Film permits are not required by the State of Texas. There are, however, various state and municipal regulations which may apply to certain film production activities. They are regulatory in nature and generally require only a simple check with the agencies concerned. The following cover the state laws that most frequently affect filmmakers. As always, please contact the Texas Film Commission in regard to special problems.
Filming on State Property | Labor | Production Grants | Sales Tax Exemptions for Film/Video Production | Doing Business in Texas
Traffic Control and Road Closures | Transporting Rolling Stock
Usually, requests to film on state-owned property can be handled entirely through the state agencies. The Texas Film Commission staff also has long-standing relationships with officials at many state agencies and organizations including Texas Parks and Wildlife, the Texas Department of Transportation, the State Preservation Board and the University of Texas.
Texas is a right-to-work state.
Texas' Moving Image Industry Incentive Program offers grants equal to 5% of in-state spending, including wages paid to Texas residents. Grants are available upon project completion to feature films, documentaries, television programs, commercials and video games. Both live-action and animated projects are eligible.
Many items purchased, rented or repaired for the production of film/video projects are exempt from state sales and use taxes (6.25%) and local sales taxes (0.25-2%). Eligible projects include features, television projects, commercials, corporate films, informercials or other projects such as training films. Films or videos not intended for distribution are not eligible for these exemptions. These exemptions are covered in the Texas Tax Code, Section 151.318 and the Comptroller of Public Accounts Administrative Rule 3.300.
These exemptions are also available to music producers during the studio master recording process. For more information on music industry exemptions please contact the Texas Music Office at 512-463-6666. For more information, see Tax Exemptions.
Out-of-state companies must obtain a Certificate of Authority in order to do business in Texas. This is a simple procedure; for more information, call the Secretary of State's Office, Corporate Division, at (512) 463-5555.
You may be asked to present the Certificate of Authority when opening a commercial checking account in Texas.
All restrictions to the routine flow of traffic must be coordinated through the proper law enforcement agencies. For street closures within cities and towns, contact the local police chief or the police department's public information officer. For closures of state or county roads outside the city limits, contact the county sheriff. For closures of farm-to-market roads, interstate highways or intrastate highways, contact the local Texas Highway Department at: 806-
Transportation of motion picture equipment (rolling stock) into Texas is governed by the Texas Department of Transportation. We recommend that you contact the Department as soon as possible regarding your transportation plans. Usually, all requirements can be satisfied before your trip to Texas begins. Entry requirements vary, depending on the vehicle's state of registration. Texas has commercial license reciprocity agreements with a few states, but not with Alabama, Alaska, Alberta (Canada), Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, or Wyoming. Operators of vehicles registered in these states should contact the Texas Department of Transportation, Texas Central Permit Center, (512) 465-1784, for specific requirements. Vehicle operators with home states operating under the International Registration Plan should obtain an apportion license plate from their respective Motor Vehicle Divisions. All commercial vehicles that have no prior agreements should obtain 72-hour trip permits ($25.00) or 144-hour permits ($50.00) when crossing the Texas state line. Temporary registration permits can be obtained prior to entry by contacting the Texas Central Permit Center in Austin at (512) 465-1784 or (800) 299-1700. A booklet, General Information Governing Commercial Vehicle Operation in Texas, is available from the Department of Transportation, (512) 465-7686 or (512) 451-2651.
Size and weight limitation in Texas:
Weight - 80,000 pounds
Width - 102 inches
Height - 13 feet, 6 inches
Length - no limit for combination;
45 feet for a single motor vehicle;
45 feet for a bus;
59 feet for a semi-trailer;
28 feet, 6 inches for each double trailer.
Wheel Load - 650 pounds per inch-width of tire.
The staff at the Texas Department of Transportation have often worked with motion picture companies, and they're ready to answer your questions. Contact them at the Texas Department of Transportation, Division of Motor Vehicles, (512) 465-7686 or (512) 451-2651.
For the most recent updates please contact http://www.governor.state.tx.us/divisions/film
Permission to reproduce Texas
Film Commission website information for noncommercial purposes is
freely granted.
This permission statement must be included in any noncommercial
reproduction.
Commercial use of any reproduction of this is strictly
prohibited.
© State of Texas, Office of the Governor, Texas Film
Commission
________________________________________________________________________________________
For more information contact us
at:
Anderson Model & Talent Agency
2722 West 6th Street, Amarillo, Texas 79106
Phone 806-374-1159 & Fax 806-374-2420
Email: talent@andersontalentagency.com
Copyright © Anderson Model & Talent Agency/Texas Film