Film permitFederal
Filming in Big Bend National Park
No permit or fee for groups of eight or fewer using only hand-carried gear in open areas, without exclusive use of a site or harm to resources.
Fees $150 nonrefundable application fee (Pay.gov)
What it takes
| Do you need one? | No permit or fee for groups of eight or fewer using only hand-carried gear in open areas, without exclusive use of a site or harm to resources. Larger crews or more complex equipment and setups need a special use permit. Commercial and noncommercial work are treated the same. |
| Who issues it | National Park Service, Big Bend National Park film permit coordinator. |
| Fees | $150 nonrefundable application fee (Pay.gov). Daily filming location fees: $0 for 1 to 2 people with camera and tripod only, $150 for up to 10, $250 for 11 to 30, $500 for 31 to 49, $750 for 50 or more. Still photography: $50 for up to 10, $150 for 11 to 30, $250 over 30. Monitoring $50 per hour per staff member, 2-hour minimum per day. |
| Insurance | At least $1 million commercial liability from a U.S. insurer, naming the United States as additional insured. A refundable damage bond may be required for high-impact projects. |
| Police, fire and traffic | Park staff monitors may be assigned at the hourly rate. |
| Street and lane closures | Park roads and areas cannot be closed for filming; no entry to closed areas. |
| Students and nonprofits | Treated the same as all other filming. |
| Drones | Prohibited in Big Bend National Park and the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River. |
| Also | No ground disturbance or moving natural features. Send the application, insurance certificate, schedule with locations and equipment list together. The Big Bend Film Commission (Shoot Big Bend) covers the surrounding region. |
From the official pages: Big Bend National Park - