Filming, photography and sound recording permits are considered in the order they are received. All applications must be completed in detail and returned with a $200.00 for the non-refundable application fee. Incomplete applications or applications returned without the application fee will not be considered. A minimum of two weeks is required to process an application and issue a permit.

The application fee covers up to three hours of administrative time involved in such things as phone calls, correspondence, application review, project consultation, scheduling park staff, issuing a filming permit (when appropriate), and providing follow-up and billing. Administrative time over three hours will be billed at a rate of $65/hour.

National Park Service (NPS) staff are required to monitor most filming, photography and sound recording activities and are limited to working no more than 12 hours a day, including round trip travel time between a monitor’s duty station and filming locations. For budgeting purposes, plan to have an NPS monitor present at all times, at a rate of $65 an hour, each day you are shooting. Also plan to budget for staff time required for interviews, scouting locations, etc., which is billed at the same rate. Estimated staff costs will be invoiced and must be paid prior to a permit being issued.

The National Park Service has implemented the following location fee schedule that will be in effect for permits issued on or after May 15, 2006.

Location Fee Schedule
National Park Service
FY 2007

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.