Commercial Filming & Photography Permits

Commercial filming and some still photography within the park requires a special use permit. To inquire about a filming or photography permit, contact the special park use office.

Commercial Filming

Under federal law, all commercial filming that occurs within a unit of the National Park System requires a permit. "Commercial filming" means the film, electronic, magnetic, digital, or other recording of a moving image by a person, business, or other entity for a market audience with the intent of generating income. Examples include, but are not limited to, feature film, videography, and documentaries. Commercial filming may include the advertisement of a product or service, or the use of actors, models, sets, or props.

Federal law requires a permit for all commercial filming, no matter the size of the crew or the type of equipment. This includes individuals or small groups that don’t use much equipment, but generate revenue by posting footage on websites, such as YouTube and TikTok. All those partaking in commercial filming, no matter the size, must comply with all rules that apply in park areas, just like other visitors.

If you are interested in obtaining a film permit for Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, or have any questions about filming in the park, please inquire with the office of Special Park Uses.

In addition, the National Park Service has been directed by Congress to collect a fee to provide a fair return to the United States for the use of park lands. The agency uses the following motion picture/video fee schedule:

• 1-2 people (only tripod & camera): $0/day

• 1-10 people: $150/day

• 11-30 people: $250/day

• 31-49 people: $500/day

• Over 50 people: $750/day

Still Photography

Still photographers require a Filming and Still Photography Special Use Permit only when:

• the activity takes place at location(s) where or when members of the public are generally not allowed

• 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 (portrait subjects such as wedding guests and graduates are not considered models)

• the park would incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity

If still photography requires a permit, the NPS will collect a location fee and, separately, reimbursement for actual costs the NPS incurs in processing the request and administering the permit. Individuals and entities who enter a System unit for the purpose of conducting still photography activities under a permit are not required to pay entrance fees. The National Park Service uses the following still photography fee schedule:

• 1–10 people - $50/day

• 11–30 people - $150/day

• Over 30 people - $250/day

If you are interested in conducting a commercial instructional photography workshop, please visit Commercial Use Permits.