To apply to film on the public highway (this includes roadside filming & high streets), please complete our online application form. We will also require a copy of your public liability insurance and risk assessment.
The time frame for applications depends on the type of request, these are as follows:
Further details about filming on the public highway can be found on our Filming on the public highway webpage.
To apply to film on the public highway (this includes roadside filming & high streets), please complete our online application form. We will also require a copy of your public liability insurance and risk assessment.
The time frame for applications depends on the type of request, these are as follows:
Further details about filming on the public highway can be found on our Filming on the public highway webpage.
To apply to film on the public highway (this includes roadside filming & high streets), please complete our online application form. We will also require a copy of your public liability insurance and risk assessment.
The time frame for applications depends on the type of request, these are as follows:
Further details about filming on the public highway can be found on our Filming on the public highway webpage.
National Highways (Formerly Highways England) are responsible for the A3, A316 (trunk road), M23, M25, M27, M3 and M4 (motorways, major A roads & trunk roads). Filming enquiries should be directed to the press office on the following details:
pressoffice@highwaysengland.co.uk
0844 693 1448
We don’t hold any information about private residential roads
We may be able to suggest areas of private land that offer road space for filming, depending on requirements.
You can check road information via the Surrey interactive map.
Alternatively, you can ask a member of our team and we will be happy to check this for you.
Please take a look at our SFO Highway film charges for the listed fees.
If the photography shoot is for commercial use, then this will require permission from us, along with proof of public liability insurance and a risk assessment. The relevant permit will depend on the crew size for the shoot.
Permission will need to be granted by any members of the public who might appear in the photographs.
We do have an alternative form we can send through. Please contact us at filming@surreycc.gov.uk and a member of the team will email the form through to you.
You will need to apply for a crane licence. This costs £272 and can take up to 14 days to process. Please complete the application form in the link below, where you can also find out further information:
https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/permits-and-licences/crane-or-other-machinery
Surrey streetlights are controlled by ‘Milestone Infrastructure’ (formerly known as Skanska), who can arrange for certain lights to be switched off, upon request.
There will be a fee for their service & they usually request 7 days’ notice.
To make a request & to discuss fees, please send details of the streetlight/s you would like to have switched off, along with dates & times, to: surrey.lightingservices@milestoneinfra.co.uk
They can also be contacted on: 0300 200 1003
The regulations for filming with drones/small unmanned aircraft have been changed, as of December 2020.
The new regulations do not differentiate between commercial and non-commercial use and instead focus on a risk-based approach. When you fly a drone in the UK you are now subject to different rules based on the weight of the aircraft that you wish to fly. These are split into categories for each class. You must comply with the regulations based on the category that your operation falls within. More information can be found on our Filming with drones webpage.
This information is intended for guidance when it comes to planning your flight. The responsibility lies with you, as the operator or pilot, to seek the official guidance from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), to ensure that you are operating legally within the UK.
Drone/aerial filming on SCC owned land
If any drone/aerial filming is being carried out on SCC owned land, we would want to see the following documentation:
Please contact us to discuss your plans further.
On-street parking suspension requests are administered by our external contractor NSL. You can find further information and apply for on-street parking suspensions via the SCC parking suspensions and waivers webpage.
Car park bay suspensions are managed by the borough/district councils. To find out how to apply with the relevant council, please refer to our Districts and Boroughs page.
Feel free to take a look through our online locations database. You will need to register to gain access, but it is free to use.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for, we will be happy to put our knowledge to the test and hopefully find you something that fits the criteria.
Permission will be required from Surrey Police, for any filming taking place from a moving vehicle (on a public road). Surrey Police will be able to advise whether police presence is required. Contact can be made using their online form.
We would also need to be notified so we can check the details with our Highways team. A risk assessment and proof of public liability insurance will be required. A permit will only need to be issued if temporary traffic control is required, which must be pre-agreed with our Highways team.
Applications involving the use of Surrey Police escorts for filming, are treated on a case-by-case basis and are dependent on availability. Please contact Surrey Police, using their online form.
For filming within Surrey:
The Environment Agency manages the non-tidal Thames, from the Cotswolds to Teddington (Surrey is within this). It is also responsible for the Thames Barrier. Contact either of the following for permission to film in the river:
andrew.croxford@environment-agency.gov.uk
Eliot.Beagles1@environment-agency.gov.uk
Alternatively, you can contact Russell Robson on the following:
russell.robson@environment-agency.gov.uk
For filming outside of Surrey:
The Port of London Authority (PoLA) presides over 95 miles of the Thames, from Teddington Lock to the sea (outside of Surrey). Any filming on this part of the river must have their approval and licence.
Contact Martin Garside on 01474 562 366 or email martin.garside@pla.co.uk
The Thames tow path is owned by various landowners, depending on the location & the areas of land the path runs through in Surrey. Some areas are owned by National Trust, which should be stated on wooden posts along the path. The majority is likely to be owned by the Environment Agency – please get in touch with us and we will be happy to pass you onto the relevant contact.
The Thames path is a public right of way, so permission is not required from SCC, however, it is advisable to check with the relevant landowner before filming takes place.
If your production is likely to affect the normal use of the public right of way, please get in touch with us to discuss.
You can manually register your property on the database, using our online registration form. Here you will be able to upload photos of your property, which will be the key selling point to film companies.
The database is free to register your property on, where it will be made available to the film industry as a potential film location.
Please find further information on our Registering your property page.
If you have any issues using the online form, please get in touch with us and we will be happy to help.
If filming activity involves the use of any animal, it is the keeper/trainer of the animals being provided that requires a licence for ‘Keeping or Training Animals for exhibition’. It is their responsibility to obtain this prior to filming and they should be able to provide this document to the production company, as proof.
The licenses are issued by the relevant local council for where the trainer/keeper is based. This is not something SCC provides as a service.
Below is a section from the government guidance document, in relation to filming with animals, that outlines the requirements for production companies:
Activities that fulfil one or more of the following criteria are not subject to licensing:
The rest of the document can be found in the following link: https://www.molevalley.gov.uk/sites/default/files/inline-files/Guidance_notes_for_exhibition.pdf
All children of compulsory school age (until the academic year in which they turn 16) require a performance licence to take part in any performance (A licence is granted by the local authority of where the child lives. This may not necessarily be the same local authority as the child’s school). Applications for performance licences should be submitted at least 21 days before the date of the first performance. Although SCC will process applications received with less than 21 days’ notice whenever possible, they cannot guarantee to do so. They will charge a fee of £35 per licence for applications received five full working days or less before the date of the first performance.
All the relevant information and forms can be found on our Filming with young people page.
We don’t currently hold a crew database of our own. We do however work in partnership with Creative England, who offer this facility. You may be interested in registering on the Creative England database, where you can register as crew for the local area.
Creative England will also be able to help connect you with local productions, as well as send out your details directly to production companies.
