Productions

Filming Guidelines Permits & Insurance Film Incentives Filming Near Albuquerque Unions & Guilds

Filming Guidelines

Please check out our City of Albuquerque’s Film, Television and Photography Guidelines. Before filming, each production is required to send a signed copy of these guidelines to the Albuquerque Film Office.

Permits and Insurance

Permitting - Click Here to Request a Film Permit

Permits are required for production on all City property (streets, sidewalks, lots, facilities, and structures). It is required that a permit and other required documents are submitted 72 business hours (this does not include holidays or weekends), prior to any filming activities including move-in, move-out of filming location, basecamp, crew parking, equipment set up/removal, crew arrival, filming, and rehearsal. A permit including any kind of closure or intermittent traffic control on Central Avenue must be submitted 7 business days in advance (not including holidays or weekends).

Closures & Intermittent Traffic Control (ITC)

Intermittent Traffic Control on roads other than residential roads cannot occur during rush hours which are 7 a.m. - 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. – 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. Rush hour restrictions may be in effect in other areas depending on circumstances.

A permit including any kind of closure or intermittent traffic control on Central Avenue must be submitted 7 business days in advance (not including holidays or weekends).

During seasonal special events, including but not limited to the New Mexico State Fair, the International Balloon Fiesta, and the Holiday Shopping Season, there may be temporary moratoriums and/or limitations as to when and where closures and intermittent traffic control (ITC) can be conducted and permitted.

Certificate of Insurance (COI)

Before filming, the production is required to provide a Certificate of Insurance (COI) naming the City of Albuquerque as the additionally insured. The following are the minimum insurance requirements and are subject to change based on scope. The City of Albuquerque may require a higher insurance amount based on factors including location and nature of the filming activity.

Drone & Photography Insurance

The Albuquerque Film Office does not issue drone permits. All drone activity for filming must be approved by the Federal FAA as there are some very important safety guides in place. For more information visit the FAA website.

Film Incentives

New Mexico continues to offer one of the most competitive incentives package in the industry, which includes a 25% to 35% Refundable Film Production Tax Credit.

Please visit the New Mexico Film website for more information.

Filming Near Albuquerque

The greater Albuquerque area has a multitude of diverse landscapes. Below is a sampling but please visit the New Mexico Film website for a complete database of locations state-wide.

Los Ranchos de Albuquerque

For information on the permit process visit the Los Ranchos website and reach out to us for any questions.

Village of Corrales

The village sits next to the Corrales Bosque Preserve on the Rio Grande, part of the 125-mile cottonwood forest that lines the river in central New Mexico. Other venues include: TopForm Arena, Casa San Ysidro, several old homes on the Historic Register, operating farms, breweries and wineries.

Rio Rancho

• One-Stop Permitting:Rio Rancho is the place for versatile, affordable and hassle-free location shoots. Few permits are needed to film in the Rio Rancho area, which makes production easy and cost-effective. We will also help with obtaining permits:
  • when filming requires street/lane blockage or closures
  • when filming obstructs pedestrian traffic
  • when filming open space, public parks or historical sites
  • when filming on federal, state and tribal lands
• Rio Rancho City personnel, including police traffic control, are available at $32 per hour per employee. City services, including the use of heavy equipment, are billed on an hourly basis at cost. All fees must be paid in advance.

Permits in Other Places

Bureau of Land Management & U.S. Forest Service

The BLM Field Office will issue “minimum impact” permits for production purposes. Permits may be issued at the BLM Field Office after it has been determined that the filming activity will have a minimum impact on public land. A reasonable amount of time is needed to process the permit; the rule of thumb is two weeks.

Albuquerque BLM Field Office

The local Forest Ranger District Office grants permits. The permit process includes completing an application, obtaining standard liability insurance coverage and providing a summary of the shoot. A two-week review period is requested. Forest fire restrictions may apply. Phone: 505-761-8700 Fax: 505-761-8911.

U.S. Forest Service

• Cibola National Forest: 505-346-3900
• Magdalena Ranger Distric: 505-854-2281
• Mountainair Ranger District: 505-847-2990
• Sandia Ranger District: 505-281-3304
• Taylor Ranger District: 505-287-8833

National Parks

Each individual Park Superintendent issues National Park Service Permits. A two-week application-reviewing period is requested. The application process entails a $100 non-refundable application fee, a possible performance bond (depending on the extent of the shoot) and a minimum $100 per day location fee. Other costs may include Park Rangers fees to monitor production.

• Petroglyph National Monument: 505-899-0205
• Salinas Pueblo Missions: 505-847-2585 ext. 21

State Park

All State Parks require a Special Use Permit and at least a two-week notice. The minimum cost for a Special Use Permit is $15 and increases depending on the scope and needs of the project. Permits can be issued by the Park Superintendent but may be referred to the State office, depending on the scope of the project.

• Coronado Campground Bernalillo: 505-980-8256
• Rio Grande Nature Center Albuquerque: 505-344-7240
• Manzano Mountains State Park Mountainair: 505-847-2820
• State Monuments The intent of the permit system for State Monuments is to ensure that the historic and natural features are protected and visitor use is unimpeded. A Special Use Permit and a thirty-day notice (preferred) are required for any filming intended for public viewing or commercial advertising. The administrative non-refundable fee is $50. Still photography is $100 per day and film and video is $250 per day.
• Coronado State Monument Bernalillo: 505-867-5351

Unions & Guilds

Local IATSE 480

Represents professional technicians working “below-the-line” on TV and movie productions in the state of New Mexico. Since 1988, Local 480 has covered experienced film workers in ninety-nine crafts within twenty departments. It is our goal to provide our members with the benefits of safe working conditions, health coverage, and retirement.

Teamsters Local 492

The Teamsters are widely considered the most powerful Union in the world. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), Formed in 1903 now represents a diverse membership of blue-collar and professional workers in both the public and private sectors. Our union has approximately 1.4 million members nationwide and over 2500 members are served by Local 492 over the entire state of New Mexico.

Local IATSE 600 – International Cinematographers Guild

The International Cinematographers Guild represents the most talented camera professionals and publicists in the world. The technicians and artisans in our union are the creators of the visual images on the big screen, the television screen and our computer screen.