Rent a filming location in Chicago, IL

Countless iconic movies have been filmed in Chicago, including Ferris Beuller’s Day Off, Divergent, My Best Friend’s Wedding, Spider-Man 2, and many more (click here for a detailed list courtesy of the City of Chicago). Keep reading for our deep dive into everything you must know about filming locations in Chicago. Beginning by describing the most significant Chicago neighborhoods and suburbs along with the public transportation that’ll get you there (including CTA train lines, Metra services, and buses), we’ll then move onto the logistical stuff. This includes the cost of filming locations (so you can plan a realistic budget), seasonal and weather considerations, and permitting and legal requirements for filming in Chicago. Just on the Peerspace platform, Chicago has over 900 filming locations and production spaces available for rental. We’d understand if you found this to be a pretty overwhelming array of options, so to help you find the filming location you’re looking for, we’ve also included four examples of the best filming locations in and around the city. This will get you started with an idea of what’s out there before you begin to search Peerspace yourself. If you do decide to search Peerspace, we strongly recommend utilizing the platform’s numerous filters (e.g., price per hour, space type, amenities, attendees, etc.) to ensure your search results are a little more targeted, so you don’t waste ages scrolling through listings that don’t meet your needs.

Each neighborhood in Chicago is defined by its specific culture and history, which is what gives the city its diverse character and thrilling vibrancy. Here are some of the most important and well-known neighborhoods and suburbs of Chicago: Neighborhood: The Loop About: Chicago’s central business district, with world-famous architecture and cultural landmarks like the Art Institute of Chicago Public transport options: Numerous Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) train lines, Metra services, and bus routes Neighborhoods: Bucktown and Wicker Park About: Offers a hip and eclectic vibe with unique music venues, cafes, and independent boutiques Public transport options: Blue CTA line and bus routes Neighborhood: River North About: Location of many cool art galleries and upscale restaurants along with exciting nightlife options Public transport options: Red and Brown CTA lines; bus routes Neighborhood: Lincoln Park About: Visit for the neighborhood’s namesake park as well as Lincoln Park Zoo and trendy boutiques and restaurants/cafes Public transport options: Red, Purple, and Brown CTA lines; bus routes Suburb: Evanston About: Home of Northwestern University, with a picturesque lakefront and tons of historic charm Public transport options: Metra’s Union Pacific North Line and Purple CTA line Suburb: Oak Park About: Visit to see Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture and explore its diverse cultural offerings Public transport options: Metra’s Union Pacific West Line and Green CTA line Suburb: Naperville About: Further out than Evanston and Oak Park, this suburb has a family-friendly feel with a bustling downtown area Public transport options: Metra’s BNSF Railway Line

Chicago’s overall cost of living is an estimated 20 percent higher than the United States average, which means it’s pretty affordable for a city. Considering that it’s the third most populous city in the country, it’s significantly less expensive than the second most populous (Los Angeles) and much, much more affordable than the most populous (New York City). In most cases, this affordability will also translate to the cost of filming locations in Chicago, which tend to be less costly than equivalent spaces in other U.S. cities. But their hourly cost can vary depending on factors like the type of venue, the venue size, the location, and included amenities and equipment (such as filming and lighting equipment). Chicago offers filming locations that are as cheap as $20 per hour (like this creative production studio with 31 sets to choose from) as well as those that cost $1000 or more per hour (like this West Loop studio that comes with a variety of equipment). Although it’s tough to generalize when the price range is so broad, an average price for photo studios in Chicago (excluding the costliest outliers) is about $70 per hour.

Are you hoping to film outside? The weather will be a major consideration, which means that the specifics of this plan will depend on the season when you’re filming. While Chicago has hot summers that reach an average of the lower 80s Farehnheit in July, its winters are notorious for how cold and snowy they can get. This cold and snow peaks in January and February, and the freezing nighttime temperatures can last all the way until May.

You’ll need to get a permit to film in Chicago if you’re planning on using equipment or vehicles on public property, blocking pedestrian or vehicular traffic, utilizing stunts, special effects or drones, or closing streets. But if you're filming a small production on private property (such as at a film studio that you can rent by the hour), you won’t need a permit to do so. In addition, keep in mind that the Chicago Park District, Navy Pier, Millennium Park, and the Chicago Transit Authority issue their own separate filming permits, so their rules and guidelines differ from the rest of the city. The City of Chicago issues permits for filming on public property like streets, sidewalks, and alleys, charging $250 per day, per location. However, if you’re filming a student film or an independent projec,t you can contact their office for a reduced rate of $25 per day/per location. Learn more about the Chicago Film Office and the guidelines surrounding permits for filming on the City of Chicago’s official website.

Check out our favorite recommendations for Chicago-based filming locations:

• You’ll find a range of different sets at this creative film and photography studio in Jefferson Park, located only a few blocks from the CTA’s Jefferson Park Blue line station. It offers an open layout as well as useful amenities like filming equipment and props. The variety of sets are so eclectic and colorful that they’re difficult to describe, so we’d recommend taking a look at the photos in the listing to get a better sense of whether they’d suit your planned film shoot. One of them is a green room where you’ll feel like you’re immersed in verdant leaves and nature, while other rooms are decorated with tons of graffiti and art.
• This modern bohemian natural light studio is ideal for video shoots that need a warm, minimalist backdrop and plenty of sunlight. The space measures 2,000 square feet, with 12-foot ceilings and capacity for up to 25 people at a time. It features a private dressing area, a loading dock, a freight elevator, and roof access. Additional tools and amenities that come with your rental include tons of filming and lighting equipment, a custom RBG circle wall (see the photos in the listing for more details), blackout curtains, a clothing rack, a Bluetooth speaker, a refrigerator, and more. The hosts also note that location scouts are welcome for bookings with a four-hour minimum, and they can accommodate one 15-minute scouting visit before the booking has been made.
• Visit Spectrum Studios to utilize the five impressive music video film sets at their loft-style space. What are the themes of the rooms, you ask? Choose from the vinyl records studio, the jungle TV safari, the cyberpunk room, the interrogation room, or the picture gallery (or use a combination of any of them). The space measures about 1,100 square feet in total and can accommodate up to 20 people at a time. The rental also includes access to two bathrooms, a clothing rack, WiFi, space to change, and a Bluetooth speaker. When you consider renting this space, keep in mind that studio lights and video equipment are not included in the rental fee, and the studio itself has a black ceiling and no natural light. For an additional fee, you can gain access to specific video equipment add-ons, included in the Peerspace listing for reference.
• For a film or video shoot that requires raw industrial vibes, look no further than this industrial production space film and photo studio. It contains a whopping 8,000 square feet of space, with soaring 30-foot (!) ceilings, clerestory windows wrapping three sides (for tons of natural light), exposed brick, and even an atrium skylight. There are two overhead doors that make it easy to load in and load out or drive cars directly into the space. Despite its industrial feel, the space also has electricity, WiFi, bathrooms, lights, and heat, without sacrificing its raw aesthetic. There are numerous separate spaces within the space that you can explore during your rental, and if you need particular equipment (such as a boom or basic grip package) or photography services, check the list of add-ons from the host.