Filming fees

Daily activity permit fee 

When a daily activity permit is required for filming on City public spaces such as streets, sidewalks, and plazas, the following permit fees and costs will apply.  

Additional fees and costs for the Parks Board, Vancouver Police, Vancouver Fire Rescue, or services from other City departments may also be incurred. 

Note Prices do not include tax.

Fee incentive

Clean energy incentive

Note Productions that can exhibit their adoption of cleaner energy to diminish dependence on diesel generators may qualify for a 50% discount on both the daily fee and late surcharge.

A minimum of 50% of energy sources used on-site must be classified as clean energy to meet the criteria for the clean energy incentive. Clean energy sources may include:

• A battery system
• A tie-in to a private property building
• Any of our newly introduced City film power kiosks

Note Notify the officer overseeing your film project if you believe your production is eligible for the incentive. You will be required to provide evidence demonstrating the replacement of at least 50% of your on-site energy sources with clean energy alternatives.

Review a list of clean energy kiosks and other tie-ins

Ultra-low impact production

Ultra-low impact productions are eligible for a reduction of 85% off the daily permit fee. Typically these would be stills photo shoots, short films, documentaries, music videos, B-rolls, and splinter units.

To qualify as ultra-low impact, a production must have:

• Less 15 persons (cast and crew)
• Minimal equipment
• Minimal parking impact
• No traffic control
• No diesel generator
• No curfew extension

Lost meter revenue fees

Fees for filming in a park (2024)

Note Refund policy: A minimum notice of 5 working days is required for a refund, minus the equivalent of 4 hours of staffing time (at the posted staff rate). No refunds will be issued if less than 5 working days notice is provided.

Note Prices do not include tax.

Additional charges

Note Prices do not include tax.

Fees for commercial photography in parks (2024)

Note Refund policy: A minimum notice of 5 working days is required for a refund, minus a $25 administration fee.

Note Prices do not include tax.

Police provide traffic control, weapons, and vehicular escorts.

How to book an officer

Contact the Emergency Operations and Planning section of the Vancouver Police Department:

• Phone: 604-717-3081
• Fax: 604-717-3077
• Email: eops@vpd.ca

 Requests must be received by the Police Department a minimum of 2 working days before the call-out. If the work required is extensive and involves several officers, a supervising sergeant will be assigned.

Officers and sergeants are paid overtime rates with a minimum three-hour call-out.

Fees

Note Rates include equipment and administration fees. Prices do not include tax.

Rates updated as of January 1, 2024.

Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services provide safety equipment and crew as required for the execution of special effects.

Fees

Prices do not include tax.

Fire hydrant permit

There are 2 options to pay for a hydrant permit:

1. Let your film coordinator know you will need this permit within your first conversations - all fees will be included in your deposit
2. Deal directly with the Client Service Centre counter and pay separately

Learn more about the fire hydrant permit process

To pay fees, a production must open an account before filming begins and deposit the estimated cost for all City services that will be necessary.

What we accept

• Online (We accept most major credit cards)
• Certified cheques (Drawn on a Canadian bank account)
• Money orders
• Cash
• Wire transfers (Contact the Film and Special Events Officer assigned to your project for details)
• When all filming in the city is complete, the account will closed and we will issue an invoice or a refund for the balance

Important note Cash, cheques, and money order payments must be accompanied with a payment slip, which we will send to you  after your application has been accepted. Deliver both the payment (cash, cheque, or money order) and payment slip in-person to Building and Development Services Centre, 515 West 10th Ave.