Production permits in the Florida Keys & Key West are issued without charge.
If shooting is to occur on private property only, a permit is not required although all production companies are requested to notify the Florida Keys & Key West Film Office regarding their intentions, whether on private or public property.
If shooting in Key West, permits can be obtained from the City of Key West's City Manager's Office. If shooting outside Key West limits, on county beaches, parks or streets, a permit is to be issued from the Monroe County Public Works Department.
Both the county and film office require a current insurance certificate indemnifying the appropriate county and/or municipality for a minimum of $1 million. Location fees may apply for use of government buildings and parks.
Permits are not issued with less than 48 hours notice and it is advisable to provide at least a two-week notice when possible. If the project is a feature film, the permit procedure should begin as soon as a location has been chosen.
For state roads and bridges in the Keys, the Florida Department of Transportation should be contacted, as well as the Monroe County Sheriff's Department and the Florida Highway Patrol. The Key West Police Department should be notified if intentions are to shoot on Key West city streets. As a facet of the permitting process, local officials may require production companies to hire local officers to assist in traffic control.
If production requires shooting in adjacent waters, the Florida Marine Patrol and the United States Coast Guard need to be advised of the activity.
The following table lists permit names and numbers. In addition, the Film Commission Office stands by to provide additional support.
| AREA |
CONTACT |
PHONE |
GENERAL (register all filming activities with the film commission) |
Rita Brown, Film Liaison Florida Keys & Key West Film Commission ritabrow@aol.com |
800-FILM-KEYS 305-293-1800 Fax: 305-296-0788 |
|
CITY OF KEY WEST (Includes all areas except private land) |
Permits City Manager's Office |
305-809-3888
Fax: 305 809-3886 |
|
ISLAMORADA VILLAGE OF ISLANDS (Includes all areas except private land) |
Permits Stu Bautz |
305-664-6456
Fax: 305-664-9983 |
|
MONROE COUNTY (All areas but Key West) |
Public Works Department |
305-295-4385 |
|
MONROE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPT. (Special Details) |
Cudjoe/Key West - 7 Mile Bridge Sgt. Suzanne Morgan |
305-289-2430 |
7 Mile Bridge - Long Key Sgt. Suzanne Morgan |
305-289-2430 |
Long Key - 18 Mile Stretch Lt. Corey Bryan |
305-853-3211 Cell: 305-481-7806 |
|
FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL (Bridge Filming) |
Lt. McKinny |
305-289-2386 |
|
FLORIDA DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION (Includes state roads and bridges) |
Ernesto Santisterban, Issues Permits 1000 NW 111 Ave., Room 6215 Miami, FL 33172-5800 |
305-470-5368 305-289-4360 305-289-2350 |
|
| U.S. COAST GUARD |
|
305-292-8713 |
FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION |
1-800-DIAL-FMP |
305-289-2320 |
| NAVAL AIR STATION |
Public Affairs Office |
305-293-2425 |
| FLORIDA STATE PARKS |
Robert Wilhem |
850-245-3076 |
| BAHIA HONDA STATE PARK |
Manny Perez |
305-872-3162 |
| FORT ZACHARY TAYLOR |
David Foster |
305-292-6850 |
| DRY TORTUGAS/FT. JEFFERSON |
Linda Roehrig |
305-242-7744 |
| PIGEON KEY (MARATHON) |
Kelly McKinnon |
305-731-9080 |
| PENNEKAMP STATE PARK |
Pat Wells |
305-451-1202 |
| LONG KEY STATE REC. AREA |
Kim Crouch |
305-664-4815 |
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