Location Release Agreement Template

In plain language: Identifies the Licensor and Licensee by full legal name, describes the physical address and specific areas of the property covered, and states the purpose of the agreement.

Common mistake: Describing the location only by street address without specifying which rooms, floors, or exterior areas are included — leaving the scope of access open to dispute when a crew tries to enter areas the owner considered off-limits.

In plain language: Grants the Licensee a non-exclusive, limited license to access and use the property solely for the described production activity — photography, filming, audio recording, or a combination.

Common mistake: Using broad language like 'any and all media purposes' without specifying the production. This could be read to authorize future shoots, sublicensing to third parties, or uses the owner never intended to permit.

In plain language: States the specific dates and hours during which the crew may access the property, including setup, shooting, and wrap time.

Common mistake: Omitting wrap and setup time from the access window. Crews consistently need an hour or more on each end — leaving this unspecified leads to overtime disputes and property access conflicts.

In plain language: Specifies the compensation the Licensee will pay, the payment schedule, the method of payment, and whether a security deposit is required.

Common mistake: Failing to specify a security deposit or damage holdback. Without one, a Licensor seeking compensation for minor damage must pursue a separate legal claim rather than making a straightforward deduction.

In plain language: Sets ground rules for crew behavior on the property — number of crew members, prohibited areas, noise limits, equipment restrictions, parking, and the owner's right to have a representative present.

Common mistake: No cap on crew size or equipment. A homeowner who permits a 'small film crew' can find 30 people and a generator truck on their property with no contractual basis to object.

In plain language: Allocates risk between the parties — typically requiring the Licensee to indemnify the Licensor against claims arising from the production's use of the property, and waiving the Licensor's liability for injury to the Licensee's crew.

Common mistake: One-sided indemnification that places all risk on the property owner. Courts in many jurisdictions will not enforce indemnification clauses that attempt to relieve a party of liability for their own negligence — a balanced clause is both fairer and more likely to hold up.

In plain language: Requires the Licensee to carry and maintain adequate insurance coverage — typically commercial general liability with a minimum limit — and to name the Licensor as an additional insured for the shoot period.

Common mistake: Requiring a certificate of insurance but not requiring the Licensor to be named as an additional insured. A certificate alone only proves the policy exists — additional insured status is what actually protects the owner if a crew member is injured on the premises.

In plain language: Requires the Licensee to restore the property to its pre-shoot condition and establishes a process for documenting damage and calculating repair costs.

Common mistake: Skipping the pre-shoot walk-through inspection and documentation. Without a baseline record of the property's condition, any damage claim becomes a credibility contest rather than a documented contractual obligation.

In plain language: Grants or restricts the Licensee's right to identify the location by name, address, or distinctive visual features in the finished production and in promotional materials.

Common mistake: Omitting this clause entirely. A production that identifies a private residence or business by name in a commercial context without permission may expose the Licensee to a separate right-of-publicity or false endorsement claim.

In plain language: Specifies the jurisdiction whose law governs the contract, the mechanism for resolving disputes, and confirms the written agreement supersedes all prior oral or written understandings.

Common mistake: Choosing a governing law with no connection to where the property is located. Some jurisdictions require that disputes over real property interests be litigated in the state or province where the property sits — regardless of what the contract says.

A location release agreement is a legally binding contract between a property owner and a production company or photographer that grants permission to use a specific physical location for filming, photography, or other media production. It specifies the access dates, permitted activities, compensation, insurance requirements, and liability allocation, and gives the production the documented rights needed for distribution and broadcast.

Yes — any time you film or photograph on property you do not own, a signed release is required. This applies to private residences, commercial buildings, restaurants, retail stores, and even some public spaces that have restrictions on commercial filming. Distributors, broadcasters, and streaming platforms routinely require signed location releases as part of errors-and-omissions (E&O) insurance documentation before they will accept a finished production.

A film permit is issued by a government authority — city, county, or parks department — authorizing production in a public space. A location release agreement is a private contract between the production and a property owner for access to privately owned premises. Many productions require both: a permit for public streets or parks and a release for any privately owned buildings or land featured in the same shoot.

The Licensor must be the property owner or a person with legal authority to grant access — such as a long-term tenant with a sublicense right or a property manager acting under a written authorization from the owner. The Licensee is typically the production company's authorized signatory. Both parties should sign before the first day of access, not on the day of the shoot.

Location fees vary by property type, market, and shoot duration. Residential properties in major US cities typically run $500–$5,000 per day. Commercial spaces, warehouses, and unique properties with production appeal often start at $1,500–$10,000 per day. For non-commercial or student productions, owners sometimes agree to a nominal fee of $1 plus a credit — but a proper release must still be signed regardless of the fee amount.

Yes — the agreement can restrict use to specific media (broadcast, digital, theatrical), specific territories, or a limited time period. It can also prohibit identifying the location by name or address in the finished work. Any use beyond what the agreement expressly permits requires a separate negotiation and a written amendment or new release.

Under a properly drafted location release agreement, the Licensee is responsible for restoring the property to its pre-shoot condition and for the cost of repairing any damage. The pre-shoot inspection report and photographs are the primary evidence for determining what damage occurred during the production. If a security deposit was collected, the Licensor may deduct documented repair costs before returning the balance.

Generally yes, if the content is commercial in nature — branded posts, sponsored content, or advertising — and filmed on private property. Organic personal posts are typically not subject to the same commercial use requirements, but any production intended to promote a brand or product should have a signed release to protect both the creator and the brand client from property-related claims.

No — a location release covers only the physical property, not the individuals who appear on camera. Anyone identifiable in the footage should sign a separate model or talent release form. Property owners who appear incidentally in footage should also sign a personal release, distinct from the location agreement, if their likeness will be used in the finished production.