COMMERCIAL FILM AND PHOTOGRAPHY

Commercial Filming and Photography

Photography and filming are popular visitor activities at the Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites. Most types of still photography and personal video filming do not require a permit, such as taking family pictures or videos while visiting the site. Other types of projects, however, do require a permit in order to protect park resources and provide for public safety.

Still Photography

Still photography projects require a permit when there are props, sets, or models involved, or when the project takes place outside of regular operating hours or in locations not open to the public.

Commercial Filming

Commercial, as well as most non-profit film projects at ROVA require a permit. Adequate monitoring and supervision is necessary to protect park resources, especially indoor collections. Care must also be taken to ensure that regular visitation and park functions are not disrupted.

Application and other cost recovery charges, as well as proof of liability insurance, apply to all commercial filming. All permits must be signed and all permit conditions agreed to by both the applicant and the superintendent before a permit is valid and use of the site is authorized.

New Location Fees

Public Law 106-206 (P.L. 106-206);codified at 16 U.S.C. 460l-6d, instructs the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to "establish a reasonable fee for commercial filming activities or similar projects on Federal lands..."

This law allows the collection of location fees in national parks for the first time. New regulations will allow the National Park Service to collect reasonable fees for the use of federal lands, earning the government a fair return on the use of the site for commercial filming and certain still photography.

An exception to this new policy involves commercial documentary videographers, cinematographers or sound recording crews of up to two people with only minimal equipment and who are working in areas open to the public. Permits are still required, as well as application and other cost recovery charges.

Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites Location Fee Schedule:

Motion Pictures/Videos	Commercial Still Photography
1-10 person crew $150/day	1-10 person crew $50/day
11-30 person crew $250/day	11-30 person crew $150/day
31-40 person crew $500/day	Over 30 person crew $250/day
Over 50 person crew $750/day

APPLICATIONS

The application charge for commercial photography and filming is $80.00.

Please contact the Special Park Use Coordinator Mike Autenrieth at 845-229-7770 before applying to request permit.

Please submit applications at least 14 days prior to filming or photography.

NPS Form 10-931 Application for Commercial Photography/Filming Permit - Short Form.
NPS Form 10-932 Application for Commercial Photography/Filmimg Permit - Long Form