Film Permits and Insurance
Requirements for filming may vary within the North Island municipalities.
CITY OF CAMPBELL RIVER
385 South Dogwood Street, Campbell River, BC V9W 8C8
Contact: Assets & Operations
Ph: 250-286-5721
Required: Permit to Work on City Lands or Special Events Permit
Insurance: General liability of $3,000,000
Website: City of Campbell River
TOWN OF COMOX
1809 Beaufort Avenue, Comox, BC V9M 1R9
Ph: 250-339-2202
Required: Park Use Permit/Application
Website: Town of Comox
CITY OF COURTENAY
830 Cliffe Avenue, Courtenay, BC V9N 2J7
Ph: 250-334-4441
Contact: Manager of Corporate Administration
Required: Special Events Licence
Website: City of Courtenay
VILLAGE OF CUMBERLAND
2673 Dunsmuir Ave, Cumberland, BC V0R 1S0
Ph: 250-336-2291
Required: Park Use Permit
Contact: Manager of Recreation
Website: Village of Cumberland
CITY OF NANAIMO
411 Dunsmuir St. Nanaimo BC V9R 5J6
Ph: 250-755-4465
Required: Film Permit and Business Licence
Permit Processing: Minimum 14 days prior
Insurance: General liability of $2,000,000 - $5,000,000
Contact: Amrit Manhas, EDO
Website: City of Nanaimo
CITY OF PARKSVILLE
100 Jensen Avenue East, Parksville, BC V9P 2H3
Ph: 250-954-3073
Required: Film Permit and Business Licence
Insurance: General liability of $5,000,000
Contact: Debbie Tardiff, Communications
Website: City of Parksville
CITY OF PORT ALBERNI
4850 Argyle Street, Port Alberni, BC V9Y 1V8
Required: Film Permit
Insurance: General liability of $2,000,000
Website: City of Port Alberni
TOWN OF QUALICUM BEACH
#201 - 660 Primrose Street, Qualicum Beach, BC V9K 1S7
Ph: 250-752-6921
Required: Business Licence/Special Events Licence
Website: Town of Qualicum Beach
DISTRICT OF TOFINO
121 3rd Street Box 9, Tofino, BC V0R 2Z0
Ph: 250-725-3229 x 603
Email: Khabib@tofino.ca
Required: Film Permit
Contact: Karen Habib, Festival and Event Services Assistant
Website: District of Tofino
VILLAGE OF UCLUELET
500 Matterson Drive, Ucluelet, BC V0R 3A0
Ph: 250-726-7772 x 224
Required: Film Permit and Business Licence
Insurance: General liability of $2,000,000
Contact: Abby Fortune, Director of Parks and Rec
Website: Village of Ucluelet
PARKS AND CROWN LANDS
Filming requirements for Provincial Parks will differ by location and time of year to prevent impacts to natural, cultural and recreational values.
BC PROVINCIAL PARKS
Required: Parks Use Permit - Commercial Filming
Permit Processing: Allow 5 days once application has been filed
Insurance: General liability of $2,000,000
FRONTCOUNTER BC
FrontCounter BC Nanaimo
Suite 142, 2080 Labieux Road, Nanaimo, BC V96 6J9
Ph: 250 -751-7220
Contact: Natural Resource Officer
Commercial General Policy, it lists when you would need a permit. In general if you have a long film schedule, large crew, need to clear land or set up infrastructure, this would require a permit.
PACIFIC RIM NATIONAL PARK RESERVE
2040 Pacific Rim Highway, Ucluelet BC V0R 3A0
Crystal Bolduc, Promotions Officer
Ph: 250-726-7165 ext 517
Email: Crystal.Bolduc@pc.gc.ca
Required: Park Use Guidelines for Filming
Permit Processing: Minimum 4 weeks prior to filming
PRNP does not accept film applications from May to end of Sept as this is considered ‘high season’.
REGIONAL DISTRICT OF NANAIMO
RDN Recreation and Parks, Oceanside Place, 830 West Island Highway, Parksville, BC V9P 2X4
Ph: 250-248-4744
Email: rdnparks@rdn.bc.ca
Contact: Parks and Trails Coordinator
Required: Park Use Permit
BC FERRIES
British Columbia Ferry Services Inc.
Suite 500-1321 Blanshard Street, Victoria, BC V8W 0B7
Contact: Zoe King, Manager, Customer Service Centre
Ph: 250-978-1133 or Fax: 250-381-5452
Email: zoe.king@bcferries.com
UAVs/DRONES
Transport Canada
Web: Transport Canada Standards
FILMING SPECIES AT RISK OR CONCERN (OCRAS AND WHALES)
Production companies must apply for a ‘disturbance licence’ which is granted by the DFO Marine Mammals Unit.
Marine Mammal Coordinator
Paul Cottrell
Tel: 604-666-9965
Email: Paul.cottrell@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Filming would not be allowed within any of the Marine Parks such as the Broughton Achipelago or Robson Bight Ecological Reserve.
GOVERNMENT OF CANADA
- Canada Customs & Revenue Agency
- Temporary Importation of Goods for Filming - Canada Border Services Agency
- Immigration - Human Resources and Skills Development Canada Temporary Foreign Workers
- Work Permit Guide
General
- Creative BC - Production Services
- Electrical Permits
- Code of Conduct
- Climate Normals & Averages
- Reel Green BC
- Background performer or extra’s guide
- CineCentral Filmmakers Society Cast and Crew
Industry Unions and Guilds
- Alliance for Arts and Culture
- Association of Canadian Film Craftspeople (ACFCWest)
- British Columbia Council of Film Unions
- Canadian Actor’s Equity Association
- Canadian Film & Television Production Association (CFTPA)
- Canadian Audio Visual Certification Office (CAVCO)
- Canadian Media Production Association (CFTPA) - BC Branch
- Commercial Production Association of Western Canada (CPAWC)
- Directors Guild of Canada - BC District Council
- IATSE Local 168
- IATSE Local 669
- IATSE Local 891
- Stunts Canada
- Teamsters Local 155
- Union of BC Performers
- Vancouver Musicians Union Local 145
- Writers Guild of Canada