Filming and Photography

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Woollahra Council is home to some of Sydney’s most iconic harbour and coastal locations including picturesque parks, reserves, foreshore areas and streetscapes that are highly sought after for filming and photography.

Council approval is required for all filming and commercial still photography conducted in public open spaces including footpaths and roads, with the exception of TV news crews and official media crews.

Filming on private land or other areas not managed by Council

Filming and photography undertaken on private property does not require approval.

All filming on private land must comply with legislation (SEPP 4), which includes:

  • notifying Council of filming activities with at least 5 working days prior notice
  • notifying residents in writing within a 50m radius of the filming location, with at least 5 working days prior notice

Note: In accordance with SEPP 4, filming must not be carried out for more than 30 days within a 12-month period at one particular location

Council approval is required if parking and traffic control is included in any filming activities on private property.

All filming should be in accordance with the Local Government Filming Protocol 2025.

Drone filming and photography

All commercial drone/remotely operated piloted aircraft (RPA) use, regardless of size or type, requires Woollahra Municipal Council approval to take-off or land on public land. Please register with CASA online.

Permits will not be issued to unlicensed operators even if you are proposing to use a drone which is under 2kg.

For all commercial RPA use, the following documentation must be submitted for all applications:

  • UAV Controller Licenses for all proposed operators
  • UAV Operator’s Certificate issued by CASA
  • Certificate of Currency of UAV Liability Insurance
  • Detailed aircraft operations plan outlining:
    • Take-off and landing zones
    • Proposed flight path
    • Proposed exclusion zones
    • Location of spotters

Please check the Drone Web APP to see where you can and can’t operate a drone/RPA.

Commercial operators of a drone/RPA are required to follow the standard operating conditions for commercial use of drones/RPA in public spaces:

  • You must adhere to Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Standard Operating Conditions.
    • You must only fly during the day, not at night.
    • You must only fly by visual line of sight (VLOS) - close enough to see, maintain orientation and achieve accurate flight and tracking.
      • This means being able to see the aircraft with your own eyes (rather than through first-person-view (FPV)) at all times.
    • You must fly no higher than 120 metres (400 feet) above ground level.
      • Referenced to a point on the ground immediately below the RPA at any time during the flight.
    • You must keep your RPA at least 30 metres away from other people i.e. any person who is not charged with duties essential to the safe operation of a remotely piloted aircraft.
    • To maintain public safety, a 30m “exclusion zone” must be identified and delineated with signage and bollards and tape.
    • You must not fly in a prohibited area or in a restricted area without the permission of the responsible authority.
    • You must not fly over populous areas, such as beaches, parks, sporting ovals and shopping precincts.
    • You must not fly your RPA over any area where, in the event of a loss of control or failure, you create an unreasonable hazard to the safety of people and property on the ground (populous area).
    • You must keep your RPA at least 5.5km away from controlled aerodromes - one with an operating control tower.
    • You must not fly your RPA over or near an area affecting public safety or where emergency operations are underway (without prior approval).
      • This could include situations such as a traffic accident, police operations, a fire and associated firefighting efforts, and search and rescue.
    • You must only fly one RPA at a time.
  • You must adhere to Woollahra Council’s Conditions for Operating a drone/RPA
    • You must not operate your RPA over Gap Park due to CCTV safety operations.
    • You must be CASA certified to operate a drone/RPA for a commercial purpose in Woollahra Council.

 

Notification

You must notify residences and stakeholders in a 50m vicinity of the location by way of letterbox drop, at least 2 workings days prior to the shoot. The notification should include information such as:

  • contact details
  • description of filming & photography activities
  • proposed location
  • commencement and completion dates and times
  • number of productions persons and potential parking arrangements

Apply for a permit

A permit must be issued prior to any filming and photography activity.

Please note: Public Liability Insurance of no less than $10 million is required. Woollahra Council must be listed as an interested party.

Filming Application

Stills Photography Application(PDF, 246KB)

Fees & Charges

Woollahra Council Filming Fees and Charges (valid until 30 June 2026)

Filming Fees

IMPACT LEVEL DESCRIPTION APPLICATION ASSESSMENT FEE APPROVAL FEE LATE APPLICATION FEE TRAFFIC ASSESSMENT FEE
No impact 6 or less cast and crew.
No application or approval required.		 – – – –
Low impact 7–25 cast and crew.
Minimal equipment.
Less than 4 trucks/vans.
1–2 locations.
Small unit base.		 $100 $180 $450 $140
Medium impact 26–50 cast and crew.
No more than 10 trucks/vans.
No more than 4 locations.
Unit base required.		 $100 $385 $963 $400
High impact More than 50 cast and crew.
Extensive equipment.
More than 10 trucks/vans.
More than 4 locations.
Large unit base required.		 $100 $670 $1,675 As per standard road closure fees
Additional fees (where applicable) Venue for catering or unit base in a public park.
Site inspection.		 Venue for catering or unit base: $137 per hour
Site inspection fee: $165

* Should any specific filming activity require an approval it must be assessed as ‘low impact’. No application or permit required (unless the land is Crown land or certain council-controlled community land, in which case it may be low impact, and an application or prior notification may be required - check with council prior)

Stills Photography Fees

FEE TYPE DESCRIPTION CHARGE
Application fee Per application $213
Location fee – Low impact 1–3 people $0
Location fee – Medium impact 4–10 people $207 per hour
Location fee – High impact 11 or more people $259 per hour
Late application fee Less than 7 business days $197
Late application fee Less than 3 business days $290
Bond (may be applicable) Subject to assessment $500 – $5,000
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