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Ordinance amending and supplementing the City of Pittsburgh Code, Title Four (“Public Places and Property”), Article XVII (“Motion Pictures”) by amending Chapter 492 with respect to drone filming on, of, within or above City parks, in connection with commercial drone use as referenced in City Code Ch. 473.04 (“Recreational Activities”), City regulations and Federal Aviation Administration regulations.
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WHEREAS, the City‘s Departments of Parks & Recreation and Public Safety seek Council’s approval to amend §§492.02 and 492.03 in connection with commercial drone use consistent with the City’s existing film permit and approval process (i.e. accompanied by proper licensure and insurance) as set forth in City Code Chs. 473.04 and 492 (including regulations promulgated thereunder) while still prohibiting recreational drone filming of, within, or above City parks;
The Council of the City of Pittsburgh hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1.
City of Pittsburgh Code, Title Four (“Public Places and Property”), Article XVII (“Motion Pictures”), Chapter 492 is hereby amended and supplemented as follows:
§ 492.02 - ADMINISTRATION AND REGULATIONS.
(a) The Mayor or the Mayor's designee shall promulgate regulations for the processing and issuance of film permits, including, but not limited to, guidelines relating to the sections set forth in this Chapter as well as:
(1) Notification to affected businesses and residents;
(2) Traffic control and street closures;
(3) Requirements for filming in residential areas or in the Central Business District;
(4) Removal of trees/vegetation;
(5) Specific criteria defining high and low impact filming activities.
[(6) Conditions applicable to authorized drone use for commercial filming activities]
(b) The City Film Permit Office shall administer this Chapter and the regulations promulgated pursuant to this Chapter.
§ 492.03 - FILM PERMIT REQUIRED.
Except as provided in Section 492.04 of this Chapter, it is unlawful to conduct a filming activity on [, of, within or above] City property or on a public way without first obtaining a film permit from the City Film Permit Office. [The requirements of this subchapter are applicable to permissible drone usage as set forth in City Code §473.04.] Once issued, a film permit must be in the possession of the named permittee at all times while on location(s) in the City. An applicant must separately obtain a private property owner's permission, consent, and/or lease for use of non-City property and/or other property that is not owned or controlled by the City.