Filming and Photography

Permit Requirements

All commercial filming* requires a permit (36 CFR 5.5 referencing 43 CFR 5.2).

*Commercial filming means the film, electronic, magnetic, digital, or other recording of a moving image by a person, business, or other entity for a market audience with the intent of generating income. Examples include, but are not limited to, feature film, videography, television broadcast, or documentary, or other similar projects. Commercial filming activities may include the advertisement of a product or service, or the use of actors, models, sets, or props (43 CFR 5.12). 

Non-commercial filming requires a Special Use Permit when one or more of the following is true: 

  1. 6 or more people are involved in the activity, OR 

  1. Participants will use equipment or props that are not handheld (except basic tripods), OR 

  1. The activity will take place in one of the following areas: Designated Wilderness, inside park facilities, or in areas that are closed to the public.   

(CFR §1.6, Superintendent’s Compendium). 

Designated Wilderness: 

Roughly 93% of Death Valley National Park is designated Wilderness.  

On this Wilderness map, designated Wilderness is shaded purple, non-wilderness is white. You can type “Death Valley National Park” or specific locations (ie “Zabriskie Point”) into the search bar or zoom in manually. 

Still photography does not require a permit unless:  

  1. It uses a model*, set, or prop  
  2. The agency determines a permit is necessary because:  
    1. It takes place at a location where or when members of the public are not allowed; or  
    2. The agency would incur costs for providing on-site management and oversight to protect agency resources or minimize visitor use conflicts  

(36 CFR 5.5 referencing 43 CFR 5.2) 

*Model means a person or object that serves as the subject for commercial filming or still photography for the purpose of promoting the sale or use of a product or service. Models include, but are not limited to, individuals, animals, or inanimate objects, such as vehicles, boats, articles of clothing, and food and beverage products, placed on agency lands so that they may be filmed or photographed to promote the sale or use of a product or service. For the purposes of this part, portrait subjects such as wedding parties† and high school graduates are not considered models, if the image will not be used to promote or sell a product or service (43 CFR 5.12). 

†Wedding ceremonies require a Special Use Permit. 

Audio Recording does not require a permit unless: 

  1. It takes places at location(s) where or when members of the public are generally not allowed 
  2. It uses equipment that requires mechanical transport 
  3. It uses equipment that requires an external power source other than a battery pack 
  4. The agency would incur additional administrative costs to provide management and oversight of the permitted activity  

(36 CFR 5.5) 

News-gathering activities involving filming, videography, or still photography do not require a permit unless:  

  1. We determine a permit is necessary to protect natural and cultural resources, to avoid visitor use conflicts, to ensure public safety or authorize entrance into a closed area; and  
  2. Obtaining a permit will not interfere with the ability to gather the news.  

A permit issued for news-gathering activities is not subject to location fees or cost recovery charges. 

(43 CFR 5.4)  

 

Before Applying

A complete application is required at least 30 days in advance of your requested dates in order to process a permit. Applicants are encouraged to start the application up to 60 days before their requested date. 

An application will not be considered complete without dates, times, locations, and equipment. If your application is missing these details, or if they change during the application process, a new application must be submitted. The 30 day window may restart when this happens.

Commercial filming and still photography are generally prohibited in designated Wilderness. 

The Wilderness Act of 1964 authorizes Congress to designate wilderness areas, which are "protected and managed so as to preserve its natural conditions" and which provide for “outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation”. 

To meet these goals, the Wilderness Act prohibits certain activities, including many commercial enterprises. Generally, still photography and filming that require a permit under 36 CFR 5.5 are prohibited in the roughly 93% of Death Valley National Park that is designated Wilderness. 

On this Wilderness map, designated Wilderness is shaded purple, non-wilderness is white. You can type “Death Valley National Park” or specific locations (ie “Zabriskie Point”) into the search bar or zoom in manually. 

Exceptions may be granted.

Areas outside of Wilderness where commercial filming and still photography are generally permitted include: 

  • Zabriskie Point 
  • Golden Canyon (hike)
  • Harmony Borax Works 
  • Mustard Canyon (dirt road) 
  • Campgrounds
  • Roads: 
    • Within 300’ from centerline of road along Highway 190 
    • Within 200’ from centerline of road along any paved park road  
    • Within 50’ from centerline of road along unpaved park roads 

After reviewing the Wilderness map, contact the Office of Special Park Uses at DEVA_Permits@nps.gov or 760-786-3241 with additional questions. 

When filming or photographing in Death Valley with a permit, you are subject to all the laws and regulations that apply inside the park. Please read all regulations carefully as your permit application will be denied if it contains any activities prohibited by regulation.

Examples of frequently requested activities that are not permitted in a National Park: 

  • Use of drones or other unmanned aircraft. 

