Liverpool Film Office Residents Section

Film & TV production helps to raise the profile of Liverpool to a wide audience, is a source of revenue for the council and local causes and generates employment opportunities for local people and businesses.

With a growing number of productions coming to film in the Liverpool City Region each year the Liverpool Film Office recognises the growing interest and impact this may have. With this in mind we have created a list of Frequently Asked Question ranging from how you can get involved to

Before you contact the Liverpool Film Office, you might find it helpful to check our FAQs below.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Filming good for Merseyside?

Millions of pounds are added to the Liverpool City Regions’ economy each year by Film and the Creative Industries companies who choose to work here. The main benefit of this is employment this can be directly the local people being hired as crew, stewards, security, actors and extras. Also a number of Merseyside companies facilitate television and film production from caterers, timber merchants to hotels

What’s in it for me if there’s filming in my neighbourhood?

We encourage filmmakers to speak with the local community to reach agreement before filming. Often this agreement involves donations to local community spaces like parks or schools, or to local charities or local associations of residents or traders. Sometimes it can also involve opportunities for locals to be involved in the filming. Filming in Merseyside is also a source of revenue for each of the Councils. Often filming crews are local and will wish to return to the neighbourhood with another project so will work hard to make filming a positive experience. Another common benefit is when your road is closed and cleared of cars often the production will pay for the street to be cleaned after filming as a Thank You.

If I want to make a personal video do I need permission?

No, this sort of filming would probably not need a permit. As a general rule, if your video involves less than five people, is not for commercial purposes and does not cause an obstruction or nuisance on public or council property, you do not need a licence. If you are unsure please contact the Liverpool Film Office on 0151 233 0178

How can I get involved?

You can I get involved in many ways, be it having you property filmed within, being an extra or looking to start a career in TV and Film Production. Guidance on each can be found across this website

What do I get out of letting people film on my property?

Allowing the use of your home, land or business as a location can be an exciting and possibility profitable venture and because productions usually leave money behind with other businesses and landowners in the area, it can be a positive opportunity for the entire community.

How much would it cost me to add a location to Liverpool Film Office’s location library?

This is a free service for properties in Merseyside. For details on how to register your property on the Liverpool Film Office Location Database and the benefits of it please have a look our Location Owners Guidelines

How do I become an extra/background artists?

If you’re looking to become an extra the best next step would be joining a Casting Agency. An agency can help to match you up with the right jobs. For a list of Merseyside based Casting Agencies can be found here.

My child has been cast in a film or photo shoot, do they need a special licence?

Yes. The type of licence would depend on the age of the child. Please contact the Safeguarding Unit within the local authority that the child resides. Please find below a link to Liverpool City Councils guidance on this.http://liverpool.gov.uk/business/licences-and-permits/child-employment-and-performance/

I have received a letter about filming through my door, what is it?

Probably it is a letter to notify you about planned filming in your neighbourhood. The letter should include the contact details of the filmmaker who can answer any questions you have about the filming. Should it not be clear or not include contact details for the production please contact the Liverpool Film Office on 0151 233 0178.

Is there a risk of my neighbourhood becoming overrun by filmmakers?

Our main priority is to protect the interests of the community during filming, which means making sure this doesn’t happen. We monitor the amount of filming throughout the region, as well as feedback from the community, to see if any neighbourhoods are being over-used. We often use our local knowledge to suggest alternative locations to make sure that filming is as evenly distributed as possible.

Filmmakers are filming me without my permission

There is no specific right under English law to not be filmed in public but you do have legal rights to privacy and data protection which might be violated by filming under certain circumstances. Guidance notes for filmmakers is available, but is it widely know, advising that they should look to have your permission if you appear on film, especially if you feature significantly. However, there are situations when you might be filmed ‘incidentally’ and it is not reasonably possible for the filmmaker to get your permission (for example if you are one of a large crowd in public). In these cases, we expect filmmakers to make people aware (for example with ‘filming in progress’ signs). If you have spoken to the filmmaker and you believe that they are not living up to these expectations, we also have a 24 hour emergency phone number for you to call us on and we will immediately contact or visit the set to resolve the situation. If a filmmaker does not act responsibly, it will count against them in future applications to film.

Filmmakers are filming my property without my permission

Generally speaking you have no legal right to prevent your property being filmed (there some are exceptions). Nonetheless, we expect filmmakers to behave responsibly and to react positively to reasonable requests from property owners. If you have spoken to the filmmaker and you feel that the film crew are not living up to these expectations, we have a 24 hour emergency phone number for you to call us on and we will immediately contact or visit the set to resolve the situation. If a filmmaker does not act responsibly, it will count against them in future applications to film.

My neighbour has filming booked in, what can you do to stop it happening?

