Special Use Permits:
For group activities more than 15 visitors such as family reunions, company picnics, and group campouts, please call park headquarters at 806-857-3151 for information and guidelines.
1. Special Use Permits are required for functions such as fishing tournaments, weddings, special events, filming, etc.
Filming, Photography, and Commercial Filming
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 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.
On January 4, 2025, the EXPLORE Act was signed into law (Public Law 118-234) and has been codified at 54 U.S.C. 100905. Section 125 of the Act changed how the National Park Service will manage filming, photography, and audio recording in park areas.
Key elements of the new law include:
- In most cases, permits and fees are not required for filming, still photography, or audio recording that involves eight or fewer individuals. In order to avoid permit and fee requirements, the filming, still photography, or audio recording must meet all of the following conditions:
- Occurs in areas open to the public;
- Uses hand-carried equipment only;
- Does not require exclusive use of a site;
- Does not adversely impact park resources, values, or other visitors; and
- Is not likely to result in additional administrative costs for the National Park Service.
- Permits and fees are never required for filming, still photography, or audio recording that is associated with an activity or event that has been authorized under a written instrument (e.g., permit or agreement), such as a wedding, sporting event, demonstration or other activity.
- All filming, still photography, and audio recording is treated the same under the new law. It does not matter whether it is commercial, non-commercial, for content creation, by a student, or conducted by media or for news gathering.
- When a filming, still photography, or audio recording permit is required, the National Park Service will charge location fees and fees to recover its costs to administer the permit, including application fees.
- Individuals and groups conducting filming, still photography, or audio recording remain subject to all other laws and regulations applicable to visitors to park areas, including those requiring permits for certain activities (e.g., special events or demonstrations) and those prohibiting disturbance or other negative impacts to natural or cultural resources.
- Individuals and groups conducting filming, still photography, or audio recording are subject to entrance and/or recreation fees that may apply in park areas even when a permit is not required.
Click here for more information and frequently asked questions:
Filming/Photography at:
Lake Meredith National Recreation Area
Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument
"The service...shall promote and regulate the use of ... national parks ... [its] purpose is to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations." (16 U.S.C. 1) It is the policy of Lake Meredith National Recreation Area / Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument to allow filming and photography when and where possible, while adhering to this mandate. Therefore, primary consideration will be given to potential resource damage and to anticipated disruption of normal public use. The following guidelines are established by the Park Superintendent as they relate to filming and photographic activities within the park.
Generally,permits are not required for:
• Visitors using cameras and/or recording devices for their own personal use.
• Sound technicians, and film or video news crews at breaking news events.
• NPS filming or photography, Department of the Interior Audiovisual Center filming or filming/photography done pursuant to a cooperative agreement or contract.
A request for a filming or photography permit may be denied if:
• in the opinion of the superintendent or his/her designee, the filming activity requested represents a potential for harm or impact on the park’s natural, cultural, wilderness or recreational re-sources, may create health or safety risks, or disrupt visitor use and enjoyment;
• it is determined that supervisory requirements for the proposed project will place unreasonable burdens on park staff, regardless of the applicant's willingness to pay supervisory costs;
• the permittee fails to obtain insurance/bonding, or to agree to pay assessed cost recovery;
• the proposed filming or photography would conflict with the visitors' normal use of the park;
• the request includes entry into areas closed to the general visiting public, or which would allow activities not permitted to the average visitor.
Commercial Filming Permits
Commercial filming is defined as 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. The following types of filming activities may occur in areas open to the public without a permit and without advance notice to the NPS:
Outdoor filming activities [outside of areas managed as wilderness] involving five persons or less and equipment that will be carried at all times, except for small tripods used to hold cameras.
The organizer of any other type of filming activity must provide written notice to the Superintendent at least 10 days prior to the start of the proposed activity. Based upon the information provided, the Superintendent may require the organizer to apply for and obtain a permit if necessary to:
Commercial videographers, cinematographers or sound recording crews of up to two people with only minimal equipment (i.e. a camera and a tripod) working in areas open to the public are required to obtain a commercial filming permit and are subject to appropriate permit terms and conditions and cost recovery charges but are not subject to location fees.