  • Nudity in public areas. 

  • Smoking inside buildings, on boardwalks, and in vegetated areas.  

  • Loud noises (exceeding 60 decibels at 50 feet in distance). 

  • Use of public address systems and sound amplification equipment unless otherwise specified in your permit.  

  • Driving any vehicle (including motorcycles and bicycles) off designated paved or dirt roads. 

  • Driving any off-road vehicle on a park road (including, but not limited to, OHV’s, ATV’s, dirt bikes, golf cards, Rhino or Polaris multiple passenger vehicles). 

  • Operating a motor vehicle in a manner that causes unreasonable damage to the surface of a park road or route. 

  • Operating a vehicle so slowly as to interfere with the normal flow of traffic is prohibited. 

  • Stunt or high-speed driving. 

  • Standing in a roadway as part of a film or photography shoot unless otherwise specified in your permit with approved traffic control. 

  • Removing, moving, or obscuring park road signs, speed limit signs, or wayside signs. 

  • Ground disturbance (including digging or driving posts and installing temporary signs or structures). 

  • Attaching props, equipment, signs, or banners to NPS facilities, structures, rocks, or vegetation. 

  • Contributing to erosion or otherwise unduly disturbing the ground or landscape, including running, walking, or other activity on fragile areas. 

  • Walking on soft areas following a rain and leaving footprints or lasting damage (for example, on the Racetrack playa). 

  • Collecting, moving, damaging, or otherwise disturbing any animal, plant, rock or any other natural, historical, or archeological resource. 

  • Walking on, climbing, entering, ascending, descending, or traversing any archaeological or cultural resource (including all mine structures, features, and ruins). 

  • Cutting or removal of branches or any vegetation. 

  • Feeding, touching, harassing, frightening, hunting, trapping, or disturbing wildlife. 

  • Viewing wildlife with artificial light (including infrared and black lights). 

  • Introducing wildlife, fish or plants, including their reproductive bodies, into the park’s ecosystem. 

  • Using a mineral or metal detector. 

  • Releasing Mylar or helium balloons, doves, butterflies, flower petals, or other living objects.  

  • Interviewing park employees unless otherwise specified in your permit.  

  • Brandishing or discharging a firearm, real or prop, unless use of a firearm prop has been specifically authorized in your permit.   

  • Unduly interfering or conflicting with visitors’ normal use and enjoyment of the park, including blocking visitor access to an area.  

You must also comply with the following: 

  • Observe park policies and principles related to ethical and responsible treatment of culturally sensitive sites and resources.   

Your permit may require full-time or intermittent monitoring for the protection of resources and visitor experience. This will be determined by the Office of Special Park Uses based on your application.

If full-time monitors are required:

  1. Your permit will only be issued subject to availability of monitors on the dates and at the locations requested.

  2. Your activity may not occur unless the assigned monitor is present.

See below for fees associated with monitoring.

 

Applying for a Permit

  1. Download NPS Form 10-932 Application for Special Use Permit: Filming and Still Photography and fill out completely.

    • A complete application is required at least 30 days in advance of your requested dates in order to process a permit. Applicants are encouraged to start the application up to 60 days before their requested date.

    • An application will not be considered complete without dates, times, locations, and equipment. If your application is missing these details, or if they change during the application process, a new application must be submitted. The 30 day window may restart when this happens.

    • Consider attaching maps, diagrams, script pages, or storyboards. The National Park Service does not evaluate content, but these materials can assist park staff in understanding the potential impacts on resources and visitor experience.

  2. Email DEVA_Permits@nps.gov the completed application as a single PDF file. Photos, links to shared drives, or pages as multiple PDFs may not be accepted. 

  1. After the Office of Special Park Uses receives your application via email, we will reply with a link to pay the application fee online. This is the fee to process your application and is non-refundable, even if a permit is not issued or you choose to cancel your application. This application fee must be paid within five (5) business days in order to move forward with the permit process. 

    • Filming, Still Photography, Audio Recording – $300 application fee

    • News Gathering –  no application fee

  2. Send a copy of your pay.gov email reciept to DEVA_permits@nps.gov.

  3. After the Office of Special Park Uses receives your receipt, we will review your application materials and determine if a permit can be issued.

After reviewing your application, we will send you information on insurance requirements for your specific request. However, most film, photography, and audio recording permits require the following:

  1. A Certificate of General Liability Insurance (COI) in the amount of $1,000,000 listing the ‘United States of America’ as additional insured. The COI must be in English and in US funds.

