County of Brant is inviting residents to participate in an online survey about its filming policy.
Introduced in 2024, the policy (CM-2024-03) guides how filming takes place in the community and provides rules for notifications, traffic and parking controls, filming hours, noise limits, road access, and support for residents and businesses.
In an email to the Brant Beacon, Zach Gable, Director of Economic Development and Tourism, explained that the County decided to implement the policy after increased production activity.
“Prior to 2024, the County did not have a formal filming policy in place. While film activity had occurred in the past, the Motorheads production represented the largest-scale and most frequent filming the County had experienced,” he said. “That project highlighted the need for clear, consistent parameters around filming activity. Creating a formal policy provided staff with a framework to set expectations for production companies, ensure appropriate permitting, and better balance filming activity with the needs of residents, businesses, and communities.”
He went on to say that since the policy was first introduced, it’s helped the County manage filming activity more efficiently.
“The policy has been effective in providing staff with a clear tool to guide conversations with production companies and manage filming activity across the County,” said Gable. “It has helped establish expectations around scale, location, and impacts, and has allowed the County to permit film activity in a more structured and consistent way.”
Now that the policy has been in effect for just over a year and filming has occurred in several communities since then, staff are now reviewing whether it is functioning as intended and managing filming activity appropriately. Gable said that gathering public feedback is a big part of that process.
“Public feedback is essential at this stage. Residents and business owners experienced both the benefits and challenges of filming firsthand, particularly during larger productions,” he said. “Their input will help the County understand where the policy is working well and where adjustments may be needed. Gathering feedback ensures the policy continues to reflect community expectations, respects the character of local neighbourhoods and downtowns, and supports a balanced approach to filming moving forward.”
Staff are encouraging residents to read the policy ahead of taking the survey, as to better understand the various details that are included in it.
As far taking the survey, there are three options:
- Online: at EngageBrant.ca/Filming
- In Print: hard copies are available for pick up at the main County of Brant Customer Service locations until Friday, January 30 at 4:30 p.m.
- Over the phone: by calling 519-442-7268 or 1-855-442-7268
The survey will close on Friday, January 30, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. Once it’s closed, staff will review community input, identify common concerns and suggestions, and prepare recommended amendments to the Filming Policy if needed. A What We Heard summary as well as the full survey results will also be shared and posted on Engage Brant.
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
