Permits

Some activities require a Special Park Use Permit, for which there may be a fee. These include still photography, certain kinds of gatherings, sale or distribution of printed matter, scattering of human ashes and any other special park uses that might interfere with normal visitor activities.

Special activities in the park must not cause injury or damage to park resources, be contrary to the purpose for which the park was established, unreasonably impair the atmosphere of peace and tranquility, interfere with interpretive visitor services or other programs, impair operation of public facilities, present clear or present danger, or cause significant conflict with other existing uses in the park.

Please use the appropriate application form when making a request. There is a $50.00 non-refundable application fee required for most permit applications which you may be asked to provide at the time of application.

The general Special Use Permit application is available online as the Special Use Permit short form application or the Special Use Permit long form application. After the application is accepted, the site will issue the special use permit to the applicant.

Failure to obtain a permit or violations of permit conditions may result in issuance of a federal violation notice (pursuant to 36 CFR 1.5(f) Closure and Public Use Limits, 36 CFR 1.6(g)(2) Permit Violation, and 54 USC 102701).

Commercial Filming

Depending on the nature of the filming being done, filming at Lincoln Home National Historic Site may require a permit.

Those interested in commercial filming activities on land managed by the National Park Service are encouraged to contact the park directly for more information about filming in the park and to discuss how to minimize potential impacts to visitors and sensitive park resources.

Do I need a permit to film?

Low-impact filming activities will not require a special use permit, but non-low-impact filming activities may require a permit to address their potential impacts on park resources and visitor activities.

Low-Impact Filming

“Low-impact filming’ is defined as outdoor filming activities in areas open to the public, except areas managed as wilderness, involving five people or less and equipment that will be carried at all times, except for small tripods used to hold cameras. Those participating in low-impact filming activities do not need a permit and are not required to contact the park in advance. If low-impact filmers have questions about areas where they want to film, they should contact the park directly.

Videographers, filmers, producers, directors, news and other staff associated with filming are reminded that rules and regulations that apply to all park visitors, including park hours and closed areas, still apply to filming activities even if a permit is not required. Check with the park staff for more information on closures, sensitive resources, and other safety tips.

Non-Low-Impact Filming

Filming activities that do not meet the description of low-impact filming require at least ten days advance notice to the National Park Service by contacting the park directly in writing. The park’s superintendent will determine whether the filming activities will require a special use permit for filming. Based on the information provided, a permit may be required to:

• maintain public health and safety;
• protect environmental or scenic values;
• protect natural or cultural resources;
• allow for equitable allocation or use of facilities; or
• avoid conflict among visitor use activities.

Examples of requests that may require a permit include, but are not limited to:

• filming involving more than five people
• entering a sensitive resource area
• filming in areas that require tickets to enter
• filming in visitor centers, campgrounds, or other visitor areas.

The decision to require a permit rests with the park superintendent based on potential impacts to park resources or the visitor experience.

Contact the park directly if unsure whether or not a filming activity is considered low-impact or may require a permit.

Are filmers required to pay fees to film in parks?

For non-low-impact filming, a fee may be required. Please contact our permitting staff for more information at 217-391-3256.

For the most up-to-date information on the National Park Service policy regarding Commercial Filming, please see the National Park Site's Commercial Filming and Still Photography page.

Still Photography

Still photographers require a permit only when:

1. the activity takes place at location(s) where or when members of the public are generally not allowed; or
2. the activity uses model(s), sets(s), or prop(s) that are not a part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities; or
3. a park would incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity.

The Still Photography permit application is available online as the Commercial Still Photography Permit short form or Commercial Still Photography Permit long form. You should submit a completed application along with the application fee as far in advance of your planned date as possible.

For more details and the most up-to-date information on the National Park Service policy Still Photography permits, please see the National Park Site's Commercial Filming and Still Photography page.

First Amendment Demonstrations

First Amendment demonstrations of less than 25 persons do not require a permit, but are limited to the park's designated First Amendment areas. Those first amendment areas are shown on the attached map. Organizers of such gatherings should contact park staff to better assist in ensuring a successful event. Please contact the Law Enforcement Ranger office for further information on the permit process or for information on Special Park Use fees and exceptions: 217-391-3256, or make a request in writing to the Superintendent.

Commercial Use Authorizations

Commerical use authorizations (CUA) may be obtained by calling the CUA Coordinator at 217-391-3256. Examples of an application and the annual reporting form are available.