Filming & Photography Permits

The National Park Service conserves and protects areas of untold beauty, grandeur and historical importance for current and future generations. The tradition of capturing images of these special places started with explorers who traveled with paint and canvas or primitive cameras. Sharing these images helped inspire the creation of national parks. Today, visitors to national parks continue to memorialize their visits through filming and photography.

Filming/Photography Permits are issued for photography, filming, and associated sound recording to ensure protection of resources, to prevent significant disruption of normal visitor uses. Permits are required for access to areas normally closed to the visiting public.

Effective October 28, 2022, the National Park Service rescinded interim guidance that was in place during litigation regarding commercial filming and has returned to longstanding laws and regulations governing commercial filming in parks. Questions and answers about filming and photography are provided below.

 

 

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

  1. the proposed filming or photography would conflict with the visitors' normal use of the Preserve.
  2. the permittee fails to obtain insurance/bonding, or does not agree to pay assessed cost recovery.
  3. in the opinion of the superintendent, or designee, the filming activity requested represents a potential for harm or impact on the Preserve's natural, cultural, or recreational resources, may create health or safety risks, or disrupt visitor use and enjoyment.
  4. it is determined that supervisory requirements for the proposed project will place unreasonable burdens on Preserve staff, regardless of the applicant's willingness to pay supervisory costs.
  5. the request includes entry into areas closed to the general visiting public, or which would allow activities not permitted to the average visitor.

Last updated: August 27, 2024

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33100 Tamiami Trail East
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239 695-2000

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