The islands' road network consists of three different types of roads:
- Those forming part of the network belonging to the Island Councils of Mallorca, Minorca, Ibiza and Formentera;
- Municipal roads - to film on these, permission must be sought from the appropriate district council at the local town hall
- Private roads, which might belong to large estates, private housing developments, the army etc., where, logically, the owners' permission is required in order to film.
Apart from the question of ownership, it is always necessary to study the viability of filming, depending on the dates, times and what one wants to film.
Permission to film on the road network owned by the Island Councils on each island is granted by the Highways Departments of these councils, the Balearic Provincial Traffic Police Headquarters for the Mallorcan road network and the Local Traffic Police offices on Minorca and Ibiza. Currently, permission for filming on non-municipal roads on Formentera is granted by the Island Council of Ibiza and Formentera and the Local Traffic Police office on Ibiza. (The Island Council shortly to be created on Formentera will be the organisation responsible for issuing the permits in the future).
It is important to stress that generally the authorities responsible do not grant permission to film on the islands' road network at weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) and on Bank Holidays.
When submitting the application for permission to film, always with as much notice as possible, it is necessary to state the name of the production company and producer responsible, address, contact telephone number, the roads where it is desired to film, the dates and times, and specifying whether it will be necessary to close the road temporarily to traffic, as well as any other information relevant to the request. It is indispensable to submit a copy of the public liability insurance policy in force covering the production company for damage caused to Third Parties during filming, along with the request.
Applications for permission to film on the highways should be sent to the Island Councils and addressed to the heads of department. Once the request has been logged, it is a good idea to get in touch with the Highways department of the Island Council in question to discuss the request in person.
Applications sent to the Head of the Balearic Provincial Traffic Police, or the Heads of the Traffic Police offices on Minorca or Ibiza depending on which office is responsible, should be treated the same way, with the same information that was sent with the written application to the Island Council. The agreement of the Island Council Highways Department should be forwarded to the file held by the Traffic Police. Once both permits have been obtained, the Civil Guards Traffic department for the island concerned should be notified by fax as quickly as possible, with a detailed working plan showing the roads, kilometre points and the hours involved in filming.
On shoots taking place on highways open to vehicular traffic, the production company concerned must supply approved reflective jackets to all people involved in filming and is responsible for providing the staff and road safety signage to minimise risks, required by current legislation.
The relevant organisations that grant permits to film on Mallorca's road network are:
Consell Insular de Mallorca
Direcció Insular de Carreteres
C/. General Riera, 113
07010 Palma de Mallorca
Tel.: (+34) 971 173 850
Fax: (+34) 971 219 988
Jefatura Provincial de Tráfico de Balears
C/. Manuel Azaña, 50
07006 Palma de Mallorca
Tel.: (+34) 971 465 262
Fax: (+34) 971 468 036
The relevant organisations that grant permits to film on Minorca's road network are:
Consell Insular de Menorca
Departament de Presidencia i Mobilitat
Plaça de la Biosfera, 5
07703 Maó
Tel.: (+34) 971 355 996
Fax: (+34) 971 364 348
Oficina Local de Tráfico de Menorca,
C/. Amazonia 31
Maó 07703
Tel.: (+34) 971 368 757
Fax: (+34) 971 353 733
Consell Insular de Eivissa i Formentera,
Departament de Economia i Hisenda, Vies i Obres,
Avda. de Espanya 49, planta 4
07800 Eivissa
Tel.: (+34) 971 195 900
Fax: (+34) 971 195 913/11
Oficina Local de Tráfico de Eivissa
C/. Vicente Serra Orvay s/n
Eivissa 07800
Tel.: (+34) 971 313 570
Fax: (+34) 971 316 645
