---
kind: "section"
citation: "43 C.F.R. § 5.2"
title: "43"
number: "5.2"
heading: "When do I need a permit for commercial filming or still photography?"
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/43/5.2"
---

# §5.2. When do I need a permit for commercial filming or still photography?

- (a) **All commercial filming requires a permit.**
- (b) **Still photography does not require a permit unless—**
  - (1) It uses a model, set, or prop as defined in [§ 5.12](/cfr/43/5.12.md); or
  - (2) **The agency determines a permit is necessary because—**
    - (i) It takes place at a location where or when members of the public are not allowed; or
    - (ii) The agency would incur costs for providing on-site management and oversight to protect agency resources or minimize visitor use conflicts.
- (c) Visitors do not require a permit for filming or still photography activities unless the filming is commercial filming as defined in [§ 5.12](/cfr/43/5.12.md) or the still photography activity involves one of the criteria listed in [§ 5.2 (b)](#b).

## Notes

### Authority

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 16 U.S.C. 1-3, 3a, 668dd-ee, 715i, 460 l -6d; 25 U.S.C. 2; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 43 U.S.C. 1701, 1732-1734, 1740.

### Source

Source: 78 FR 52095, Aug. 22, 2013, unless otherwise noted.