Filming in Surrey: permits and fees
Surrey Film Office manages highway filming permits and location support across Surrey, with a well-resourced dedicated service and published lead times.
Who issues permits
Surrey Film Office handles filming on the county’s public highways and land. Based at Merrow, Guildford, the service is one of England’s more established county film offices, with a named contact, a published fee schedule, and clear lead times. District and borough councils within Surrey manage their own land separately, so some productions require multiple parallel applications.
Process
Lead times depend on shoot scale:
- Under 5 cast and crew on highways: 2 working days
- Standard highway permit: 10 working days
- Traffic management involved: 20 working days minimum
All applicants must also notify Surrey Police separately using their online form and supply a reference number. Public liability insurance of at least £10 million is required for any highway or public rights of way filming.
Fees
Highway filming fees are published on the Surrey Film Office fees page. Location hire for council-owned assets is priced separately and agreed case by case.
What’s covered
Surrey highways and road network. Council-managed countryside and parks. Surrey’s public rights of way network — these must remain open at all times unless a written agreement is reached. County civic buildings.
Drones and additional requirements
Drone filming requires separate clearance and full CAA compliance. Surrey Film Office has dedicated guidance for drone applications — contact the office before including drone work in any application.
Contact
- Email: filming@surreycc.gov.uk
- Phone: 07975 234268
- Web: surreycc.gov.uk/culture-and-leisure/film-office
- Address: Surrey Film Office, Whitebeam Lodge, Merrow Complex, Merrow Lane, Guildford GU4 7BQ
Apply via the Surrey Film Office → surreycc.gov.uk
FAQ
- Who issues this filming permit?
- Surrey 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 10 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?
- Surrey 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 Surrey County Council's filming page at https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/culture-and-leisure/film-office/filming. Submit your dates, locations, crew numbers, and equipment list. Expect a risk-assessment request and, for larger shoots, a pre-filming meeting.