Modernize Your Special Event and Film Permitting Process: A Smarter Approach

Special events and film productions energize communities—fueling economic growth, strengthening civic engagement, and highlighting local attractions.

But behind the scenes, managing the permitting process for these initiatives can be a daunting challenge for public agencies. Whether it’s a large-scale festival or an action-packed film shoot, coordinating approvals across multiple departments and agencies requires efficiency, transparency, and seamless collaboration.

The problem? Many public agencies still rely on outdated land-use or facility reservation systems that were never designed for the dynamic and fast-moving nature of special event and film permitting.

These traditional systems create bottlenecks, causing delays, miscommunication, and frustration for both applicants and agency staff. As permitting processes become increasingly complex, the need for a purpose-built, digital solution has never been greater.

Special Event Permitting: Like Building a Town in a Day

Hosting a special event is like constructing an entire town—only to dismantle it within hours. Public safety approvals, street closures, electrical distribution, food and alcohol service, and waste management must all be carefully planned and executed. The more complex the event, the more agencies must be involved, from police and fire to transportation and parks.

Outdated permitting systems struggle to manage these complexities, leading to delayed approvals, fragmented communication, and inefficiencies that can slow down event planning. Eproval simplifies special event permitting by offering a solution that:

• Automates workflows, reducing administrative workloads and accelerating approvals.
• Enhances interagency collaboration, ensuring all departments have access to real-time information.
• Provides transparency, allowing applicants, reviewers, and the public to track the status of permits and associated requirements.

“Eproval is specifically designed to support complex permitting processes that require concurrent approvals,” says Jonathan Thompson, Managing Director of Eproval. “By centralizing communication, automating workflows, and providing real-time updates, we help agencies streamline approvals while improving transparency for all stakeholders.”

Eproval not only makes event approvals more efficient but also helps public agencies better support their communities by enabling smoother, safer, and more organized events.

Learn more about how Eproval can streamline every aspect of special event permitting here. 

Film Permitting: Better Position Yourself as a Film-Friendly Destination

From independent films to blockbuster productions, the film industry brings jobs, business revenue, and national exposure to communities. However, not all film productions are created equal—a simple scene in a park requires far fewer approvals than a car chase through city streets or an explosion on a bridge.

Depending on the scope of the production, multiple agencies may need to be involved including police, fire, transportation, and parks. Managing these approvals without a centralized, digital system can lead to delays, miscommunication, and missed opportunities.

Eproval is designed to handle the unique demands of film permitting by:

• Simplifying approvals with automated workflows and streamlined processing.
• Improving coordination by allowing agencies and production teams to communicate and share updates in real time.
• Accelerating permitting timelines, ensuring that productions stay on schedule while meeting all safety and compliance requirements.

By adopting a modern, digital film permitting solution, public agencies can better position themselves as film-friendly destinations—making it easier for productions to operate while ensuring public safety and minimizing community disruption.

Learn more about how Eproval streamlines film permitting – for productions of any size here. 

A Smarter Approach to Special Event and Film Permitting

The permitting landscape is evolving, and public agencies need modern tools to keep up with the demands of today’s special events and productions. Eproval is purpose-built for special event and film permitting, helping agencies reduce complexity, improve efficiency, and enhance transparency in their workflows.

With streamlined processes, real-time collaboration, and automated approvals, public agencies can focus on what matters most—supporting vibrant, safe, and economically beneficial events and productions in their communities.