Filming in Leeds: permits and fees
Leeds City Council's filming service covers streets, parks, and civic spaces with support from Screen Yorkshire for larger regional productions.
Who issues permits
Leeds City Council’s filming team coordinates permits and links productions to the highways, parks, or legal department as required. Screen Yorkshire supports larger productions working across the wider Yorkshire region.
Process
Submit a filming request with at least five working days notice for small shoots. Productions requiring road closures or park hirings need a minimum of three weeks. The team will ask for location details, shoot dates and times, crew size, a risk assessment, and proof of public liability insurance.
Fees
Street permits are issued at modest admin rates. Park hire and civic building fees vary by venue. Major productions involving road closures face traffic management and highways charges in addition to filming admin fees.
What’s covered
Public streets and footways, council parks including Roundhay Park and Temple Newsam grounds, civic buildings such as Leeds Town Hall, public squares and markets. The city’s Victorian civic architecture and the canal-side Granary Wharf area are popular with productions.
Typical restrictions
Noise after 22:00 requires specific approval. Traffic management plans must be submitted for road closures. Leeds City Council requires insurance of £5 million public liability as a minimum. Drones over public spaces need CAA authorisation and advance council notice.
Contact
- Email: filming@leeds.gov.uk
- Web: leeds.gov.uk/filming
Apply on the Leeds City Council website → leeds.gov.uk
FAQ
- Who issues this filming permit?
- Leeds 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 5 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?
- Leeds 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 Leeds City Council's filming page at https://www.leeds.gov.uk/business/filming-in-leeds. Submit your dates, locations, crew numbers, and equipment list. Expect a risk-assessment request and, for larger shoots, a pre-filming meeting.