Those wishing to film or photograph on CU Boulder's campus are required to fill out an application for an external filming and photography permit. News Media do not need a permit to film on campus. Please reach out to filmrequests@colorado.edu with questions. 

The information below contains our standard film and photography policies, please read thoroughly before submitting a permit application.

Download Film Guidelines  Apply for Photography, Motion Picture, Video and Television Permit

Strategic Relations and Communications is responsible for managing and processing motion picture, video production and still photography requests by qualified production companies to work on the CU Boulder campus and associated properties. Please download and read the film, television and photography guidelines before contacting Strategic Relations and Communications. 

Please note that the University does not endorse social life or lifestyle reality television nor productions featuring violence, discrimination of any kind, sexual situations, drug or alcohol use. Nor do we allow the use of the University’s name in advertising to endorse products or companies without the president’s approval.

This requirement does not apply to photo or video shoots on behalf of departments or other CU Boulder units, or local television or national networks covering daily news stories. Notification that a reporter and/or production crew is coming to the campus is appreciated. If there are questions or assistance is needed please contact our office. You will be required to submit a film permit application and sign a location agreement. 

FAQs

Yes, filming on campus is permitted only if it does not interfere with normal university business and/or previously scheduled events; the University’s academic mission is of primary importance. A University of Colorado Boulder photography, motion picture, video and television permit is required to film on campus. The permit can be approved only when all of the following requirements have been met:

  1. Specific date(s) and location(s) are confirmed and approved by SRC. 
  2. University personnel, if required, are available. 
  3. Parking Services approve parking plan for both production vehicles and private cars. Call 303-735-7275. 
  4. Certificate of Insurance (see INSURANCE below) is received by the SRC no less than two (2) business days prior to filming. 
  5. Full payment of all fees, and other estimated charges, are received by SRC no less than two (2) business days prior to filming. 
  6. All security and damage deposits, if required, are received by SRC no less than two (2) business days prior to filming. 
  7. The application for the CU Boulder Photography, Motion Picture, Video & Television Permit is completed and returned to SRC ten (10) days prior to filming. 
  8. A signed Film Location Agreement. 

Yes, you do need permission to film at the various locations and facilities on campus. Please contact the appropriate departments, if needed, for permission to use their facilities. Below is a list of popular departments and facilities for your reference:

Yes, you do need insurance to film at the various locations and facilities on campus. Company shall carry sufficient insurance to cover any and all liabilities that may occur during its use of university property. The university must receive a Certificate of Insurance and an Additionally Insured Endorsement, naming The Regents of the University of Colorado as additionally insured, for the day(s) of filming, load in and strike a minimum of two (2) business days prior to filming and/or load in. Coverage must be as follows: 

  • $1,000,000 (one million dollars) for general liability, including property damage; 
  • $1,000,000 (one million dollars) automobile liability, including hired and non-owned vehicles; 
  • Statutory limits/worker’s compensation; 
  • $1,000,000 (one million dollars) employee liability. 

The certificate Holder shall be: The Regents of the University of Colorado, University Risk Management, 1800 Grant Street, Suite 700, Denver, CO 80203-1187. Certificates must be sent via e- mail to: urmucbdirs@cu.edu with a copy sent to SRC at cunews@colorado.edu. Policies shall be primary to all other coverage that may be concurrently in effect. All policies shall be underwritten by a company licensed to do business in the State of Colorado. Office of Risk Management 303-735- 5900.

Yes, the cost to shoot at CU Boulder is a combination of the CU Boulder film permit fee, event manager staffing costs, parking, police or other miscellaneous services needed for the shoot. Please note separate fees may apply for use of campus facilities. For contact information, please refer to the Athletics and Events Services section of the guideline. 

The permit fee is based on a half-day/full day/flat rate system. The time coverage by the permit begins when the first production vehicle arrives until the last one leaves on the day(s) of the shoot. The Half-Day is six (6) hours and the Full Day is twelve (12) hours. Any shoot over six hours will be considered a Full Day, and any shoot over twelve (12) hours will be charged additional fees based on hourly rates. 

Permit Fees: 

Commercial Film/Television Production Companies

  • Half-Day: $1,500.00
  • Full Day: $3,000.00
  • Overtime Rate (over 12 hours) hour: $150.00 

Production Companies producing non-educational based programing 

  • Half-Day: $500.00
  • Full Day: $1,000.00
  • Overtime Rate (over 12 hours) hour: $150.00 

Production Companies producing educational based programing 

  • Half-Day: $225.00
  • Full Day: $500.00
  • Overtime Rate (over 12 hours) hour: $150.00 

Independent/Documentary Production Companies 

  • Half-Day: $200.00
  • Full Day: $250.00

Still Photography Companies 

  • Flat Rate (up to 10 hours): $125.00 

Sample Staffing and Parking Fees 

  • Event Manager*: $125.00 per hour 
     
  • Community Safety Officers: $30.17 per hour
  • Police: $77.20 per hour (typically CUPD requires officers work in pairs); 
     
  • University Memorial Center Security: $22.50 per hour
  • Athletics Security: $30.17 per hour 
     
  • Billed Event Manager hours will include scouts and preparation, shoot day and wrap.

Separate fees may apply for use of campus facilities. For contact information please refer to the Athletics and Events Services section of the guideline.

Campus communicators, multimedia producers, researchers, and anyone else who might like to fly a drone over campus, have to go through a rigorous training program in order to operate a UAS on and over campus. CU Boulder has a Director of Flight Operations within the department of Integrity, Safety, and Compliance, and all Third-Party Operator Requests need to go through him for approval. Specific information regarding this can be found on the Division of Public Safety site. 

To fly a drone on campus as a third-party operator, we require the following:

  • Certificate of UAS insurance
  • Proof of UAS registration
  • Detailed safety plan to include times of operation, plans to avoid flights over people, plans for takeoff and landing, etc.
  • If the flight obstructs access to any facility, or requires any facility to be closed, you must coordinate with the appropriate facilities manager; Flight Operations cannot give approval for obstructing access to or closing a facility.
  • This plan must be submitted to the Director of Flight Operations no less than 10 business days in advance of the desired flight time; we strongly recommend submitting this proposal 14 business days in advance of the desired flight time.

With all of that said, we do have an extensive video archive of drone footage on campus. We are able to provide this footage upon request.