We cannot stop it happening because it is on private property. However, we are usually able to use our influence to encourage filmmakers to act responsibly even when on private property, so do contact us (using our 24 hour emergency phone number if necessary) if you are concerned about this and we will do what we can.

Filming activities are causing excessive noise or light

Some filming activities make noise and bright light. The majority of filming is only permitted between 7am and 11pm to minimise the disturbance this might cause. If we think a planned shoot is likely to cause significant disturbance, we make sure that the filmmakers come to an agreement in advance with people in the neighbourhood for example through letters and Q&A sessions with local associations of residents or traders. We can include any agreed conditions in the permit and can take bonds from the filmmakers. We also have a 24 hour emergency phone number for you to call us if you are being disturbed, and we will immediately contact or visit the set to resolve the situation. If a filmmaker does not act responsibly, it will count against them in future applications to film. Further details on this can be found in the Filming in Liverpool Code of Practise Appendix 2 Filming Outside Social Hours and Appendix 3 Filming in Residential Area Protocol

Filming personnel are being rude or antisocial

We expect film crews to film and act responsibly, and consider any rude or antisocial behavior to be unacceptable. Before most shoots filmmakers will give their contact details to local people, so if a member of the film crew is rude or antisocial you can contact the filmmaker directly. If this does not resolve the situation, you can call us on our 24 hour emergency phone number and we will immediately contact or visit the set to resolve the situation. If a filmmaker or their crew does not act responsibly, it will count against them in future applications to film. For further details please Filming in Liverpool Code of Practise Appendix 3 Filming in Residential Area Protocol

What is the best way for me to make my voice heard about filming in my neighbourhood?

The Liverpool Film Office and filmmakers regularly consult with local resident associations and trader associations. These include but are not limited to formal Tenant and Resident Associations. The best way to be involved in these discussions is to join or create a local association like this and contact us if necessary so that we know about it.

Why do you need to close roads for filming?

Closing roads is sometimes unavoidable for health and safety reasons – for example if there are dangerous stunts – or if it is necessary for certain scenes for example in period films.

Filming activities are blocking my route, or restricting access to my house or business

Filmmakers may NOT block access to your house or business without your permission. Neither may they block a pavement or highway while it is in use, although in some cases we may close off an area for them. If we think a planned shoot is likely to cause an obstruction, we make sure that the filmmakers come to an agreement in advance with anyone who might be affected for example through letters and Q&A sessions with local associations of residents or traders. We can include any agreed conditions in the permit and can take bonds from the filmmakers. We also have a 24 hour emergency phone for you to call us if you are being disturbed without your permission, and we will immediately contact or visit the set to resolve the situation. If a filmmaker or their crew does not act responsibly, it will count against them in future applications to film.

Why do you sometimes need to suspend parking bays for filming?

Suspending parking is sometimes unavoidable to make sure there is space for essential technical vehicles, or to keep roads clear for certain shots like period shots. Technical vehicles often need to be parked right next to the location for health and safety reasons, for example reducing the amount of electrical cables around the set. We proactively explore with the council ways to minimise the impact of suspending bays. Resident and Business Permits do not guarantee the holder a parking space, and the council has the right to suspend bays. When this is necessary for filming we always insist on the Production Company giving advance notice at the affected bays. We work with the production to identify close by, secure alterative parking. For further information on this please refer to Filming in Liverpool Code of Practise Appendix 3 Filming in Residential Area Protocol

What if a parking bay is suspended while I’m parked there and nobody tells me, or I’m on holiday?

Your vehicle will not be impounded and you will not have to pay a penalty, it is likely the production will dress around or disguise the vehicle. Should the parking on the vehicles be deemed unsafe or the potential to cause damage to the vehicle. The vehicle will be moved to a nearby location (normally the next street) and Liverpool City Council will notify the police where it is. The council follow the same procedure if parking is suspended for any other reason, such as utility works.

There is unrestricted parking on my road which film makers use to park constantly. How can I stop this from happening?

While there is no legal means to prevent parking on unrestricted roads, we will always try to find alternative parking that works for everyone.

My business has suffered because of filming in the neighbourhood

If the Liverpool Film Office thinks that a proposed shoot might disrupt nearby businesses, we expect the filmmaker to contact the owners in advance of the shoot to reach an agreement for example through letters and Q&A sessions with associations of residents and traders. If you believe your business is suffering and you did not agree to the filming, then please contact us (using our 24 hour emergency phone number if necessary).

I wish to complain, how do I go about this?

In the first instance we would ask that you contact the Liverpool Film Office on 0151 233 0178 or if the if something that can be rectified immediately and it is out of hours contact us using our 24 hour emergency phone and we will immediately contact or visit the set to attempt to resolve the situation. The vast majority of times issues are resolved at this time. However should you not be satisfied with how the situation has been resolved please follow Liverpool City Council’s Complaints procedure which can be found at here.