Film, Photography, and Sound Recording Permits

Who Needs a Permit?

You will need a permit for your filming, still photography, or sound recording activity in the following situations:

• Large groups (9+ people): if your group has nine or more people participating in the activity.
• Certain filming activities: if your activity doesn’t meet the requirements for an incidental activity or a small group, a permit will be required. This includes situations where the filming involves equipment other than handheld or a tripod, or if the activity is likely to disrupt the park experience, harm natural resources, or occur in a highly congested area.
• Special conditions: if your filming could potentially cause damage to resources, create unreasonable disruptions to the park experience, or pose a health or safety risk, a permit will be necessary.

Who Does Not Need a Permit?

You will not need a permit for your filming, still photography, or sound recording activity in the following situations:

• Small groups (5 people or less): if your group has five or fewer people participating in the activity, and it meets the following requirements:
  • The activity does not intrude on the experience of other visitors and does not disturb or negatively impact natural resources, cultural resources, or environmental or scenic values.
  • The activity is conducted in a location open to the public.
  • The person conducting the activity does not require the exclusive use of a site or area.
  • The person does not conduct the activity in a localized area that receives a very high volume of visitation. See below for details.
  • The person conducting the activity only uses handheld equipment and/or a tripod or monopod.
  • The activity is not likely to result in additional administrative costs being incurred by the Park with respect to the filming or still photography activity, as determined by the Park.
  • The person conducting the activity complies with other applicable Federal, State (as such term is defined in section 3 of the EXPLORE Act), and local laws (including policies and regulations). This includes all laws relating to the use of unmanned aerial equipment.
• Incidental to an authorized activity: if the activity is incidental to, or documenting, an event or activity already authorized or allowed in the park (i.e. wedding, family reunion).

Who Might Need a Permit?

For some low-impact activities involving 6 to 8 individuals, you may qualify for a de minimis use authorization instead of a full permit. Contact us for more information.

Localized Areas With High Volume of Visitation

During the summer season, areas such as Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic, Fairy Falls Overlook, Artist Point and other major overlooks along the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone are considered high visitation areas. Yellowstone National Park is currently reviewing visitor use data to determine if additional locations receive a very high volume of visitation. In the interim, if you are planning on filming, photographing, or recording in an one of the aforementioned areas, or an area where your filming activities may impede the experience or access of other visitors, please contact us before submitting your permit application.

Fees

Application Fee

An application fee of $350 must be paid at the time of submitting the application and is non-refundable. Payment may be made via credit card by calling 307-344-2110. You may also mail a check (payable to National Park Service) or payment form to the following address: Yellowstone National Park, Attn: Film Office, PO Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190.

Monitoring Fee

Yellowstone National Park staff must monitor certain filming, photography, and sound recording activities. This includes, but is not limited to, projects with large crews or extensive equipment, those that may cause resource damage, or those that could impact visitor use.

Upon approval of the application, if it is deemed that a monitor should be assigned to your project, there will be a cost recovery charge based on the monitor’s hourly rate from the time they start at their duty station until they return from monitoring. The assignment and estimate will be provided prior to the final permit being issued and the balance calculated after the activity is completed.

How to Apply

Download and fill out the special use permit application to go along with your non-refundable application fee (see Application Fee above).

Applications may be emailed (preferred) to e-mail us or mailed to: Yellowstone National Park, Attn: Film Office, PO Box 168 Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190.

Filming, photography, and sound recording permits are considered in the order they are received. Allow 2 to 4 weeks (depending on project type and the volume of requests) to process an application and issue a permit.

Interviews and Filming with Employees

Interviews and on-camera appearances by employees may be available based on staff availability under the following conditions:

• The employee is selected and/or approved by park management and is depicted performing his or her normal duties or serving as a subject matter expert. Do not reach out to staff directly, contact the Film Office.
• The employee’s appearance supports National Park Service goals and has a beneficial effect for the Service.
• The role is not scripted. Employee’s may demonstrate aspects of their job but may not act or spend time on multiple takes. Film crews are not permitted to shadow NPS employees on the job or place body cameras on staff. NPS employees will not participate in reality-style productions.
• The employee is paid by the park as part of his or her regular working hours. The permittee will reimburse the park for this cost.
• If the filming requires overtime or backfilling of positions, the National Park Service will be reimbursed for any such additional costs through the permitting process.
• The Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees apply. Generally, employees are forbidden from accepting gratuities or gifts.
• Off-duty government employees may work for filming companies only if they do not perform or appear to perform official duties. Personnel engaged in actual supervision of permittee are not allowed to engage in off-duty employment with the filmmaker under any circumstances. The park superintendent must approve off-duty employee requests.