.      Permits shall be obtained in the office of the Borough of Haddonfield Clerk during normal business hours.  Applications for such permits shall be in a form approved by the Borough of Haddonfield and shall be accompanied by a permit fee in the amount established by ordinance of the Borough of Haddonfield.

C.      The permit shall indicate each location where filming is to occur.

D.      One permit shall be sufficient to authorize outdoor filming and indoor filming.  Each such date on which filming is to take place and the location shall be specified in the permit.  The permit shall not exceed 10 days of filming.

E.      If a permit is issued and, due to inclement weather or other good cause, filming does not in fact take place on the dates specified, the Borough Clerk may, at the request of the applicant, issue a new permit with all other provisions of the ordinance. 

F.      No additional fee shall be paid for this permit.

The rules and regulations are as follows:

A.      No permit shall be issued for filming upon public lands within the Borough of Haddonfield unless the applicant for such permit:

(1)      Provides proof of insurance coverage for bodily injury for any one person in the amount of $1,000,000 for any aggregate occurrence in the amount of $2,000,000.  The Borough of Haddonfield shall be named as an additional insured on the policy and a Certificate of Insurance shall be delivered to the Borough of Haddonfield at the time that the permit is issued.

(2)      The applicant shall agree in writing to indemnify and hold harmless the Borough of Haddonfield from any and all liability or damages resulting from the use of such public lands, by the applicant, agents, servants and/or employees.

B.      The holder of a permit shall take all reasonable steps to minimize interference with the free passage of pedestrians and traffic over public lands and shall comply with all lawful directives issued by the Borough of Haddonfield with respect thereto.

C.      The holder of a permit shall conduct filming in such a manner as to minimize the inconveniences or discomfort to adjoining property owners attributable to such filming and shall, to the extent practicable, abate noise and park vehicles associated with such filming off the public streets.  The holder shall avoid any interference with previously scheduled activities upon public lands and limit to the extent possible any interference with normal public activity on such public lands.

D.      The holder of a permit shall take all reasonable steps to minimize the creation and spread of debris and rubbish during filming and shall be responsible for removing all equipment, debris and other rubbish from the filming location upon the completion of filming or the expiration of the permit, whichever comes first.

E.      Filming shall be permitted only Monday through Saturday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. or sundown, whichever is earlier, unless the permit allows filming after dark or different hours.

F.       The Borough of Haddonfield may refuse to issue a permit whenever it determines, on the basis of objective facts and after a review of the application and a report thereon by the Police Department and by other Borough agencies involved with the proposed filming site, that filming at the location and/or time set forth in the application would violate any laws or ordinance or would unreasonably interfere with the use and enjoyment of adjoining properties, unreasonably impede the free flow of vehicular or pedestrian traffic or otherwise endanger the public’s health, safety or welfare.

G.      In the event the applicant’s request is denied in whole or part by the Borough Clerk, the applicant may seek a review of the Borough Clerk’s decision by the Borough Commissioners by sending a Letter Review Request to the Borough Commissioner’s within ten (10) days of the Borough Clerk’s decision providing to the Borough Commissioners the reasons, materials, affidavits, etc., the applicant relies upon to modify or reverse the Borough Clerk’s decision.  The Borough Commissioners will take up the Borough Commissioners review and render the Borough Commissioners decision at the action meeting next following receipt of the applicant’s Letter Review Request.  The applicant may appear at that action meeting and provide addition oral and/or written materials in support of the applicant’s position.  The Borough Clerk may also submit at the action meeting the Borough Clerk’s reasons for the Borough Clerk’s decision.

H.      The Clerk of the Borough of Haddonfield may authorize a waiver of any of the requirements or limitations of this ordinance, and may authorize filming on other public property not defined as “public lands” and may authorize filming other than during the hours herein described, or may extend the duration of a permit beyond 10 days or may waive any other limitation or requirement of this ordinance whenever it is determined that strict compliance with such limitations will pose and unreasonable burden upon the applicant and that such a permit may be issued without endangering the public’s health, safety and welfare.

I.      The applicant shall notify the Fire Depart and the Police Department 24 hours before filming takes place and permit the Fire Department and the Police Department to inspect the site and the equipment to be used.  The applicant shall comply with all fire and safety instructions issued by the Fire Department and the Police Department.