Photography / Filming Permits

Photography / Filming
Permits

Return to "A Visitor's Guide to Special Use Permits"

POLICY

The following guidelines are established by the Superintendent of Fire Island National Seashore as they relate to filming and photographic activities within the park.

Generally, permits are not required for:

Film, video, or still photography involving five or fewer people, using only hand-carried and self-contained equipment, working in areas normally open for public use, and completing their park use within the normal visitation hours of the park, unless the project includes product endorsement or advertising.
Sound technicians, and film or video news crews at news worthy or news making events.
NPS filming or photography, Department of the Interior Audiovisual Center filming or filming/photography done pursuant to a cooperative agreement or contract.

A request for filming or photography permit may be denied if:

In the opinion of the Superintendent or his/her designee, the filming activity requested represents an unreasonable threat to the resource, including wildlife.
It is determined that supervisory requirements for the proposed project will place unreasonable burdens on staff capacity, irrespective of the permittee's willingness to pay supervisory costs.
The proposed filming or photography would conflict with the visitors' normal use of the park.
The request includes entry into areas closed to the general visiting public, or which would allow activities not permitted to the average visitor.

PROCEDURE

1. Filming / Photography Permits	Filming / Photography Permits are issued for photography, filming, and associated sound recording when necessary to ensure protection of resources, and to prevent significant disruption or normal visitor uses; or involve product or service advertisment, models, set dressings, or equipment too large to be hand-carried. Permits are required for access to areas normally closed to the visiting public. To apply for a permit, complete the attached electronic form, print it out, and submit it to the Fire Island National Seashore Permit Office allowing sufficient time for evaluation by the park staff before the start date for your activity in the park. Please remember to enclose your check or money order for $50.00 to cover non-refundable application costs. Your request will be evaluated on the basis of the information in your application, therefore you are encouraged to attach maps, diagrams, script pages, or storyboards to assist the park staff in evaluating your request. Most requests can be processed within 4 working days. Requests which involve multiple locations, complex logistics or coordination with other visitor activities will require a minimum of 7 working days to process. Projects which require environmental or cultural resource evaluation must be submitted not less than 10 days before the start of proposed activities. All costs of evaluating the request will be billed to the applicant, whether a permit is issued or not. In compliance with the requirements of the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, the applicant must submit their social security number or Federal tax ID number when filling out the application for permit.
2. Conference / Site Scouting	Conference / Site Scouting will be scheduled with the park's permit coordinator and the potential permittee after the application has been received and reviewed. A visit to all potential filming sites in the park will usually be made at this time. By the end of the meeting, the permit coordinator should have enough information to prepare the permit once the project has been approved. The completed permit will detail the activities and locations to be authorized. Any activities not specified in the permit will not be allowed. No activities on NPS property may begin until the permit has been approved by the park and agreed to by the permittee.
3. Costs	Costs incurred by NPS in conjunction with accommodating the permitted activity may be reimbursed by the permittee. Administrative costs, and estimated costs for activities on site will be calculated and must be paid when the permit is approved. If any additional costs are incurred, the permittee will be billed at the conclusion of the permit. General liability insurance must be carried by the permittee showing the U.S. Government, National Park Service, Fire Island National Seashore as additionally insured. Short term policies must show coverage on "occurrence" basis. The minimum amount of commercial liability insurance is one million dollars. Additional amounts may be required for high risk activities. Certain activities may trigger the need for the permittee to post a refundable damage bond. The amount of the bond will be equivalent to the estimated cost for NPS to clean up, repair, or rehabilitate resources or facilities that could potentially be impacted by the permit activities. At the conclusion of the permit, the bond will be returned to the permittee after costs of clean up, repair, or rehabilitation are deducted.
4. Sharing the Park	A filming or photography permit does not allow the permittee to restrict park visitors from any location. Therefore, sites which attract a large number of visitors should be avoided. Normal visitor use patterns will not be interrupted for longer than five minutes, and only as specified in the approved permit. Film/photography permit activities may not occur simultaneously with other permitted activities or unduly conflict with scheduled public activities. Visitors will be allowed to watch filming. For more complex permit operations, or for activities which require coordination with other visitor use, and for those which are perceived to have the potential to impact park resources without proper supervision and care, at least on employee of the Park Service will be assigned to the film/photography crew. The permittee will be responsible for reimbursing the park for NPS monitoring. These costs will be included in the estimate of site use charges. Any additional costs will be recovered at the conclusion of the permit.
5. Restriction and Conditions	Restriction and Conditions will be enumerated in the permit. The following activities are restricted and must be approved on a case by case basis. use of children or animals discharge of black ammunition and all black powder weapons mechanical or pyrotechnic special effects stunts amplified music or sound placing of large set dressings filming photography inside interiors of government administrative work areas film equipment or activities on roadways access to closed areas or access to areas during non-visitor use hours. The permit will specify the number of people and the exact types of equipment allowed. Activities not specified in the permit will not be allowed by the National Park Service monitor on duty. Please not that the permit does not include authority to film or photograph individuals. Model releases are the responsibility of the permittee.
6. Closures	Permit activities may be restricted based on weather or seasonal conditions. (fire danger, standing water after rain, nesting season, etc.). Additional closures, use limits, and/or restricted activities are listed in the Superintendent's Compendium.
7. Prohibited Activities	Activities having the potential to damage or significantly impact or alter park resources are prohibited. The following are also prohibited: altering, damaging, or removing vegetation vehicle use off established roads and parking areas use of insecticides, herbicides, and pesticides loud noises (60 decibels or higher) between 10:00 pm and 6:00 am smoking in buildings, on boardwalks, or in vegetated areas use of fragile vegetation areas, except on trails or already disturbed areas (as determined by NPS) flying aircraft below FAA recommended minimum altitude (usually 2,000 feet) or landing of aircraft except at designated landing sites writing on or discoloring any natural feature or structure harassment of wildlife is prohibited by law Filming of wildlife is permitted as long as there is NO disturbance, feeding, teasing, or manipulation of resident or free-roaming animals. Wildlife captured elsewhere may NOT be used in any in-park filming, whether trained or not.
8. Termination of Permit	All filming or photography permits issued by the National Park Service are "revocable" on 24 hours notice, or WITHOUT NOTICE if the terms of the permit are violated. Deliberate infractions of the terms of the filming permit or the deliberate making of false or misleading statements concerning intended actions in order to obtain a permit are causes for immediate termination of the permit and cause for possible prosecution. Permits will be revoked if damage to resources or facilities is threatened, or if there is a clear danger to public health or safety.

APPLICATION FOR PHOTOGRAPHY / FILMING

The application for a photography / filming permit is available by downloading the following file:

Filming Permit Application: Long Form / Filming Permit Application: Short Form

Follow the directions found in the above mentioned form file and mail the completed form to the address specified. Forms will only be accepted via U.S. Mail. Forms that have been faxed or e-mailed will not be accepted for consideration.

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