Commercial Filming and Photography

A park ranger is interviewed during a commercial filming project on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.

NPS Photo/M. Quinn

11/10/20 Update: Grand Canyon National Park is currently processing new Commercial Filming and Commercial Still Photography Permits on a limited basis. Please anticipate 2-4 weeks for all requests.

Thank you for your understanding.

The National Park Service issues filming/photography permits for photography, filming, and associated sound recording to ensure protection of resources, to prevent significant disruption of normal visitor uses, or when projects involve props, models, professional crews and casts or set dressings. Permits are required for access to areas normally closed to the visiting public.

 

Policy

Grand Canyon National Park is recognized worldwide as an area set aside and administered with preservation at the core. In order to preserve and protect resources and to assure the enjoyment of those resources by the public, the following guidelines are established by the superintendent of Grand Canyon National Park as they relate to filming and photographic activities within the park boundaries.

 

How to Apply

Applying For A Permit:

• A complete application packet must be submitted a minimum of 4 weeks prior to the requested date
• The required, non-refundable application fee of $100 must be submitted with the application packet
• More complex requests must be submitted a minimum of 6 weeks prior to the requested date
• Priority will not be given to urgent requests

The application packet must include:

• Certificate of General Liability insurance issued by an insurance company operating in the United States
• Detailed production schedule and proposed locations
• Detailed cast & crew list including name and role
• Detailed equipment list including model of equipment

Long Filming and Photography Permit Application

Short Filming and Photography Permit Application

Please read the filming guidelines before contacting the park filming coordinator.

You may email us if you have questions.

 

Fees

• Administrative Fee: $300
• Hourly Administrative Fee: $65 per hour (monitoring*, scouting, additional administrative review time)
• Application fee: $100
• Location fees (see fee schedule below)
• All costs of evaluating the request will be billed to the applicant, whether a permit is issued or not

*Grand Canyon National Park staff will be required to monitor certain filming, photography, and sound recording activities. Crews are responsible for paying daily location fees and for monitors as well as any staff costs associated with the project. Activities that require a monitor include, but are not limited to, any filming on the trails below the rim of the canyon, large crews, projects with extensive equipment, filming "talent" in high-visitor use areas, and when there is the potential for resource damage or impacts to visitor use.

Location Fee Schedule

Commercial Filming/Videos

• 1-2 people, camera and tripod only–$0/day
• 1-10 people–$150/day
• 11-30 people–$250/day
• 31-49 people–$500/day
• Over 50 people–$750/day

Still Photography

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

 

Restrictions

• Drone use is prohibited
• Filming is restricted at Mather Point
• Filming in wilderness areas is restricted

 

Exemptions

• Visitors engaged in filming/photography intended for their personal use and enjoyment
• Filming of breaking news (an event that cannot be covered at any other time or location) by news crews
• Projects requiring only aerial filming from a helicopter or fixed-wing airplane (more information on the Filming Guidelines page)
• Filming that is conducted pursuant to a cooperative agreement or contract with the National Park Service

 

Definitions

Commercial filming: digital or film recording of a visual image or sound recording by a person, business, or other entity for a market audience, such as for a documentary, television or feature film, advertisement, or similar project. Under P.L. 106-206, all commercial filming requires a permit and is subject to a location fee and cost recovery charges.

Model: a person or object that serves as the subject for commercial filming or still photography for the purposes of promoting sales 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.

 

 

Resources

• Visit Grand Canyon National Park's flickr site to scout potential filming locations
• Looking for B-roll only? Browse the park's selection of b-roll videos
• For filming in areas nearby Grand Canyon National Park, contact the Havasupai Tribe, Hualapai Tribe, Navajo Nation, or the Kaibab National Forest.