Saguaro 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 Saguaro National Park as they relate to filming and photographic activities within the park boundaries.
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. In these cases, the superintendent will still be required to protect park resources and the rights and safety of park visitors. News media wishing access for entertainment or scheduled purposes may require a permit.
- 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 resources, 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 does not 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.
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, or when they involve props, models, professional crews and casts or set dressings. Permits are required for access to areas normally closed to the visiting public.
To apply for a permit, please complete a Saguaro National Park filming application form and submit it to the Filming Permits Coordinator allowing sufficient time for evaluation by the park staff before the start date of the proposed activity to be conducted in the park.
Please remember to enclose a check, money order or Visa, MasterCard or Discover card information for $100.00 to cover non-refundable application costs. If filming application is approved, additional costs may apply.
Requests will be evaluated on the basis of the information in the application.Therefore you are encouraged to attach maps, diagrams, script pages or storyboards to assist the park staff in evaluating your request. (Since the National Park Service cannot censor content, submission of script and storyboards is voluntary).
Due to the volume of filming requests received by Saguaro National Park, applications are handled in the order they are received. Priority will not be given to urgent requests nor will the park reply by express mail. Simple requests can be processed in two weeks. Requests that involve multiple locations, complex logistics, and coordination with other NPS divisions or visitor activities will require a minimum of four weeks to process. A minimum of four weeks is also required to process permits for projects that need additional environmental compliance.
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. Applications will not be processed if submitted incomplete or are received without payment.