No matter the crew size or impact, the City of Austin requires a permit to film on or commercially use a public property like a road, sidewalk or park.
Permits are generally not required to use a private property for filming except when pyrotechnic effects, weapons or stunts are in-play. Be it public of private property, all weapons/safety must be signed off by the Austin Police Department and all pyrotechnic effects must be permitted by the Austin Fire Department.
If you are working in the communities surrounding Austin, please reference the Film Friendly Texas Directory for permitting contacts in those jurisdictions.
The Austin Film Commission does not issue permits. This page is a resource with descriptions of processes, guides (where applicable), application links and contact details for each permitting office. The following Austin entities oversee film permitting for their areas of oversight:
Requests for the use of City of Austin Right of Way (city streets, sidewalks, and alleys) by commercial, student, or mobile filming, are reviewed and processed by the City of Austin Office of Special Events (OSE) in the Transportation and Public Works Department.
A Film Permit application is submitted via the AB+C Portal a minimum of 3 business days prior to filming. Payments must be made 2 business days prior to filming. The AB+C Portal is also used for general B-Roll Permits and Parking Permits/Meter Reservations - they are all the same permit. An Austin Police Department Film Safety Application and proof of insurance is also required as part of the permitting process.
If you are requesting any type of road closure, a Traffic Control Plan will also be needed as well as on-set police assistance. For complete road closures, productions are asked to have permit requests submitted 10 days prior to filming. Complete closures also have additional requirements like notification signage prior to filming and an engineering plan for rerouting traffic. Signage and engineering plans are paid for by the production.
For questions, please contact: City of Austin Transportation & Public Works Department:
Office of Special Events (OSE)
512-974-6501 tpwfilmpermits@austintexas.gov
Please be mindful of weekly garbage pickup schedule as receptacles will be in city streets on those days and production can interrupt services.
If you are not sure which local jurisdiction permits a certain roadway or need to check for permit conflicts, you can find out if a roadway is overseen by City, County or State along with any active permits in the area with Right of Way GIS Profiles.
The following are additional regulatory resources for filming in Austin. If you are working in the communities surrounding Austin, please reference the Film Friendly Texas Directory for permitting contacts in those jurisdictions.
To film on Austin Parks properties—like Zilker Park, Pfluger Bridge, the Hike and Bike Trail, Mount Bonnell, Lady Bird Lake, Decker Lake, & Lake Austin—a permit must be obtained from the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) Office of Special Events. It is recommended that requests be filed 7 days in advance of filming start date and 14 days for large impact productions.
Reservations for filming and photography are based upon availability as determined by library staff. It is recommended that all filming requests be made 21 days prior to the production day. Filming is welcome but must not interfere with the public’s regular use of the facility during open hours.
The Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (CapMetro) coordinates routing (and rental) buses and trains as well as oversees all company real estate such as bus stops and train stations. There is a $300 application fee and it can take up to 21 days to process requests. CapMetro staff must approve all access, activities and the performance of any work such as filming and photography on their vehicles and properties. CapMetro has an online Film Request Application.
For questions, please contact: Derek Heino
Program Manager, Partnerships & Business Development, CapMetro
512-826-5739 derek.heino@capmetro.org
To inquire about filming on the State Capitol Grounds, requests must be submitted to the State Preservation Board. The State Preservation Board also has Guidelines available highlighting the process.
For questions, please contact: Robert Davis
Events & Exhibits Coordinator, State Preservation Board
512-463-3051 Robert.Davis@tspb.state.tx.us
Organizations and individuals wanting to film or take photographs on LCRA property can apply online. The LCRA oversees a number of beautiful parks and waterways as well as offices and unique industrial spaces in the Austin area. Local properties including McKinney Roughs Nature Park, Lake Bastrop, and the Dalchau Service Center. The Parks Directory includes a list of LCRA properties.
For questions, please contact: Caleb Harmon
Parks Business Development Account Manager, Lower Colorado River Authority
512-300-4031 filming@lcra.org
Filming on the University of Texas at Austin campus is overseen and permitted by University of Texas Marketing and Communications and can be applied for online. Reference the University's Filming Guidelines for requirements and please note rules prohibit filming commercials or advertisements on university property.
For questions, please contact: University of Texas Marketing and Communications utfilming@utexas.edu
