Film Permits

Behind the Scenes of ‘Little Women’ (1994)

Southern Vancouver Island is comprised of thirteen municipalities and permit offices. There are also regional, provincial, and national parks, National Defense, and First Nations land to consider among others. Start here for information on where to apply for general filming, street use, and special electrical permits around the Capital Region.

The majority of film permits will require production insurance coverage.

MUNICIPALITIES MAP

Municipal Contacts and Filming Guidelines

All municipalities in Greater Victoria are film-friendly and will expedite the permitting process whenever possible. Applications for filming permits, licenses or location permits should be completed by an accredited Location or Production Manager or company representative.

To determine in which municipality your locations are located, please view the comprehensive map of the Capitol Regional District (zoom for more detail).

DISTRICT OF VICTORIA

1 Centennial Square
Victoria, BC,  V8W 1P6

Arts, Culture, and Events Liaison: David McConachie

Phone

Email

Web: Filming In Victoria

Permit Processing: You need to apply at least two weeks (10 working days) before you intend to start filming.
Costs: Base costs of required services
Insurance: General liability of $5,000,000

DISTRICT OF SAANICH

770 Vernon Avenue
Saanich, BC  V8X 2W7

Film Liaison: Sarah Faria

Phone

Email

Web: District of Saanich

Permit Processing: Minimum 5 business days prior
Costs: Base costs of required services
Insurance: General liability of $5,000,000

PDF Info:
Saanich Film Permit Guidelines
Saanich Film Permit Application Form

DISTRICT OF CENTRAL SAANICH

1903 Mt Newton Cross Road
Saanich, BC   V8M 2A9

Film Liaison: 

Permit Processing: Minimum 2 weeks prior
Costs: Base costs of required services
Insurance: General liability required of $2,000,000

DISTRICT OF NORTH SAANICH

1620 Mills Road
North Saanich, BC  V8L 5S9

Public Works Administrative Assistant: Sarah Fairbrass

Phone

Email

Web: District of North Saanich

Permit Processing: Minimum 1 week prior
Costs: Base costs of required services
Insurance: General liability of $5,000,000

DISTRICT OF OAK BAY

Recreation Oak Bay
1975 Bee Street
Victoria, BC  V8R 5E6

Film Liaison: Steve Meikle

Phone

Email

Secondary Contact: Andrea Pass

Phone

Email

Web: District of Oak Bay

Permit Processing: Minimum 2 weeks prior
Costs: Base costs of required services
Insurance: General liability of $3,000,000

CITY OF COLWOOD

3300 Wishart Road
Colwood, BC  V9C 1R1

Film Liaison: Sandra Russell

Phone  ext. 123

Email

Web: City of Colwood

Permit Processing: Minimum 1- 2 weeks prior
Costs: Base costs of required services
Insurance: General liability required of $5,000,000

TOWNSHIP OF ESQUIMALT

1229 Esquimalt Road
Esquimalt, BC  V9A 3P1

Film Liaison: Meghan Nicklin

Phone

Email

Event/film permit Application Here

Website: Township of Esquimalt

Permit Processing: Minimum 5 business days prior
Costs: Base costs of required services
Insurance: General liability required of $5,000,000

CITY OF LANGFORD

2nd Floor, 877 Goldstream Avenue
Langford, BC  V9B 2X8

Contact: Donna Petrie

Phone

Email

Web: City of Langford

Permit Processing: 2 weeks
Costs: Base costs of required services
Insurance: General liability of $2,000,000

TOWN OF VIEW ROYAL

45 View Royal Avenue
View Royal, BC  V9B 1A6

Film Liaison: Jennifer Cochrane

Email

Phone

Fax: 250-727-9551

Web: Town of View Royal

Permit Processing: 2 weeks
Costs: Base cost of required services
Insurance: General liability of $5,000,000

DISTRICT OF SOOKE

2205 Otter Road
Sooke, BC  V9Z 1J2

Community Economic Development Officer: Gail Scott

Email

Phone Number

Manager, Parks and Environmental Services (Parks): Emma Taylor

Email

Communication Coordinator: Christina Moog

Email

District of Sooke Website

Permit Processing: 2 weeks
Costs: Base cost of required services
Insurance: General Liability $2,000,000