Commercial Still Photography Permits
Commercial still photography requires a permit 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 PAID 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. Park would incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity.
Applying for a permit:
Complete the 10-930 or 10-931 form and submit it to the Lake Meredith NRA Permit Office allowing sufficient time for evaluation by the park staff before the start date for your activity in the park. Please remember to enclose your check or money order for $25.00 still photography, to cover non-refundable application costs. Your request will be evaluated on the basis of the information in your application. Therefore, you are encouraged to attach maps, diagrams, script pages or storyboards to assist the park staff in evaluating your request. (Since NPS cannot censor content, submission of script and story-boards is voluntary.)
Most requests can be processed within 7 working days. Requests which involve multiple locations, complex logistics or coordination with other visitor activities will require a minimum of 14 working days to process. Projects which require environmental or cultural resource evaluation must be sub-mitted not less than 30 days before the start of proposed activities.
All costs of evaluating the request will be billed to the applicant, whether a permit is issued or not. In compliance with the requirements of the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, the applicant must submit their social security number or Federal tax ID number when filling out the application for permit.
Conference/Site Scouting
Conference/Site Scounting will be scheduled with the park's permit coordinator and the potential permittee after the application has been received and reviewed. A visit to all potential filming sites in the park will usually be made at this time. By the end of the meeting, the permit coordinator should have enough information to prepare the permit once the project has been approved. The completed permit will detail the activities and locations to be authorized. Any activities not specifiedin the permit will not be allowed. No activities on NPS property may begin until the permit has been approved by the park and agreed to by the permittee. Costs and Fees - Costs incurred by NPS in conjunction with accommodating the permitted activity will be reimbursed by the permittee.
- Administrative costs and estimated costs for activities on site will be calculated and must be paid when the permit is approved
- Locations fees (see attached) will also be required to be paid when the permit is approved. If any additional costs are incurred, the permittee will be billed at the conclusion of the permit.
The applicant or permittee is required to notify the NPS of any delays or schedule changes at least 36 hours in advance, or as agreed to by the superintendent. Should the applicant or permittee fail to provide such advance notification, the applicant or permittee is responsible for paying all costs incurred by the NPS anytime during the application, permitting, or operational process, including those due to cancellation, moving, or rescheduling of the project. Such payment will include but not be limited to a non-refundable charge for each staff person scheduled for the affected activity. Such charge will, at a minimum, be the equivalent of two hours overtime for each employee assigned. These costs may be recovered through the posting of a bond at the time of application, or through a bill for collection presented at any point after initial contact.
Any fees applicable will be determined on a case by case basis. The permittee will be advised of any such fees prior to receiving a permit.
Insurance and Bonding - General liability insurance must be carried by the permittee showing the U.S. Government, National Park Service, Lake Meredith National Recreation Area, street address as additionally insured. Short-term policies must show coverage on "occurrence" basis. The minimum amount of commercial liability insurance is one million dollars ($1,000,000). Additional amounts may be required for high risk activities. Certain activities may trigger the need for the permittee to post a refundable damage bond. The amount of the bond will be equivalent to the estimated cost to NPS for clean up, repair or rehabilitation of resources or facilities that could potentially be impacted by the permit activities. At the conclusion of the permit, the bond will be returned to the permittee after costs of clean up, repair or re-habilitation are deducted.
Sharing the Park - A filming or photography permit does not allow the permittee to restrict park visitors from any location; therefore sites which attract a large number of visitors should be avoided. Normal visitor use patterns will not be interrupted for longer than five minutes, (or whatever is appropriate) and only as specified in the approved permit. Film/photography permit activities may not occur simultaneously with other permitted activities or unduly conflict with scheduled public activities. Visitors will be allowed to watch filming. For more complex permit operations, or for activities which require coordination with other visitor use, and for those which are perceived to have the potential to impact park resources without proper supervision and care, at least one employee of the National Park Service will be assigned to the film/photography crew. The permittee will be responsible for reimbursing the park for NPS monitoring. These costs will be included in the estimate of site use charges. Any additional costs will be recovered at the conclusion of the permit.
