Munich location scouting
Location Scout Munich: hire a scout or build the shortlist yourself
Freelance scout, agency, the Film Commission Bayern database or your own search in SetScout: which option fits your Munich production, what it costs and how the city permit route works.
- Options
- Scout, agency, database, SetScout
- Scout pay
- Usually a day rate
- Permit lead time
- 10 working days
Finding a scout
Four ways to find locations in Munich
Which route fits depends on budget, deadline and how unusual the motif is.
Freelance location scout
Experienced scouts know owners, authorities and hard-to-find motifs. According to the Bundesverband Locationscouts, its members usually work for fixed daily rates rather than commission; mileage and expenses come on top. The association's website lists scouts by region.
Location agency
Agencies bring an archive, several scouts and contract handling. Worth it for large projects or tight deadlines; ask whether placement fees are included in the location fee.
Film Commission Bayern
The Film Commission Bayern at FFF Bayern runs the location database filmlocations-bayern.de, a production guide and contacts to scouts and service providers in Bavaria.
SetScout search
Search Munich locations by look, room type or script scene, save candidates in lists and request bookable host listings directly, before a scout goes out on site.
Workflow
How to use SetScout for Munich
Go from a Munich brief straight into the live location database in a few searches.
Define the production look and approval path
Search for premium kitchen, corporate lobby, Bavarian villa, hotel suite, suburban family home, daylight studio or controllable exterior option.
Prepare recce and location-management questions
Use a shortlist to decide what must be checked on site: access, parking, light, sound, unit base, neighbors, special use and backup options.
Permits
Filming permits in Munich
According to the City of Munich, shoots on public roads, paths and squares are handled by the Mobilitätsreferat (Verkehrs- und Bezirksmanagement, film service office).
Lead time
The city states a standard processing time of ten working days, five for low-effort shoots and fifteen when a road closure is needed. Fees follow the city's fee schedule and are billed after the shoot.
When no permit is needed
Low-effort shoots need no permit: handheld or shoulder camera, at most one tripod camera, portable light and sound, no more than five people on site, no drones or generators, and pedestrians must not be obstructed.
Green spaces, pedestrian zones and private ground
Parks, non-public city property and schools need separate permits; vehicles may not drive into green spaces. Deliveries into pedestrian zones outside loading times need an extra access permit.
Related SetScout searches
Build a Munich shortlist before the first site visit
Compare realistic options in SetScout, then spend paid scout days only on places that match the brief.