Filming in Derbyshire: permits and fees
Derbyshire County Council handles filming on county highways and land; Chatsworth, Hardwick Hall, and Peak District moorland are separately managed.
Who issues permits
Derbyshire County Council manages filming on county highways and council-managed land. Derby city operates under Derby City Council as a separate unitary authority. The Peak District National Park Authority covers the moorland and upland areas of the Peak District — including much of the most-filmed landscape in the county — and has its own permit process entirely distinct from the county council.
Process
Contact the county council for county highway and council-land filming. Allow three to four weeks for standard applications, longer for road closures. Bakewell town and Matlock Bath are popular filming settings — both have limited infrastructure for large production vehicles, so advance coordination is important.
Fees
Fees are set on application. Highway filming carries permit and, where needed, traffic management charges. Location hire is priced individually.
Notable separately managed locations
- Chatsworth House — Devonshire settled estates, independent
- Hardwick Hall — National Trust
- Buxton Crescent — Derbyshire Dales District Council / private hotel operator
- Peak District moorland — Peak District National Park Authority
- Peak District Edale Valley — Peak District National Park Authority
- Derby Market Place — Derby City Council
Contact
- Email: customer.services@derbyshire.gov.uk
- Web: derbyshire.gov.uk
Apply via Derbyshire County Council → derbyshire.gov.uk
FAQ
- Who issues this filming permit?
- Derbyshire County Council issues filming permits for its area. Applications go through the council's filming / events team — not the local parks department or police, although those may also be consulted.
- How long is the lead time?
- Allow at least 21 working days. Complex applications involving road closures, drone use, or multiple locations need more — plan 2–4 weeks ahead where possible.
- What's the typical cost?
- Derbyshire County Council quotes filming fees case-by-case based on scale, duration, and public-realm impact. Small documentary crews are often charged an admin fee only; feature-film shoots involving road closures cost meaningfully more.
- What does this permit cover?
- The permit typically covers streets, parks, civic buildings. Private property and other national-body land (e.g. Crown Estate, National Trust, Royal Parks) may need separate consent.
- How do I apply?
- Apply via Derbyshire County Council's filming page at https://www.derbyshire.gov.uk. Submit your dates, locations, crew numbers, and equipment list. Expect a risk-assessment request and, for larger shoots, a pre-filming meeting.