Filming in Kent: permits and fees
Kent County Council handles filming on public highways and council land, with major heritage sites managed independently by English Heritage, National Trust, and private estates.
Who issues permits
Kent County Council manages filming on county-maintained highways and council land. The county’s many district and borough councils handle their own public spaces — Canterbury City Council, Maidstone Borough Council, and Folkestone and Hythe each have separate filming procedures. Most of Kent’s headline filming locations operate independently of the county council.
Process
Contact the county council’s highways team for road filming and closure orders. Allow at least four weeks for formal road closure notices. Chatham Historic Dockyard has its own application process. Canterbury Cathedral, Dover Castle, Hever Castle, and Leeds Castle all require direct contact with their respective management teams.
Fees
Highway filming fees are set by the council. Specific location hire costs are set by the managing body of each site. Major heritage properties in Kent typically have bespoke day rates for commercial productions.
Key heritage locations and their managers
- Canterbury Cathedral — Cathedral management, contact direct
- Dover Castle — English Heritage
- Hever Castle — private estate
- Leeds Castle — independent charitable foundation
- Penshurst Place — private estate
- Chatham Historic Dockyard — independent trust
- Folkestone Harbour — Folkestone Harbour and Seafront Development Company
Contact
- Email: customer.services@kent.gov.uk
- Web: kent.gov.uk
Apply via Kent County Council → kent.gov.uk
FAQ
- Who issues this filming permit?
- Kent 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 28 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?
- Kent 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 Kent County Council's filming page at https://www.kent.gov.uk. Submit your dates, locations, crew numbers, and equipment list. Expect a risk-assessment request and, for larger shoots, a pre-filming meeting.