We are committed to supporting a vibrant, thriving and professional film and television industry, while ensuring that a balance is maintained with the needs of our local city stakeholders.
When is a permit required?
You will need a permit for filming and photography if one or more of the following conditions apply:
- Your filming activity includes more than six people (including all production crew and talent).
- Your equipment exceeds one camera, one tripod and handheld sound recording equipment.
- You plan to use Fitzroy Gardens Conservatory for filming or photography.
- You intend to block a public footpath or road, leaving less than 2.5 metres of pedestrian thoroughfare at any time.
- You intend to implement pedestrian or traffic management.
- Your activity will disrupt traders, residents, businesses, motorists or other activations in the vicinity.
- You require vehicle access to a location.
- You intend to film with a remote piloted aircraft (RPA)/drone – refer to the RPA/drone guidelines below.
If your filming/photography does not involve any of these conditions, it is considered ‘low impact’ and you do not need to notify us or apply for a permit.
Please note:
- Some public places have restrictions on when filming can take place.
- To film in privately managed locations, you may require permission from the relevant authority/landowner.
- Depending on the nature of your filming, you may require additional permits and approvals.
Terms and conditions
Please read the terms and conditions before applying.
Apply for a permit
Applications must be submitted at least 5 full business days in advance of your planned filming activity, or 7 business days if traffic management is required. Sensitive locations may require additional notice. We reserve the right to decline an application if insufficient notice or information is provided.
Submitting a permit application form does not constitute approval for filming. Only once a permit has been issued is your activity approved to proceed.
To start an online application, you'll need to log in with your registered customer account. Find out more about how to register and log in. You will need to attach supporting documents as part of your application.
Apply for a filming permit
Permit information and resources
Our filming guide provides an overview of the filming permit process, with guidance to help you complete an application and helpful information relevant to filming and photography in the City of Melbourne.
Certain public places have time restrictions. Filming is not permitted at the following locations at the times specified below.
| Locations | Time when filming is not permitted |
|---|---|
| Exterior pathways of CBD train stations | 7am to 9.30am and 4.30pm to 6.30pm |
| Flinders Lane (between Swanston Street and Elizabeth Street) | Midday to 2.30pm |
| Bourke Street Mall | Midday to 2.30pm |
| Tan Track | 7am to 9.30am, and 4.30pm to 6.30pm |
| Southbank Promenade | 7am to 9.30am, midday to 2.30pm and 4.30pm to 6.30pm |
| Degraves Street | 7am to 9.30am, midday to 2.30pm and 4.30pm to 6.30pm |
| Princes Bridge | 7am to 9.30am and 5pm to 6.30pm |
| Centre Place | Midday to 2.30pm |
| Webb Bridge | 7am to 9.30am and 4.30pm to 6.30pm |
Included below are templates available to assist in the completion of a filming permit application.
If you are intending to use an RPA/drone for filming, you’ll need to meet additional requirements as part of your permit application.
Please read the following guidelines to understand the additional laws, restrictions and requirements for drone operators.
Depending on the nature and location of your activity, you may require additional permits or approvals from City of Melbourne or other authorities. Additional timeframes may apply.
- Reserved parking permits: Reserve parking bays to allow film crew vehicles to park near your filming location.
- Victoria Police: External link Submit a Police Notification Form External link if your filming or photography involves the use of firearms, weapons, special effects, RPAs, traffic management, mock police scenes or scenes that may cause public concern. Victoria Police may also assist with traffic management when using specialist filming vehicles.
- Department of Transport – VicRoads External link: If you are planning to use specialist filming vehicles, please contact VicRoads to discuss further.
- Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) External link: If you intend to fly your RPA / drone commercially (for or at work). You may also need to register your drone External link and get a licence External link or accreditation External link with CASA.
- Parks Victoria: External link permissions for use of a RPA / Drone over the Yarra River.
- Public Transport Victoria (PTV) External link: Under state legislation, if your filming is likely to impact public transport, you’ll need to notify PTV.
- WorkSafe: External link WorkSafe may need to inspect and approve the use of high-risk materials such as fireworks and special effects.
Below is a non-exhaustive list of popular locations within the City of Melbourne that are privately managed. If you wish to film at these locations. please contact them directly.
- Arts Centre Melbourne External linkexterior plaza and Hamer Hall apron
- Block Arcade
- The Causeway
- Collins Place External link
- Crown Promenade External link, Yarra Promenade (Southbank, between Queensbridge Street and Clarendon Street)
- Federation Square External link
- Government House External link
- Exteriors of Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre (MCEC) and South Wharf External link
- Melbourne and Olympic Parks External link
- Northbank and Banana Alley External link
- North Wharf and Seafarers Rest – Riverlee External link
- Parliament House External link
- Princes Walk External link
- QV Melbourne External link
- Queen Victoria Market External link
- Regent Place
- Royal Arcade External link
- Royal Botanic Gardens External link
- Royal Exhibition Building and Melbourne Museum External link
- Sidney Myer Music Bowl External link
- Southern Cross Lane
- State Library of Victoria External link
- Train station interiors – Metro Trains External link
- Trams, super stops – Yarra Trams External link
- Victoria Army Barracks External link
All filming permit applications incur an application fee and duration fee, plus a unit base fee where applicable.
| Application fee | Filming / photography duration fee (applicable to all locations) | Unit base fee | The Conservatory – Fitzroy Gardens duration fee (only bookable outside of public opening hours, 9am to 5.30pm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $68 | Per hour: $343 Up to 4 hours, per day: $823 4+ hours, per day: $1647 | Per site, per day: $622.73 (excluding GST) | 1.5 hours: $620 3 hours: $1241 |
Please note:
- Fees are effective from 1 July 2025.
- Students and not-for-profit/community groups may be eligible for a full permit fee waiver.
- A permit will only be issued once payment is received in full and all requirements have been met. To avoid delays, outstanding payment must be received by 4pm, two business days before your filming activity is due to commence.
FAQs
Wedding photos may be taken in the city’s parks and gardens free of charge unless a reserved space is required.
If the photography is within the Fitzroy Gardens Conservatory, a permit will be required as this space must be booked.
You must contact us immediately to ensure that the change can be accommodated and does not impact any other activities that may be occurring in the area of filming. If changes are acceptable, permit amendment fees apply.
Include a weather hold date within your application so we can incorporate this into your permit. We allow for one weather hold date per shoot. Shoots that are cancelled due to adverse weather are subject to our cancellation policy. Refer to our Terms and Conditions.
