The Kent Film Office is open Monday – Friday from 09:00 – 17:00.
Gabrielle Lindemann, Kent Film Officer
Abi Lendrum, Assistant Kent Film Officer
Liz White, Assistant Kent Film Officer
Kent Film Office
2nd Floor Invicta House, County Hall, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1XX
Email us at filmoffice@kent.gov.uk
03000422000
Follow us on Twitter @filminginkent
Commercial Filming Enquiries And Requests
PERMITS
For all traffic management & road closure requests, please go to our Filming in Kent – Highways page and apply with the downloadable application form at the bottom of that webpage
Please provide us with a What3Words reference in addition to the location name or use the MAP PIN for all rural, beach or parks locations as these are often under multiple ownership and we need to ascertain your precise location within those areas. If you use a post code, it takes you to the centre of that postcode, which is of no use. You may also attach a jpg of a google satellite view with a precise location marked.
For all other commercial filming permits, requests and enquiries, please APPLY HERE
Guidance
Lead Times
These lead-in times are to ensure that you are able to film in your first-choice location as areas you apply for may already be pre-booked, have scheduled roadworks or are in need of additional permits as they are privately owned.
We are usually able to turn permits round in shorter time frames but cannot guarantee this.
- For minimal filming we need 2-3 working days’ notice.
- For mid-sized productions or when using special equipment like drones 3-5 days are usually required.
- For larger filming events we ask for at least 8-10 days as these require residents’ letters to be distributed by production at least 6 days prior to filming.
For timeframes for dispensations, traffic management and road closures, please consult our Highways Filming page.
Fees
We do not charge for filming on the public highway maintained by Kent Highway services unless Traffic management or Road Closures are required but reserve the right to administer a £50 +VAT admin charge if the permit has to be changed more than once for reasons other than sickness or bad weather.
Other public spaces, such as parks, greens, beaches, squares etc. will incur commercial filming charges which vary between local authorities. Filming Fees are non-refundable, but if you cannot film due to adverse weather conditions or sickness, we can offer you an available alternate date free of charge.
Below is merely a rough a guide to the fee structure for non-promotional commercial filming on council owned and KFO managed land:
- Filming for MINIMAL documentary/factual crews with local contributors or when promoting the area to the visitor economy in public spaces excepting KCC Country Parks are free of charge.
- MINIMAL (up to 14 people) – from £200+VAT per day
- 15 to 24 people – from £500 +VAT per day
- 25+ people – from £1000 +VAT per day
- 60/70+ people or for exclusive use from £1500 +VAT
- DRONE PERMIT – £150+VAT
All to be discussed with Kent Film Office and based on level of service required and disruption caused.
For projects who require large amounts of admin and/or numerous recce attendances, we reserve the right to charge additional admin costs at £70+VAT per hour where appropriate and agreed.
For fees relating to Traffic Management and Road Closures please consult our Highways Filming page.
Parking
In some district authorities we can arrange parking in council owned car parks. Production will have to display permits in windscreens and do their own coning as we cannot reserve these spaces.
The fees for this vary, but as a guide, there will be a £50+VAT admin change to issue permits and inform the officers plus compensation for any paid bays used at the regular tariff.
Unit base parking, where it is possible in council managed car parks start from £350+VAT and are dependant on size of the unit
This is currently possible in the districts of Dover, Canterbury and Thanet.
