Streets Department

The Streets Department is responsible for the repair, maintenance, design and construction of all City streets, including lighting and cleaning. It performs all the City’s traffic engineering (regulating traffic flow) and collects and disposes of all rubbish.

Filming on City Streets

If you are filming a scene on a street or bridge or if you need to place a camera, equipment or crew on a City street, it is always preferable to avoid the rush hours (7:00-9:30 A.M. and 4:00-6:30 P.M. weekdays), allow for at least one lane of traffic (in both directions) at all times, and maintain a safe pedestrian walkway at all times. Intermittent traffic stoppage can be arranged. This type of traffic restriction requires enough police assistance to adequately control and redirect traffic.

All requests for complete closure of a street are handled on an individual basis. As a general rule, the Streets Department is most favorable to closure of major streets during off-peak hours (7:00 P.M.-7:00 A.M.). Streets that are not used heavily are easier to close for longer periods of time. The Film Office coordinates the permits that are required by the Streets Department and the police assistance necessary to close a street or bridge. Street closure requires 3-5 business days notice.

Street Signage and Lighting

You may request the temporary removal of street light(s), traffic signal(s), and other traffic control devices or other adjustments in the systems. All costs must be paid by the production company. This must be done with the approval of and in coordination with the Streets Department, with work to be done by Department approved contractors. Requires 3-5 business days advance notice.

A production company may temporarily remove and then replace street signs themselves with the approval and under the supervision of the Streets Department.

Street Cleaning and Wetting

You may request the services of a City street flusher (a truck that is used to wet down a street) or a mechanical broom (an apparatus that cleans gutters and small areas of the street and slightly wets the street). Requests require a 24-hour notice. If the area you request is already scheduled for a cleaning and/or flushing that night, you will not be charged for the service. If that is not the case or if you require the extended use (stand by) of the equipment, you will be required to pay for the rental and for the operator’s time. Costs (including an operator) for mechanical brooms and flushers range from $32.50 to $50.00 per hour, dependent on the time of day or night it is needed.

A flusher is not a water truck and does not come equipped with hoses or any other means to clean buildings or for concentrated cleaning of certain areas of a street. (For hoses and hydrants see: Fire Department). Flushers are not available when temperatures are below 32 degrees.

Sanitation Department Vehicles and Facilities

The Sanitation Department operates a fleet of 9-yard, 20-yard, 25-yard and 32-yard rear loading compactors, which may be available for a scene. Costs (including an operator) range from $37.50 to $55.00 per hour.

The Sanitation Department operates one transfer station (rehandling facility to prepare rubbish for movement to a landfill). The facility may be available for filming. Requests are handled on an individual basis.