Applications for commercial photography and filming projects must be submitted online and approved by Council before production can begin. Commercial photography of stills and photography for public exhibitions also requires a permit.

Applications must be submitted 10 business days before the intended filming date. If the filming is taking place between midnight and 6am or involves a partial or full road closure, you will need to submit the application 15 days before the intended filming date.

Once your application is submitted, Council will contact you within three business days to acknowledge receipt of your application and whether further information is required. Permits are only issued when all information has been received, processed and approved.

If applicable, in your application you will need to provide:

• details of the location and time of the proposed filming
• contact details of key production crew
• details of the location safety officer and their qualifications
• full details of the production specifics
• running sheet
• details of any pedestrian management and/or traffic management plans
• completed risk assessment
• list of dangerous substances plus safety reports
• communication plans including Public Notification of Filming
• a copy of Public Liability Insurance ($20 million) for filming activities and any contractors
• site plans, including a map indicating location of parked vehicles

Site plans should contain full details of all infrastructure to be used as part of the activity such as track and dolly, cranes, scissor lifts, lights, pedestrian access, toilets, signage, security, electrical cables, power outlets, and litter minimisation.

Please read the Terms and Conditions before applying.

Low impact filming approval is for filming and stills under four hours, with no drones, minimal equipment and up to six people in total (including production crew and talent).

Filming must follow the guidelines and criteria.

Before applying you will need:

• Topical/satellite map indicating specific filming location/s
• Public Liability Insurance (minimum $20 million)
• Payment details
• Guidelines to be followed for the duration of filming or still photography:
• Filming activity must be of 6 people or less (inc all production crew and talent);
• Infrastructure to be no more than one camera, one tripod and handheld sound recording equipment. (No lighting or sheltering equipment on stands, no camera tracking devices, no vehicles, sizeable props or generators).
• Duration of the shoot not to exceed 4 hours
• Public safety must be maintained at all times. All public pathways, footpaths, cycling paths and roads must not be blocked - a minimum of 2.5 metres is required on footpaths for pedestrian thoroughfare at all times.
• No disruption to be caused to the city's stakeholders (traders, residents and businesses) or motorists or other events in the vicinity of the activities.
• Filming equipment must not be hard up against or attached to any City of Whitehorse street furniture, infrastructure or assets (including trees, shrubbery and garden beds).
• No vehicle access is permitted in parks and gardens or past any street bollards without a permit
• No physical assets to be disturbed, relocated, altered or damaged due to or as a result of the filming.
• Any pre-existing damaged assets should be reported to Council immediately upon identification so that they are repaired or made safe prior to filming.
• City of Whitehorse must be acknowledged in the credits of all productions.

Complete the low impact filming application form 

You must submit your application five business days before filming will take place.

Submission of an application does not constitute approval for filming. Confirmation of your approval will be issued within five business days of receipt.

For further information about regulations and drone use please refer to CASA guidelines. 

• You must not fly higher than 120 metres (400 ft) above the ground, in all locations (etc.)
• You must not fly your RPA/drone over or near an area affecting public safety or where emergency operations are underway (without prior approval). This could include situations such as a car crash, police operations, a fire and associated firefighting efforts, and search and rescue operations.
• You must not fly your RPA/drone within 30 metres of people, unless the other person is part of controlling or navigating the drone.
• You must only fly one RPA/drone at a time.
• You must keep your RPA/drone at least 5.5km away from controlled aerodromes (usually those with a control tower)
• You may fly within 5.5km of a non-controlled aerodrome or helicopter landing site (HLS) only if manned aircraft are not operating to or from the aerodrome. If you become aware of manned aircraft operating to or from the aerodrome/ HLS, you must manoeuvre away from the aircraft and land as soon as safely possible. This includes:
  • not operating your RPA/drone within the airfield boundary
  • not operating your RPA/drone in the approach and departure paths of the aerodrome
• You must only fly during the day and keep your RPA/drone within visual line-of sight.
  • This means being able to orientate, navigate and see the aircraft with your own eyes (rather than through a device at all times). Example: goggles or video screen.
• You must not fly your RPA over the top of people. Examples include festivals, sporting ovals, populated beaches, parks, busy roads and footpaths.
• You must not operate an RPA/drone in a way that creates a hazard to another aircraft, another person, or property
• You must not operate your RPA/drone in prohibited or restricted areas.

Please respect personal privacy. Don’t record or photograph people without their consent—this may breach state laws.

Anyone conducting filming or a photo shoot for a commercial purpose, public exhibition or as part of a course conducted by a tertiary institution must obtain approval from Whitehorse City Council for the use of a public space. This ensures that your activity is conducted in accordance with the safety and amenity regulations of Council and a record of activities is also maintained.

Standard fees apply for filming in the City of Whitehorse limited to those areas under the Council's jurisdiction. A lower fee applies to commercial stills photography.

There is an initial charge for the first day of filming for any one project. A daily rate applies for any subsequent days. The phrase 'any one project' relates to one feature film, one television commercial, one season of a television series or one season of a television serial. A fee waiver also applies in various situations. Visit the City of Whitehorse Filming and Stills Terms and Conditions for further information on fees.

Pending approval of an application, filming applicants are required to notify all businesses/residents and key stakeholders affected by your activity. This should be done in writing, with a draft copy of the letter being approved by Whitehorse City Council before distribution.

With the exception of Low Impact Filming applications, a risk management plan must be submitted to Council for all filming activities. It must include:

• identification of any risks
• measurement of the risks
• the proposed management of those risks.

If your filming/photography activity affects any road or pedestrian access area, you will be required to develop and submit traffic and pedestrian management plans. These plans must outline your objectives and strategies for managing the proposed activity in accordance with the Road Management Act 2004.

If you do not meet the Low Impact Filming criteria and are undertaking any filming activity involving a road or footpath you may be required to obtain temporary full or part road closure consent. Please contact our Transport Engineering department on (03) 9262 6536 to discuss.