[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of West Deptford 10-18-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-20.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
FILMING
The taking of still or motion pictures either on film or videotape or similar recording medium, for commercial or educational purposes intended for viewing on television, in theaters or for institutional uses. The provisions of this chapter shall not be deemed to include the "filming" of news stories within the municipality.
MAJOR MOTION PICTURE
Any film which is financed and/or distributed by a major motion picture studio, including but not limited to the following:
A. 
Universal Pictures.
B. 
Warner Brothers, including New Line Cinema, Castle Rock Cinema, Village Road Show and Bel-Aire.
C. 
Paramount, including MTV Films and Nickelodeon Movie.
D. 
20th Century Fox, including Fox Searchlight.
E. 
Sony/Columbia.
F. 
Disney/Miramax.
G. 
MGM/United Artists.
H. 
DreamWorks.
I. 
Any major streaming service, such as Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime Video.
J. 
Any film for which the budget is at least $5,000,000.
K. 
Recurrent weekly television series programming.
PUBLIC LANDS
Any and every public street, highway, sidewalk, square, public park or playground or any other public place within the municipality which is within the jurisdiction and control of the municipality.
A. 
No person or organization shall film or permit filming on public or on private property where such filming involves the use of public property for the operation, placement or temporary storage of vehicles or equipment utilized in such filming, including, but not limited to, any temporary structure, barricade or device intended to restrict or block off pedestrian or vehicular traffic, without first having obtained a permit from the office of the Municipal Clerk, which permit shall set forth the approved location of such filming and the approved duration of such filming by specific reference to day or dates. Said permit must be readily available for inspection by Township officials at all times at the site of the filming.
B. 
All permits shall be applied for and obtained from the office of the Municipal Clerk during normal business hours. Applications for such permits shall be in a form approved by the Municipal Clerk and be accompanied by a permit fee in the amount established by this chapter in Chapter 11 of the West Deptford Municipal Code.
C. 
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 Municipal Clerk may, at the request of the applicant, issue a new permit for filming on other dates subject to full compliance with all other provisions of this chapter. No additional fee shall be paid for this permit.
A. 
No permits will be issued by the Municipal Clerk unless applied for prior to three days before the requested shooting date; provided, however, that the Township Administrator may waive the three-day period if, in his judgment, the applicant has obtained all related approvals and adjacent property owners or tenants do not need to be notified.
B. 
No permit shall be issued for filming upon public lands unless the applicant provides the municipality with the following:
(1) 
Certificate of general liability insurance coverage issued by a company licensed to do business in the State of New Jersey:
(a) 
For a minimum combined single limit of $1,000,000 per occurrence/$2,000,000 aggregate for bodily injury and property damage.
(b) 
Township shall be named additional insured.
(2) 
An agreement, in writing, whereby the applicant agrees to indemnify and save harmless the municipality from any and all liability, expense, claim or damages resulting from the use of public lands.
(3) 
The hiring of an off-duty police officer for the times indicated on the permit.
(a) 
Proof of Workers Compensation coverage.
C. 
The holder of the 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 Police Department with respect thereto.
A. 
The holder of a permit shall conduct filming in such a manner as to minimize the inconvenience 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.
B. 
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. Where the applicant's production activity, by reason of location or otherwise, will directly involve and/or affect any businesses, merchants or residents, these parties shall be given written notice of the filming at least three days prior to the requested shooting date and be informed that objections may be filed with the Municipal Clerk, said objections to form a part of applicant's application and be considered in the review of the same. Proof of service of notification to adjacent owners shall be submitted to the Municipal Clerk within two days of the requested shooting date.
A. 
The Township Administrator may refuse to issue a permit whenever it is determined, on the basis of objective facts and after a review of the application and a report thereon by the Police Department and by other township agencies involved with the proposed filming site, that filming at the location and/or the time set forth in the application would violate any law 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.
B. 
Further, the Township reserves the right to require one or more on-site police officers in situations where the proposed production may impede the proper flow of traffic. If police are deemed necessary, the application for extra duty services shall be made in accordance with West Deptford Chapter 51, Article II: "Extra-Duty Law Enforcement Services", and all costs are borne by the applicant as a cost of production.
C. 
Where existing electrical power lines are to be utilized by the production, an on-site licensed electrician may be similarly required if the production company does not have a licensed electrician on staff.
A. 
Copies of the approved permit will be sent to the Police and Fire Departments before filming takes place and to the New Jersey Film Commission.
B. 
It is the applicant's responsibility to apply for all necessary permitting and inspections for any other necessary approvals, including but not limited to any necessary UCC permits, approvals by the Township's designated fire prevention bureau, or other necessary agency approvals.
C. 
The applicant shall permit the Township's designated municipal inspectors, fire prevention bureau, or other similarly required inspectors to inspect the site and the equipment to be used, if deemed necessary. The applicant shall comply with all safety instructions issued by the Township's designated fire prevention bureau or other Township inspectors.
In addition to any other fees or costs mentioned in this chapter, the applicant shall reimburse the Township for any lost revenue, such as parking meter revenue, repairs to public property or other revenues that the Township was prevented from earning because of filming.
The schedule of fees for the issuance of permits is defined under the fee ordinance in the West Deptford Township Municipal Code (Chapter 11).
Any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by applicable punishment in accordance with the West Deptford General Penalty, Chapter 1, Article II, Section 1-15.