Filming in Exeter: permits and fees
Exeter City Council manages filming in city parks and public spaces; Exeter Cathedral Close requires a separate permit from the Dean and Chapter.
Who issues permits
Exeter City Council’s events team manages filming on council-managed public land and parks. Exeter Quay routes through the city council. Highway filming on Devon County Council-maintained roads within the city requires Devon County Council involvement. Exeter Cathedral and its close are managed entirely separately by the Dean and Chapter.
Process
Contact the city council’s events team with full production details, dates, and a risk assessment. Allow three to four weeks. For the Cathedral, apply directly to the Cathedral authorities with a separate enquiry — Cathedral Close filming has its own protocols around access, vehicle movements, and operating hours.
Fees
City council permits are priced on application. Cathedral location hire is negotiated directly with the Dean and Chapter. University of Exeter estate fees are set by the university’s estates team.
What’s covered
Council parks and green spaces across Exeter. Exeter Quay and waterfront. Public pedestrianised areas in conjunction with highway authority. Council civic buildings.
Cathedral Close
Exeter Cathedral is one of the great Gothic cathedrals, and its close is a filming favourite. No commercial vehicles may enter the close without explicit Cathedral permission. Apply early — the close is heavily booked during spring and summer.
University estate
Exeter College refers to Oxford, but the University of Exeter’s Streatham Campus is a distinct estate managed by the university’s facilities team.
Contact
- Email: info@exeter.gov.uk
- Web: exeter.gov.uk
Apply via Exeter City Council → exeter.gov.uk
FAQ
- Who issues this filming permit?
- Exeter City 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?
- Exeter City 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 Exeter City Council's filming page at https://exeter.gov.uk. Submit your dates, locations, crew numbers, and equipment list. Expect a risk-assessment request and, for larger shoots, a pre-filming meeting.