Permits for Filming & Photography

You generally don't need a permit for your personal, noncommercial filming and photography activities within normal visitation areas and hours. However, filming outside normal visitation areas and hours and all commercial filming will require a special permit.

Special park uses, including filming and photography activities—whether commercial or noncommercial—will be allowed in parks provided that the activities

• are appropriate to the purpose for which the park was established; and
• are inspirational, educational, or healthful, and otherwise appropriate to the park environment; and
• will foster an understanding of and appreciation for park resources and values, or will promote enjoyment through a direct association with, interaction with, or relation to park resources; and
• can be sustained without causing unacceptable impacts to park resources or values.

Unacceptable impacts are impacts that, individually or cumulatively, would 

• be inconsistent with a park’s purposes or values, or
• impede the attainment of a park’s desired future conditions for natural and cultural resources as identified through the park’s planning process, or
• create an unsafe or unhealthful environment for visitors or employees, or
•   diminish opportunities for current or future generations to enjoy, learn about, or be inspired by park resources or values, or
•   unreasonably interfere with

o       park programs or activities, or
o       an appropriate use, or
o       the atmosphere of peace and tranquility, or the natural soundscape maintained in wilderness and natural, historic, or commemorative locations within the park, or
o       NPS concessioner or contractor operations or services.

For the purposes of NPS policy, filming and photography encompass any technology that may be used for recording images or the sound tracks associated with them.

All commercial filming activities will require a permit.

Commercial filming means filming that involves the digital or film recording of a visual image or sound recording by a person, business, or other entity for a market audience. This includes recordings such as those used for a documentary, television or feature film, advertisement, or similar project.

Still photography (whether commercial or noncommercial), in accordance with Public Law 106-206, will not require a permit unless

• it takes place at a location(s) where or when members of the public are generally not allowed, or

• it uses model(s) or prop(s) that are not a part of the location’s natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or

• the Park Service would need to provide management and oversight to prevent unacceptable impacts.

 

Commercial media coverage of breaking news never requires a permit, but is subject to the restrictions and conditions necessary to protect park resources from unacceptable impacts.

 

Performance bond and liability insurance requirements must be met, and all costs incurred by the National Park Service in writing the permit, monitoring, providing protection services, or otherwise supporting filming or photography activities will be reimbursed by the permittee as a condition of the permit. A location fee will also be required as a condition of the permit. The amount of the fee will be based on the fee schedule current at the time the permit is approved. Neither the location fee nor the cost recovery charges may be waived.

 

If you're unsure if you need a permit for filming or any other special use, please feel free to contact our Special Park Uses and Commercial Services Office:

• Phone: [phone]
• E-mail

Our staff at this office can also provide guidance to help you complete this form:

• Commercial Filming Permit

 

For More Information

• Filming Permit Policy
• National Park Service Location Fee Schedule

Additional information is available in 2006 National Park Service Management Policies, Chapter 8 (page 185, 8.6.6)