Cinematic sprawl: Suburbs putting guardrails around filmmaking activities

With filmmaking gaining a firm foothold in the state, suburbs like Naperville, Lisle and Long Grove have either put guardrails in place to protect their towns or are working toward that goal.

Filmmaking is big business in Illinois, with expenditures in the state reaching a record $703 million in 2025, according to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s Office of Film.

The state issued more than $200 million in tax credits last year, said Peter Hawley, Illinois Film Office director.

“We’re getting more and more feature films coming to Illinois,” Hawley said. “They’re not on sound stages. They’re almost all on locations.”

Hawley said 90% of the production in the state is in the Chicago area. That activity is exhibiting suburban sprawl.

Long Grove has been one community reaping the benefits. Its rural charm has provided an attractive background for Christmas-themed romance.

Now the village is discussing amending the village’s code to insert guidelines on commercial filming/photography. The proposed ordinance would establish fees of $250 per day for small productions with 10 people or fewer, $500 per day for medium productions with between 11 and 30 people, and $1,000 per day for large productions with greater than 30 people.

“It would clarify what the fees and process would be to receive a permit to film in the downtown or Long Grove generally,” Village Manager Chris Sparkman said.

He said the ordinance is intended to offset some of the village’s costs. Sparkman mentioned one in particular, associated with the closing of the iconic covered bridge on Robert Parker Coffin Road.

The ordinance would include a $250 per day fee for closing the bridge for special events.

Other towns have baked guidelines for filming into their code, balancing friendliness with accountability.

Those towns include Naperville, where the 2022 release “Most Guys Are Losers” was shot in 2019, using such locations as the city’s Riverwalk.

Under Naperville’s guidelines, filming on public streets or sidewalks requires a permit through the Community Services Department depending on conditions.

These conditions range from blocking streets and sidewalks and road closures, to the production of amplified noise and the use of disruptive or alarming lighting equipment or props. Police services may also be required, with the production company responsible for their cost.

Other requirements include notification of surrounding businesses, residences, schools and houses of worship.

Explosives, pyrotechnics, gunfire (including blanks), weapons and speeding cars are prohibited unless approved by the city.

In addition, the Naperville Park District must be contacted for filming on the Riverwalk.

Lisle Community Engagement Specialist Amanda Pazdan said the village requires a permit for commercial filming, with exceptions like news media and portrait photographers.

The village charges an application processing fee of $75 per application and requires the filming company to pay an administrative/public land use fee of $100 per week.

“Our village board has been in support of commercial filming in general, so the fee is relatively low to reflect that,” Pazdan said.

Applicants must pay for the costs of any police, public works or other village personnel assigned to the project. Disruptive use of a public building or facility, including parks, train depots or train platforms, could result in costs as high as $500 per day, as well.

The village, Pazdan said, mainly sees indoor locations used for filming commercials rather than movies.

Hawley said the Illinois Film Office leaves permitting to municipalities or regional offices, like ones in the Quad Cities or Champaign County.

“We mostly handle tax credits,” he said.

Hawley said his office does provide best practices on what smaller jurisdictions can do to support filmmakers and take care of their communities.

John Bosher, who co-founded production company Throughline Films with Chris Charles and produces Christmas-themed romance movies through their Very Merry Entertainment arm, said regulations vary among municipalities.

“We have rolled into communities where they have never had film production before, so they are kind of figuring it out along with us,” he said.

But he’s never encountered anything that would halt production.

“I’ve never seen an application fee that I thought was crazy unreasonable,” Bosher said.

szalusky@dailyherald.com