NYC CODE OF CONDUCT (1/1/2024)
THE CITY OF NEW YORK MAYOR’S OFFICE OF MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT
Film Office
Phone: (212) 489-6710 • 311 • After business hours, call the NYPD Movie/TV Unit at 718-312-5120
CODE OF CONDUCT
Permittee must distribute this Code of Conduct to all cast and crew working on location on NYC public property. Permittee, including cast and crew, must comply with this Code of Conduct, the Film Permit, and all laws, including 43 RCNY Chap. 9. Violations may result in suspension or revocation of a Film Permit by the Film Office or NYPD or denial of a permit application.
A. NOTIFICATION
1. Community Notification: (a) If the Film Permit authorizes held parking, Permittee must notify the relevant community board, City Council Member, and any known block and merchant associations about the filming activity at least 48 hours before the earliest date and time on the Film Permit -OR- (b) if Permittee is not holding parking, Permittee must notify any affected residential buildings and businesses. Notification may be by email, letter, or telephone and must include the following:
• The name and contact information of Permittee (including the name and office telephone number of the production company and the name and cell number of the location manager, production manager, or other crew member with authority to resolve community inquiries); and
• The date and start and end times of the Film Permit (including prep and wrap).
2. Posting Requirement: If the Film Permit authorizes held parking, Permittee must post notification letters within the permitted footprint at least 48 hours before the earliest date and time on the Film Permit to notify businesses and residents of the (a) bulleted items in section A.1, and (b) list of streets where Permittee will be holding parking.
3. No Parking Signs: If the Film Permit authorizes held parking and does not authorize towing, Permittee must post “No Parking” signs, using the Film Office template, at least 48 hours before the date and time on the Film Permit.
4. Towing Signs: If the Film Permit authorizes towing, as directed by the Film Office, Permittee must post “Vehicular Towing Unit No Parking” signs, using the Film Office template.
5. Manner of Posting: Permittee may post notices on poles, trees, and other similar City-owned structures in the permitted footprint. If Permittee posts notices on trees, elastic bands or string must be used; tape is prohibited. Permittee must remove all signs, including tape, upon completion of the Film Permit.
B. PARKING AND VEHICLES
1. Towing: Permittee must not tow or move a vehicle unless it is authorized by the Film Permit. Only the NYPD Vehicular Towing Unit (VTU) may tow.
2. Held Parking: Permittee must not hold on-street parking unless it is authorized by the Film Permit. When holding parking, Permittee should ensure that locations departments and parking production assistants (P.A.s) are sensitive to neighborhood needs for parking and minimize the use of on-street parking to the extent possible. Permittee must not hold on-street parking more than 24 hours prior to the earliest date and time on the Film Permit. Permittee must not impede access (including deliveries and short-term parking) to businesses and residential buildings while holding parking.
3. Oversized Vehicles: Permittee must obtain an over-dimensional vehicle permit for vehicles exceeding the size and weight restrictions of the NYC Department of Transportation.
4. Crew Vehicles: Cast and crew must not park personal vehicles within the permitted footprint.
5. Parking Footprint: Permittee must not park (a) in a bicycle lane or a bus stop; (b) in front of a fire hydrant, a loading dock, an active theater marquee, or within 15 feet of a sidewalk or roadway dining setup; (c) in or in front of a driveway, except with permission of the applicable party and as noted on the Film Permit; and (d) a catering truck or honeywagon in front of a restaurant while it is open. Permittee should not park a generator truck or a camper with a running generator in front of residential buildings. If Permittee will be filming at a location for multiple days, Permittee should find nearby lots to park non-essential vehicles.
6. Arrival Time: Permittee’s production vehicles must not enter a residential location prior to 6:00 a.m. Permittee’s production vehicles may enter non-residential locations before 6:00 a.m. only if expressly authorized by the Film Permit. Permittee should turn off vehicle engines as soon as possible and must not violate applicable idling laws.