Restrictions and Conditions - will be enumerated in the permit. The following activities are restricted and must be approved on a case by case basis: 1) use of children or animals, 2) discharge of blank ammunition and all black powder weapons, 3) mechanical or pyrotechnic special effects, 4) stunts, 5) amplified music or sound, 6) placing of large set dressings, 7) filming photography inside interiors of government administrative work areas, 8) film equipment or activities on roadways, 9) access to closed areas or access to areas during non-visitor use hours.The permit will specify the number of people and the exact types of equipment allowed. Activities not specified in the permit will not be allowed by the NPS monitor on duty. Please note that the permit does not include authority to film or photograph individuals. Model releases are the responsibility of the permittee.
Closures - Permit activities may be restricted based on weather or seasonal conditions (fire danger, standing water after rain, nesting season, etc.). Additional closures use limits and/or restricted activities are listed in the Superintendent's Compendium.
Prohibited Activities - Activities having the potential to damage or significantly impact or alter park resources are prohibited. The following are also prohibited: 1) altering, damaging or removing vegetation, 2) vehicle use off established roads and parking areas, 3) use of insecticides, herbicides and pesticides, 4) loud noises (60 decibels or higher) between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., 5) smoking in buildings or in vegetated areas, 6) use of fragile vegetation areas, except on trails or already disturbed areas (as determined by NPS), 7) writing on or discoloring any natural feature or structure.
Harassment of wildlife is prohibited by law. Filming of wildlife is permitted as long as there is NO disturbance, feeding, teasing, or manipulation of resident or free-roaming animals. Wildlife captured elsewhere may NOT be used in any in-park filming, whether trained or not.
Termination of Permit - All filming or photography permits issued by the National Park Service are "revocable" on 24 hours notice or WITHOUT NOTICE if the terms of the permit are violated. Deliberate infractions of the terms of the filming permit or the deliberate making of false or misleading statements concerning intended actions in order to obtain a permit are causes for immediate termination of the permit and cause for possible prosecution. Permits will be revoked if damage to re-sources or facilities is threatened, of if there is a clear danger to public health or safety. Please submit the completed application and the appropriate application fee to the Superintendent at the address on the top of the application. The application and fee can be sent overnight express, if desired. If additional information is required, please do not hesitate to contact the park at 806 857-0302.
Commercial Use Authorizations:
What is a Commercial Use Authorization (CUA)?
A CUA allows an individual, group, company or other for-profit entity to provide commercial visitor services within a National Park area. Services provided to NPS employees are not covered by CUAs (e.g., Schwan's grocery delivery). Commercial Use Authorizations (CUAs) are required for all commercial visitor services provided by a company or organization not based in the park.
What does the law and regulations say about CUAs?
PL 105-391, Section 418 and 36 CFR 5.3 require NPS issue and charge a reasonable fee for CUAs. The law requires that NPS ensure CUAs:
- Are accomplished in a manner consistent to the highest practicable degree with the preservation and conservation of park resources and values;
- Are consistent with the purpose for which the Park was established;
- Comply with all applicable management plans, park policies and regulations;
- Are subjects to conditions promoting the safety of visitors;
- Limit the liability of the United States Government;
- Are subject to a reasonable fee that at a minimum recovers administrative and management costs of the CUA.
Who needs a CUA?
A CUA is required if an entity provides a good, activity, service, or other function to visitors in a NPS managed area, uses park resources and results in compensation, monetary gain, benefit or profit.
2. Commercial Use Authorization
3. Special Use Permit - Off Road Vehicle Application
Please email applications for Off Road Vehicles to:
lamr_permits@nps.gov
Off Road ORV Application
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