Activities that may affect park operations, park resources, public safety and/or the experience of other visitors require a permit. Some activities that require permits include, but are not limited to:
- Collecting Research Specimens in accordance with 36 CFR 2.5
- Gathering and removal of plants or plant parts by enrolled members of federally recognized Indian tribes for traditional purposes in accordance with 36 CFR 2.6
- Special events that meet the requirements of 36 CFR 2.50
- Public assemblies, religious services, and other exercises of First Amendment Rights in accordance with the provisions of 36 CFR 2.51
- Sale or distribution of printed matter in accordance with the provisions of 36 CFR 2.52
- Memorialization or scattering of human ashes in accordance with 36 CFR 2.62
- Display of commercial notices or ads in accordance with 36 CFR 5.1
- Business operations in accordance with 36 CFR 5.3
- Any construction on Federal property in accordance with 36 CFR 5.7
- Commercial Activities (i.e. Bus Tours & Guide Services) - P.L. 105-391
Applications for activities requiring a permit are linked at the bottom of the page. All applications, except for First Amendment activities, require a fifty dollar ($50.00), non-refundable fee that does not guarantee permit approval.
The cost of a permit is calculated to recover personnel and resource management costs associated with the activity.
Filming & Still Photography
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:
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Occurs in areas open to the public;
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Uses hand-carried equipment only;
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Does not require exclusive use of a site;
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Does not adversely impact park resources, values, or other visitors; and
- Is not likely to result in additional administrative costs for the NPS.
Please see our Still Photograpy and Filming activities pages for park rules designed to keep these activities from adversely impacting park resources, values, or other visitors.
Fiming and still photography sessions may not take place at tour stops nor Stones River National Cemetery. Photographers and subjects should park in the gravel lot near the park visitor center.
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.
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.
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.
Filming Location Fees
- 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 Location Fees
- 1–10 people - $50/day
- 11–30 people - $150/day
- Over 30 people - $250/day