7. Campers: Permittee must ensure that all campers are tied-in and powered from one source.
C. SAFETY
1. Vehicular Traffic: Permittee may not intermittently hold or redirect vehicular traffic unless it is authorized by the Film Permit and supervised by an NYPD Movie/TV Unit officer. Only traffic agents and/or crew members with a flagger certification may assist with intermittent traffic control under the supervision of the NYPD Movie/TV Unit. Permittee must maintain an emergency traffic lane of at least 15 feet wide at all times.
2. Pedestrians: Permittee must ensure safe pedestrian passage through and around the location at all times. When cameras are not rolling, Permittee must allow pedestrians to walk along any city sidewalk or pedestrian path and must not prevent access to any building. Permittee must not allow crew members to congregate in pedestrian passageways.
3. Equipment: Permittee must (a) cover cables with mats and/or yellow jackets and (b) keep equipment either in a curb lane (if the Film Permit authorizes held parking) or inside a vehicle or building. Working equipment is allowed only on a sidewalk or curb lane of a picture block.
4. Private Property: Permittee must not (a) block access to residences or businesses, (b) trespass onto private property, including stoops, and (c) impede deliveries.
5. Generators: Generators with excessive noise or fumes must be baffled with fireproof/non-flammable material.
6. Pyro: The use of pyrotechnics, fire effects, and explosions, including simulated smoke and smoke effects (including propane or open flames) is allowed only by permission of the FDNY Explosives Unit and the Film Office.
7. Animals: Permittee may not possess a wild or exotic animal on location without an animal exhibit permit from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Handlers must always accompany animals.
8. Drone: A permit from NYPD/DOT is required for the takeoff and landing of an unmanned aircraft (e.g., drone).
D. COMMUNITY RELATIONS
1. Neighborhoods: Permittee should familiarize itself with the neighborhood where it is filming/photographing and be considerate of schools, senior centers, hospitals, funeral homes, churches, synagogues, mosques, and other houses of worship, and other sensitive facilities.
2. Permit Viewing: Permittee must allow the public to view the Film Permit upon request at the location.
3. Identification: All crew members, including parking P.A.s, must wear and display I.D. badges at all times. In addition to I.D. badges, parking P.A.s should wear production identifying safety vests.
4. Courtesy: Cast and crew, including parking P.A.s, must refrain from the use of aggressive or physically threatening behavior when interacting with the general public. Cast and crew should be polite and respectful and must not impede access to businesses and residences.
5. Noise and Light: Permittee must (a) keep noise to a minimum before 8:00 a.m. and after 10:00 p.m.; (b) not fire an exterior gunshot before 10:00 a.m. or after 10:00 p.m. in a residential neighborhood; and (c) provide blackout material to residents’ windows for shoots with exterior lighting after sunset.
6. Trees: Removing, altering, trimming and/or cutting of vegetation or trees without the permission of the appropriate Forestry Office of the NYC Parks Dept., or any other agency with jurisdiction, is prohibited.
7. Street Signs: No street signs, lights, or any other permanent street structure may be removed or altered without the prior approval of the NYC Dept. of Transportation or other agency charged with maintaining such structures and must be requested with the appropriate permissions on the Film Permit.
8. Food Services: Permittee must have no sit-down, catered meals on public streets or sidewalks. Catered meals must be served and consumed at interior locations or provided from a food truck. Permittee must not barbeque on location. For trash removal, see below.
9. Clean Up: Permittee must clean up promptly after the production activity and make a clean sweep of the location to ensure that nothing is left behind, including equipment, notification letters, and No Parking/Towing signs (and tape) that Permittee posted. Permittee must not use Dept. of Sanitation trash cans at the location nor leave trash among or within residential or business trash. Permittee may leave trash in rigid receptacles with tight-fitting lids that are labeled with the name and phone number of the Permittee at curbside for up to 12 hours for private carter collection. Permittee must not leave biohazard waste at the location.