An empty lot, a yard, a private parking pad or a field can become the backdrop of an exterior scene or a production’s base camp. An outdoor space needs little preparation and stays available without shutting down anything else you do there. Here is what productions look for, how to set your rate, and what a shoot day actually changes on the ground.

What a production looks for in an outdoor space

Outdoor spaces serve two purposes, sometimes on the same day. First, they host scenes shot outside: a street, a lot, a yard, a landscape. Second, they serve as base camp: parking for trucks and trailers, equipment storage, crew meals, and temporary rest areas.

Location scouts therefore look at several things:

  • Access: an equipment truck has to get in, turn around, and leave without trouble.
  • The surface: stable, level ground that works for vehicles as well as for tripods and scaffolding.
  • Room to spread out: space to park several vehicles and stage equipment.
  • Quiet: a predictable sound environment, away from a highway or an active construction site.
  • Services: a nearby power outlet, accessible washrooms, and a water source make the day far easier.
  • Light: an orientation that lets sun in during shooting hours, or shade where the crew needs it.

The outdoor spaces that get rented

Several kinds of property fall into this family, and each attracts different projects.

  • Vacant lots: useful as base camp, for crew parking, or for a raw exterior scene.
  • Yards and backyards: in demand for domestic scenes, gardens, and tight exterior shots.
  • Private parking areas: valuable in urban areas, where ground space is scarce.
  • Fields, farmland, and country roads: rural backdrops, wide shots, and open horizons.
  • Rooftops, terraces, and wharves: views, urban scenes, and backgrounds that are hard to reproduce anywhere else.

How much an outdoor space rents for

As a guide, an outdoor space or lot typically rents for $500 to $2,500 per shoot day. The amount depends on the surface area, the quality of access, the services available, and the number of days requested.

To place your space in the wider market, read our article on how much you can earn renting your space for filming, which covers every category of location.

A project that sets up base on your land for several days occupies the space far longer than a single camera day. Setup and strike days are usually billed at a reduced rate, but they are still billed, because the space stays reserved and unavailable to you.

What a shoot changes on the ground

A crew that moves onto a lot rarely leaves it exactly as it found it. Here is what to plan for.

  • The ground: repeated vehicle and cart traffic can mark a lawn or a gravel surface.
  • Power: without a nearby outlet, the production brings a generator, with the noise and the fuel that come with it.
  • Washrooms: a crew of several dozen people needs facilities, usually rented by the production.
  • Neighbours: a night shoot gets noticed. Telling your neighbours in advance prevents most friction.
  • Weather: a rainy day can push a shoot, and saturated ground becomes impassable for vehicles.
  • Restoration: the terms for returning the space to its original state are set before the shoot, not after.

Setting your conditions

Every booking made through Locloc is governed by a signed contract that sets out each party’s responsibilities. You approve each project and set your own conditions: the days and hours, the areas that may be used, the vehicles allowed, and who is present on site during the shoot.

You can also require proof of the production’s liability insurance and a security deposit. Your own home insurance remains your primary coverage, and it is worth checking with your insurer, since most policies exclude commercial activity.

To choose your rate methodically, see our guide on how to price your filming location.

How to get started

The directory of filming locations across Canada will bring outdoor spaces and their owners together in one place, with price ranges and a common booking framework.

Do you own a lot, a yard, or a parking area that a production might need? List your property on the waitlist for free, with no obligation and no credit card.