PDF Info:

Film Permit Policy & Application Form Permit Fees (see Schedule I)

TOWN OF SIDNEY

2440 Sidney Avenue
Sidney, BC  V8L 1Y7

Contact: Kristi Johnson

Phone

Email

Web: Town of Sidney

Permit Processing: Minimum 3 business days prior
Costs: Base costs of required services
Insurance: General liability of $2,000,000

DISTRICT OF HIGHLANDS

1980 Millstream Road
Highlands, BC  V9B 6H1

Film Liaison: Loranne Hilton

Phone

Email

Web: District of Highlands

Permit Processing: 2 weeks
Costs: Base costs of required services
Insurance: General liability of $5,000,000

DISTRICT OF METCHOSIN

4450 Happy Valley Road
Metchosin, BC  V9C 3Z3

Film Liaison: Sherry Hurst

Web: District of Metchosin

Permit Processing: Minimum 2 weeks prior
Costs: Base costs of required services
Insurance: General liability of $2,000,000

PORT RENFREW

Port Renfrew Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 39, Port Renfrew B.C. V0S 1K0

Contact: Dan Hager
Phone

Email

Film Liaison: Chris Gelson
1-250-360-3036

BC PARKS

Filming requirements for Provincial Parks will differ by location and time of year to prevent impacts to natural, cultural and recreational values.

Park, Conservancy and Recreation Area Regulations Special Conditions and Park Contacts
FrontCounter BC – Permit Application Process BC Parks Commercial Filming Permit Info & Application

If you have further questions after reading the above documents regarding Provincial Parks South of Shawnigan Lake, please contact the Acting Parks and Protected Areas Section Head Craig Meding.

Contact: Craig Meding – Acting Parks and Protected Areas Section Head
Phone | Email

For more information regarding any filming within BC Parks, please contact: Megan Beveridge

Capital Regional District (CRD) Parks

CRD Regional Parks protects and manages more than 13,300 hectares of natural areas in 33 regional parks and 4 regional trails on southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.

Contact: Jeanette Mollin
Phone | Email

PDF Info:CRD Park permit and usage info

Pacific Rim National Park

Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is a 511 km² national park located in British Columbia, Canada, which comprises three separate regions: Long Beach, the Broken Group Islands, and the West Coast Trail. It is located in the Pacific Coast Mountains, which are characterized by rugged coasts and temperate rainforests

Permit Info

Crystal Bolduc –  Promotions Officer
Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
TelephoneEmail

Gulf Islands National Park Reserve of Canada

2220 Harbour Road
Sidney, BC  V8L 2P6

Contact: Breanna Rice
Ph: 250-654-4064
Fax: 250-654-4014
Email

Filming within a national park, national marine conservation area,
national historic site or inside a heritage building:
Film and Photography Fees (Page 136)

PARKS CANADA

Shooting guidelines for National Parks and Historic Sights vary by location.

Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site of Canada & Fisgard Lighthouse

603 Fort Rodd Hill Road, Victoria, BC  V9C 2W8

Contact: Jodi Hawkins
Ph: 250-478-6481
Fax: 250-478-8415
Email

PDF Info: Filming at Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse NHS – Information and Guidelines 2012

BC Ferries 

British Columbia Ferry Services Inc.
Suite 500-1321 Blanshard Street
Victoria, BC  V8W 0B7

Contact: Zoe King, Manager, Customer Service Centre
Phone | Email

Web: Filming with BC Ferries

Washington State Ferries

2901 3rd Avenue Suite 500, Seattle, WA 98121

Contact: Jadwiga Kellock, Business Service Manager
Phone |
Email

Web: Washington State Ferries

BC Highways

Ministry of Transportation & Infrastructure

Contact: Amy Barker, Special Events & Filming Coordinator
Phone | Email

Department of Fisheries and Oceans

To Film On Shore Below High Tide Line

Regional Fisheries Protection Office: Phone

Self Assessment: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/pnw-ppe/index-eng.html

UAVs/ Drones

Flying your drone safely and legally, drone registration, drone pilot certification, where and where not to fly, and reporting a drone incident.

Phone
Transport Canada Standards