Permits

Prior to filming that requires the exclusive use of public property, a filming permit must be obtained. No filming permit is required if the filming does not require the exclusive use of public property.

Filming permits shall be issued by the film commission. Permits shall be issued to the applicant and will specify the filming that may occur at a particular location at a particular time.

The filming permit application will be evaluated by the film commission and city staff, and the elements requested will be considered for approval. The filming permit will authorize the element(s) to be performed as part of the filming.

In the event that permission to perform an element is denied by the city manager or the film commission, the remainder of the filming permit can be granted for all other aspects of the filming for which the requirements have been met.

An applicant that receives a filming permit is responsible for knowing and complying with all local, state and federal laws, including other ordinances and regulations that establish prerequisites, authorizations and other required permissions applicable to the filming.

Where permitted, filming includes advertising signs or other displays of commercial speech, and the signs and/or displays must be removed upon the expiration of the filming permit.

Notwithstanding any other part of this Code, any applicant that performs filming without receiving a filming permit, violates the material terms of a filming permit, or is otherwise in violation of this filming ordinance, shall be subject to penalties as provided in section 1-6 of the Code of Ordinances.

The issuance of a permit shall not grant the applicant a constitutionally protected property interest. All applications for permits shall be in the form prescribed and shall contain the information and exhibits required by this article. All applications for permits shall be signed by the applicant or the designated representative of the applicant having due and legal authority to enter into contracts binding upon the applicant.

When more than one (1) application is received for filming at substantially the same place and time, and the film commission reasonably determines that both filmings cannot logistically and/or safely occur together, the earlier or earliest of the applications that is received by the film commission in a substantially completed form, which includes submission of the requisite application fee, shall be given priority as to the time and place requested. The Corpus Christi Film Commission may make reasonable efforts to consult with the other applicant(s) in an attempt to find alternative times and/or locations that are acceptable.

Required use of city equipment and personnel. In completing the filming permit application, the applicant will indicate additional city equipment or services necessary for the public safety, health and welfare of the city. The applicant is responsible for paying the costs incurred as a result of the production activity for use of any police, fire, traffic engineering or other city personnel assigned to the project (whether specifically requested by the production or not). The film commission will facilitate contracting for use of off-duty city personnel (police, fire or other city personnel) directly. Rates for the use of any of city equipment, including police vehicles and fire equipment, will be provided at the time of application. The city manager may, at his/her discretion, require an advance deposit for the use of city equipment through the offices of the film commission. All required fees related to use of city equipment and personnel will be due before a filming permit is issued.

Police and fire. The chief of police and/or fire chief shall have the authority to stipulate additional police or fire requirements and level of staffing at any time during the project, if it is determined to be in the best interest of public safety, health and welfare of the city. The cost of additional staff will be borne by the applicant and will be due to the city within seven (7) days after notification of the additional staff cost.

Traffic engineering. It shall be the duty of each applicant to make provisions for the safe crossing of pedestrians and the orderly movement of vehicular traffic in accordance with the Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (TMUTCD). If a street closure or traffic control is required, the applicant shall be responsible for paying occupancy charges required by section 53-195. Traffic control plans must be obtained from a professional engineer licensed in the State of Texas and submitted to the city for approval. A review fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00) will be charged for the required review of traffic control plans submitted by an applicant's consultant professional engineer. The applicant is responsible for obtaining services for traffic control devices.

Use of city property. The city manager may authorize the use of any of city streets, rights-of-way, parks, facilities, the use of the City of Corpus Christi name, trademark or logo and/or the use of city equipment and/or personnel in the production of movies, television programs, commercials, social media, or training films and related activities. In conjunction with these uses, the city manager may require that any or all of the conditions as specified on the filming permit application be met as a prerequisite to that use.

Fees for use of city property. Depending upon the extent of the use of city property, the applicant agrees to reimburse the film commission for costs incurred when using city property. All required fees related to use of city property will be due within ten (10) business days of the issuance of a filming permit.

Notification of neighbors. The applicant shall provide a short written description of the schedule for the proposed production to the owners, tenants and residents of each property in the affected neighborhood (as defined by boundaries set by the city manager). The applicant, or his or her designee, shall make a demonstrated effort to notify each owner, tenant and resident of all such property twenty-four (24) hours prior to filming.

Insurance requirements. These insurance requirements follow the Texas Film Commission's insurance requirements. The producer shall furnish the city with a certificate of insurance, naming the City of Corpus Christi and the Corpus Christi Film Commission as an additional insured, in the amounts required by the city's risk manager, which includes an amount not less than one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) general liability, including bodily injury and property damage; automobile liability (if applicable) in an amount not less than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00) including bodily injury and property damage; worker's compensation to include all participants utilized in connection with filming and related activities; and employer's liability. Any city employee who is considered by the city to be in an off-duty status and who sustains injury/illness will be covered by the applicant's workers' compensation coverage. The City of Corpus Christi reserves the right to determine and modify insurance requirements on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration other risk factors involved in the filming activities, including but not limited to, for example, involvement or use of alcoholic beverages, car pursuits, stunts, aircraft and/or pyrotechnics. The city manager, in consultation with the city's risk manager, may waive insurance requirements on a case-by-case basis.

Save harmless agreement.

Applicant is required to provide a save harmless agreement in which applicant agrees to defend with counsel approved by city, pay and save harmless the city, its officers and employees from any and all claims or lawsuits for personal injury or property damage arising from or in any way connected to the filming; excepting any claims arising solely out of the negligent acts of the city, its officers and employees.

The applicant agrees to pay in full, within thirty (30) days upon receipt of an invoice, the costs of repair for any and all damage to public or private property resulting from or in connection with the filming activities and film production, and to restore the property to its original, or better than original condition prior to the production. Film producer/applicant will be responsible for any and all damage to equipment used regardless if owned, rented, leased or borrowed.

Limitation of liability. This article shall not be construed as imposing upon the city or its officials or employees any liability or responsibility for any injury or damage to any person in any way connected to the use for which permits have been issued. The city and its officials and employees shall not be deemed to have assumed any liability or responsibility by reasons of inspections performed, the issuance of any permit or the approval of any use of the right-of-way.

A filming permit may be issued only after adequate waste disposal facilities have been identified and obtained by applicant. Applicant may be required to utilize city signage addressing litter and recycling. Such signage must be returned to the city at the end of the event. Applicant must clean the right-of-way of rubbish and debris, returning it to its pre-activity condition, within twenty-four (24) hours of the conclusion of the filming activity. If the applicant fails to clean up such refuse, such clean up shall be arranged by the city and the cost charged to applicant.