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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 NPS.
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. 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.
In most cases, still photography does not require a permit. A permit is required for still photography only when:
the activity takes place at location(s) where or when members of the public are generally not allowed; or
the activity uses model(s), sets(s), or prop(s) that are not a part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities; or
the National Park Service would incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity.
A “model” means a person or object that serves as the subject for 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. Portrait subjects, such as wedding parties and high school graduates, are not considered models.
The National Park Service cannot permit a project if:
Damage to natural, cultural, wilderness, and recreational resources is expected which cannot be mitigated;
Other activities are already planned or expected to occur at the same time and place, and filming or photography would be incompatible;
The activity involves access to areas normally closed for reasons of resource protection or safety;
The project would require more NPS support and monitoring than the park has the capacity to provide;
The project includes a portrayal of activities that are not permitted within a national park;
The production company is unwilling or unable to obtain necessary insurance as applicable;
The production company is unwilling or unable to reimburse the National Park Service for costs as applicable, or comply with National Park Service bond requirements.
Activities having the potential to significantly impact, alter, or damage resources are prohibited. The following are also prohibited:
Altering, damaging or removing vegetation or filming in wetlands
Vehicle use off established roads and parking areas
Use of insecticides, herbicides, and pesticides
Loud noises (60 decibels or higher) between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
Use of meadow areas except on trails or already-disturbed areas as determined by the NPS
Any artificial lighting or use of power equipment in wilderness (other wilderness restrictions apply)
Filming of wild animals in captivity (except when working with NPS wildlife management operations)
Smoking in buildings, on boardwalks, or in vegetated areas
Harassment of wildlife or introduction of wildlife captured elsewhere
Use of equipment that inhibits public views of popular scenic vistas
Digging, scraping, chiseling, or defacing natural features for filming purposes
Crystal Cave is managed by our non-profit partner, Sequoia Parks Conservancy (SPC). If you're interested in filming or photographing at Crystal Cave, contact them at (559) 565-4251 to make arrangements for a private tour in advance of applying for an NPS permit. Note that Crystal Cave has been closed to the public since the KNP Complex Fire in 2021. The cave will not be available for filming or photography projects until it has been reopened to the public.
A private tour fee will be required, to be paid directly to SPC.
Federal law requires the National Park Service to recover its administrative costs for filming, still photography, and audio recording activities that require a permit. Cost recovery includes an application fee, a permit processing fee, and any additional charges to cover the costs incurred by the National Park Service in processing your request and monitoring the permitted activities.
Application fee - $150.00
Permit processing fee - $250.00
Monitoring fee - $50.00/hour per monitor
Additional processing time - $50.00/hour
In addition, Federal law also requires the National Park Service to collect a location fee that provides a fair return to the United States for the use of park lands for filming, still photography, and audio recording that requires a permit. The National Park Service uses the following fee schedules for filming, photography, and audio recording:
Filming
1–2 people, camera & 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 or Audio Recording
1–10 people - $50/day
11–30 people - $150/day
Over 30 people - $250/day
Crystal Cave Location Fees
Private tour - fee varies, contact (559) 565-4251 or adventures@sequoiaparks.org
Once your application has been received, reviewed, and you've been in contact with our permit specialist, you will receive a link to Pay.gov with a permit number necessary to complete your transaction.
Total processing time varies depending on project complexity. You should submit an application a minimum of 6 weeks in advance of your proposed project start date.
Reviewing the following links when planning your project in advance of contacting our office can help keep your administrative permitting fees to a minimum.
Fill out the application in its entirety, with the following
Project Description
The application includes an area for detailed project description.
The more detailed the description, the better we will understand the project and the more efficiently the application can be processed.
Attach additional pages as necessary.
Do not submit the project description in the body of an email, but as a Word or PDF document.
Include details such as who, what, when, where, how, and why.
Certificate of Liability Insurance
Submit a valid Liability Insurance Certificate with your application package. The policy should be in the amount of $1,000,000 and must be underwritten by a United States company naming the United States of America as additionally insured.
A non-refundable application fee of $150 will be charged upon initial review of your application.
Submit your application using one of the methods stated on page 4 of the application.
