Permits

Permits

Certain activities within all National Park Service (NPS) areas require a special use permit. This enables the National Park Service to ensure safety and monitor and regulate the use of parks while simultaneously conserving the scenery, natural and historic objects, and wildlife within park boundaries.

Filming and Photography

You generally do NOT need a permit for your personal filming and personal photography activities within normal visitation areas and hours. However, filming outside normal visitation locations and hours requires a permit. Please see the "Definitions and Requirements" section for more information.

Drones (Unmanned Aircraft)

Please be aware that launching, landing & operating drones on National Park Service lands is NOT permitted without written approval by the park superintendent (36 CFR 1.5). Additionally, it is not likely that the National Park Service would approve a drone request unless it is for an activity such as emergency search and rescue operations or for a park-sanctioned research or science project.

Commercial Use Authorizations (CUAs)

Section 418 of the National Parks Omnibus Management Act of 1998, Public Law 105-391, authorizes (but does not require) NPS, upon request, to issue commercial use authorizations to persons (referring to individuals, corporations, and other entities) to provide commercial services to park visitors in limited circumstances. CUAs, although used to authorize commercial services to park visitors, are NOT Concession Contracts. They are intended to provide a simple means to authorize suitable commercial services to visitors in the park in the limited circumstances in the legislation. Note that it is extremely uncommon for Morristown National Historical Park to issue a CUA.

General National Park Service Information on Permits

https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/doingbusinesswithus.htm

Definitions & Requirements

Special Activities

A special activity, or special park use, is a short-term activity that takes place in a park area and:

• Provides a benefit to an individual, group, or organization rather than the public at large.

• Requires written authorization and some degree of management control from the NPS to protect park resources and the public interest.

• Is not prohibited by law or regulation.

• Is not initiated, sponsored, or conducted by the National Park Service.

Please Note: Morristown National Historical Park no longer issues permits for small weddings and wedding photos. For further information on filming and photography in the park, see the “Filming & Still Photography Permits” section below.

Filming, Still Photography, and Audio Recording

https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/news/commercial-film-and-photo-permits.htm

Please review carefully the information in the link immediately above for the current National Park Service guidance regarding filming, still photography and audio recording.

After you have reviewed the information, please contact the park with any questions you have regarding filming, still photography, and audio recording at Morristown National Historical Park. In most cases, permits and fees are not required for filming, still photography, or audio recordings that involve eight or fewer individuals. To avoid permit and fee requirements, your activity must meet all 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 National Park Service.

Please note that Morristown National Historical Park no longer conducts calendar checks for grounds availability for portrait photography sessions. Use of the grounds for non-permit portrait photography sessions is on a first-come, first-served, non-exclusive basis, with the current visitor regulations applying. Some of the visitor regulations include:

• No littering, including throwing rice, flower petals, or confetti of any kind (e.g., biodegradable paper, plastic, glitter, etc.)

• Do NOT move any of the outdoor furniture (e.g., benches) or any other moveable features.

We request that photographers NOT schedule more than two groups of clients (e.g., family groups) per day. This is to help maintain a more equitable use of the grounds. The grounds open at 8am and close at different times throughout the year, depending upon when the sun sets. Check our current grounds hours.
The best time to visit to avoid crowds is early in the morning on weekdays. However, please be aware that from spring through fall, 9am to noon on Wednesday mornings is when volunteers work in the Cross Estate Gardens. Please avoid those days and times.

First Amendment Rights

Groups of less than 25 participants may exercise their First Amendment Rights without a permit. These small groups may assemble peacefully, however, they must be in a designated First Amendment area. These areas are designated to protect the safety of the participants, as well as park visitors and park resources. For a list of these locations, please see the Superintendent's Compendium.

Groups larger than 25 participants may still exercise their rights, however, a permit with conditions will be required. There are no fees or cost recovery associated with permits issued for First Amendment assemblies. Conditions are required to protect the participants as well as park visitors and park resources. In no way will conditions be imposed to restrict the rights of the permit holder. The National Park Service is content-neutral regarding any First Amendment Activity.

Costs and Process

Applications for Special Park Use, filming, still photography and audio recording permits require a $75.00 non-refundable application fee. Other fees may apply as well. We use the information that you provide on your application to determine if a permit will be issued. We will notify you of the disposition of the application and the steps to secure a final permit. Please allow at least one week to process your request and note that more complex requests require more time to process. Please do NOT submit an application before emailing the park to discuss your desired activity. It's possible that we might not be able to honor your request, and/or your desired date/time/location is already taken, or your activity doesn’t require a permit. You can contact the park at e-mail us. The staff generally works 8 am to 4 pm Eastern Time, Monday-Friday.

• Application for Commercial Filming and Still Photography
• Application for Special Use Permit
• Application for Special Use Permit Demonstrations and Distribution of Materials