Note: If your insurance company requires an address for ‘United States of America’, they can list the additional insured as:

United States of America
Death Valley National Park
PO Box 579
Death Valley, CA 92328

  1. Filming/photography along State Highway 190 may require a Caltrans Encroachment Permit and/or CHP (California Highway Patrol) officers for traffic control. Additional information on California State filming requirements can be found at the California Film Commission website.  

  2. For filming or photography in or along any roadway, intermittent traffic control (ITC) must be provided by certified ITC staff. A park approved, professionally developed, traffic control plan must be on file with the Office of Special Park Uses prior to any activity.

If your activity is approved, a permit containing applicable terms and conditions will be sent you. The permit must be signed by the responsible person and returned to the park for final signature by the Park Superintendent. A fully executed permit containing both signatures is required before the permitted activity may begin.

Please have a hard copy or downloaded digital copy of the entire document with you while you are in the park. It is your responsibility to have read and follow all of the conditions listed in your permit.

After your permitted activity is concluded, the Office of Special Park Uses will send information on paying remaining cost recovery and location fees. 

Cost Recovery

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the National Park Service may recover all costs of providing necessary services associated with special use permits. This amount will vary depending on the size and complexity of your permit but an estimate will be provided to you beforehand and will be included in your signed permit. The following may apply:

  1. Hourly fee: approximately $50/hour. The exact hourly fee is based on the specific employee’s salary and may be charged if any of the following activities are required for your permit:

    • Monitoring: Many permits require full-time or intermittent monitoring for the protection of resources and visitor experience, and to ensure full compliance with all conditions of the permit. The level and type of monitoring will be determined by the Office of Special Park Uses based on your application. Generally, one monitor is required for every 8 people involved with the project. If monitors are required, your permit will only be issued subject to availability of monitors on the dates and at the locations requested.

    • Interviews: All interviews and filming or photographing of NPS staff members will be assessed at the specific employee’s hourly rate.

    • Scouting: If a permittee requests a scouting trip with or by the Special Park Uses Coordinator, staff time will be assessed.

    • Extended administrative time: Any activity that is particularly complex is subject to the hourly fee. This fee covers additional administrative time needed beyond the maximum two hours covered by the $300.00 application. This rate does not preclude any of the other fees and is applied per hour/per staff member.

  2. Government Vehicle Mileage Fee: $0.55/mile. We currently charge $.55/mile on government vehicles used for monitoring and other activities associated with your permit.

Location Fees

In addition to the standard cost recovery the National Park Service has been directed by Congress to collect a location fee for commercial filming, still photography and audio recording permits to provide a fair return to the United States for the use of park lands. Location fees do not apply to non-commercial filming or news gathering permits. 

Still Photography and Audio Recording Location Fee Schedule:

1-10 people: $50/day
11-30 people: $150/day
Over 30 people: $250/day

Motion Picture/Video Location Fee Schedule:

1-2 people: $0/day
3-10 people: $150/day
11-30 people: $250/day
31-50 people: $500/day
Over 50 people: $750/day

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can't find the answers to your question here? Contact the Office of Special Park Uses at DEVA_permits@nps.gov or 760-786-3241.

The party getting married or conducting a ceremony must have a Special Use Permit. The photographer or videographer does not need a separate permit.  

Launching, landing, or operating an unmanned aircraft from or on lands and waters administered by the National Park Service within the boundaries of Death Valley National Park is prohibited except as approved in writing by the superintendent. 

The term “unmanned aircraft” means a device that is used or intended to be used for flight in the air without the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the device, and the associated operational elements and components that are required for the pilot or system operator in command to operate or control the device (such as cameras, sensors, communication links). This term includes all types of devices that meet this definition (e.g., model airplanes, quadcopters, and drones) that are used for any purpose, including for recreation or commerce. 

Weather

Make sure to check the weather forecast before your arrival! From May to October, temperatures average over 100o F. All times of the year, temperatures can vary by nearly 40oF depending on your location in the park. The park may average less than 2 inches of rain per year but even a small amount of rain can cause significant damage including road closures. High wind events (30 – 50 mph) are extremely common and will impact what equipment can be used effectively and safely. High winds also cause dust storms that impact visibility and views, as well as power and cell-phone service outages. 

Internet and Cell Service

Cellphone access within the park is limited. Visitors with certain major carriers find service (though slow and limited) can be found in Furnace Creek and Stovepipe Wells. Phones typically need to be set to allow for roaming, as the cellphone towers are third-party operated. WiFi is not available at any NPS facility. WiFi can be purchased at The Oasis at Death Valley in Furnace Creek and the Death Valley Lodging Company in Stovepipe Wells. 

Other helpful links

Photography Workshops at Death Valley National Park require a Commercial Use Authorization.  

Last updated: April 8, 2024

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

P.O. Box 579
Death Valley, CA 92328

Phone:

760 786-3200

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