---
kind: "section"
citation: "50 C.F.R. § 27.71"
title: "50"
number: "27.71"
heading: "Commercial filming and still photography and audio recording."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/50/27.71"
---

# §27.71. Commercial filming and still photography and audio recording.

- (a) We authorize commercial filming and still photography on national wildlife refuges under the provisions of [43 CFR part 5](/cfr/43/part5.md).
- (b) **Audio recording does not require a permit unless—**
  - (1) It takes place at location(s) where or when members of the public are not allowed;
  - (2) It uses equipment that cannot be carried or held by one person;
  - (3) It uses equipment that requires an external power source; or
  - (4) We would incur additional administrative costs to provide management and oversight of the permitted activity to:
    - (i) Avoid unacceptable impacts and impairment to wildlife or resource values;
    - (ii) Minimize health or safety risks to the visiting public
- (c) **Failure to comply with any provision of 43 CFR part 5 is a violation of this section.**
- (d) The location fee schedule for still photography conducted according to a permit issued under [43 CFR part 5](/cfr/43/part5.md) will apply to audio recording permits issued under this part.
- (e) We will collect and retain cost recovery charges associated with processing permit requests and monitoring the permitted activities.
- (f) **Information collection.** A Federal agency may not conduct or sponsor and you are not required to respond to a collection of information, unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The information collection requirements contained in this section have been approved by the OMB under [44 U.S.C. 3501](/usc/44/3501.md) et seq. and assigned control number 1018-0102. The information is being collected to provide agency managers data necessary to issue permits and grant administrative benefits. The obligation to respond is required to obtain or retain a benefit. You may send comments on this information collection requirement to the Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1849 C Street NW., Mailstop 2042-PDM, Washington, DC 20240.

## Notes

### Amendments

[78 FR 52097, Aug. 22, 2013]

### Authority

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 685, 752, 690d; 16 U.S.C. 460k, 460 l -6d, 664, 668dd, 685, 690d, 715i, 715s, 725; 43 U.S.C. 315a.

### Source

Source: 41 FR 9168, Mar. 3, 1976, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[78 FR 52097, Aug. 22, 2013]