FILMING ON NASHVILLE STREETS + SIDEWALKS
Planning to film on a public street or sidewalk in Nashville?
Productions using or impacting Nashville's public right-of-way may need a Metro Nashville Film Permit and, depending on the production, additional permits for street, lane or sidewalk closures.
WHEN IS A FILM PERMIT REQUIRED?
Metro Nashville currently requires a film permit when film, video, digital or still photography activity:
Takes place on public property, including streets
Closes a street
Closes or temporarily stops a lane of traffic
Impedes vehicle traffic
Closes a sidewalk or impedes pedestrian traffic
Requires on-street parking for production vehicles
Requires parking meters to be bagged
Places lights, cameras, flats or other production equipment on public property
METRO NASHVILLE FILM + SPECIAL EVENTS
DOWNLOAD THE NASHVILLE FILM PERMIT APPLICATION
STREET, LANE + SIDEWALK CLOSURES
If your production needs exclusive or restricted use of a street, traffic lane, bike lane or sidewalk, a separate right-of-way permit may be required.
The Nashville Department of Transportation + Multimodal Infrastructure (NDOT) handles these permits.
Current permit categories include:
Street closures
Lane closures
Bike lane closures
Sidewalk closures
Right-of-way permit applications are currently submitted through Nashville's ePermits system.
NASHVILLE TEMPORARY STREET CLOSURE PERMITS
HOW MUCH DOES A STREET OR SIDEWALK CLOSURE COST?
As of August 2026, NDOT currently lists a $160 permit fee for up to five days for temporary:
Street closures
Lane closures
Bike lane closures
Sidewalk closures
Additional fees apply after five days.
These fees are separate from the standard Nashville Film Permit fee.
Always check current NDOT rates before budgeting your production.
TRAFFIC CONTROL
Productions closing or restricting streets, lanes or sidewalks may also need an approved traffic control plan.
The requirements depend on the type and duration of the closure. More complicated closures may require a traffic control plan prepared by a licensed engineer.
Driving shots, intermittent traffic control and other productions affecting moving traffic should be discussed with Metro early in pre-production.
WHAT ABOUT A SMALL CREW ON A SIDEWALK?
Don't assume that a small crew automatically means no permit is necessary.
The important question is how your production is using the public space.
A production that places lights, cameras, stands or other equipment on a public sidewalk—or interferes with pedestrian traffic—may require permitting even if the crew itself is small.
If you're unsure whether your setup requires a permit, contact the Metro Nashville Office of Film + Special Events with an accurate description of your shoot.
FILMING AT A PRIVATE LOCATION WITH A PUBLIC SIDEWALK
A common scenario is filming at a privately owned restaurant, store, home or other location while part of the production spills onto public property.
For example:
Private property:
Camera + talent inside a restaurant.
Public property:
Lighting equipment on the sidewalk, production vehicles on the street and crew staging in a public alley.
The private location agreement does not automatically give the production permission to use the surrounding public right-of-way.
Always consider the entire production footprint, not just where the camera is pointing.
PRODUCTION PARKING
Metro's current film permit requirements specifically include on-street parking for vehicles involved with the production, including cast + crew parking and craft services.
If your production needs street parking, meter bags or space for production vehicles, include those requirements when planning your permit rather than addressing them on shoot day.
OFFICIAL RESOURCES
METRO NASHVILLE FILM + SPECIAL EVENTS
NASHVILLE FILM PRODUCTION PERMIT APPLICATION