Military sponsored events - including rucksack marches and re-enlistment ceremonies
Athletic Events - including 5K and 10K races, and walkathon
Ceremonies
Public assemblies/meetings/gatherings/demonstrations/parades/etc. by groups of more than 25 people
Sale or distribution of printed material (not solely advertising)
Access for other park visitors must not be impeded. The Special Use Permit is authorization for your private event to take place on parklands and does not grant exclusive use of an area. The area identified in the permit will remain open to the public during the event. It is recommended that you schedule your event early or late in the day if you wish to increase the privacy of your event. Activities must be held at the site(s) specified on the map at the bottom of this page.
The hatched areas shown on the map indicate that they have been previously archaeologically surveyed and have been determined by previous Park archeologists to be cleared of artifacts as deep as 6".
This blanket compliance will be effective for special events at Grant’s Headquarters and Poplar Grove for 1 year from the date of issuance, at which time it will be reviewed prior to re-issuance.
Conditions:
Ceremonies will be limited to no more than 250 participants
Participant vehicles must leave room for other park visitors. No parking in the grass will be permitted, and all parking will be within designated parking spaces in any lot.
Park staff will generally not be available to offer special assistance for traffic, parking, or other logistical needs during the event.
Grass is maintained by the Park, however, Park staff are not responsible for mowing in advance of an event.
Permittee must provide all necessary equipment for their ceremony. The NPS will not furnish any equipment. Equipment may include folding chairs to accommodate guests, standalone flags, PA system (battery powered only), podium, small folding table to hold awards.
Tents that require stakes to secure will not go any deeper than 6 inches into the ground. Tents can be held in place by weights or sandbags. No concrete blocks are allowed.
Brush tents are not allowed.
Chairs should have plastic caps on the ends.
Campfires are allowed on raised metal fire pits.
All firing demonstrations and handling of historic weapons will be conducted in accordance with NPS black power regulation. All firing demonstrations and handling of historic weapons is contingent on NPS having appropriate staff to ensure compliance.
Prior to the event, park staff will ensure the grounds are suitable for chairs. If the grounds are wet, then the park may prohibit the use of chairs or require that chairs may only be placed on concrete.
The NPS will not provide an indoor location to hold the ceremony in the event of inclement weather.
Small pin flag signage may be inserted into the ground. These signs may include those often used by real estate signs that have pin flag type legs, less than 1/8th inch in diameter. Signs should not extend deeper than 6" in depth.
No ground disturbing activities will be permitted under this permit.
All signs, flagging, pin flags, trash, and equipment must be taken with the permittee.
Additional conditions can be included in the permit to help manage the permit.
How do I apply for a permit?
Permit applications are available below. You should submit a completed application along with the application fee to Petersburg National Battlefield. Applications need to be submitted at least 30 days prior to the event.
Submit by mail or in person to:
Petersburg National Battlefield
Attn: Permit Office
1539 Hickory Hill Road
Petersburg, VA 23803
What fees will I have to pay?
The National Park Service will collect a location fee for filming permits and may collect a location fee for still photography permits. The National Park Service will charge cost recovery fees for any work done by NPS personnel outside of their normal scheduled duties in support of a special use permit and in conjunction with any monitoring of a permitted activity. Cost recovery includes any additional charges to cover the costs incurred by the National Park Service in processing your request and monitoring your permit.
Additionally, an application fee will be collected and must be submitted with your application. The application fee for all permits at Petersburg National Battlefield are $50.00.
Are there other permit requirements?
You may be required to obtain liability insurance naming the United States as additionally insured in an amount commensurate with the risk posed to park resources by your proposed activity. You may also be asked to post a bond to ensure the payment of all charges and fees and the restoration of the area if necessary.
For more detailed information, see the park Superintendent’s Compendium or 36 CFR Sections 2.50, 2.51, or 2.52 . You can contact the park Special Use Permit Office by email. Current National Park Service policy states that “A permittee may not collect admission, parking, or any other monies associated with a special event on park property.” All permittee monetary transactions must take place outside the park.”
Updates to Filming, Still Photography, and Audio Recording Policy
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.
Who Needs a Permit?
You will need a permit for your filming, still photography, or sound recording activity in the following situations:
Large groups (9+ people): if your group has nine or more people participating in the activity.
Certain filming activities: if your activity doesn’t meet the requirements for an incidental activity or a small group, a permit will be required. This includes situations where the filming involves equipment other than handheld or a tripod, or if the activity is likely to disrupt the park experience, harm natural or cultural resources, or occur in a highly congested area.
Special Conditions: if your filming could potentially cause damage to resources, create unreasonable disruptions to the park experiences, or post a health or safety risk, a permit will be necessary.
Process for Permits
Please note that filming and photography applications and payments must be received a minimum of 21 days before the requested date. Applications cannot be rushed for any reasons. Larger or more complex filming project applications must be received at least 30 days in advance.
Production groups that have never worked at Petersburg National Battlefield before are also required to complete a site visit before submitting an application. This ensures that all parties are aware of the possible filming locations and that these locations are specifically listed on the permit application.
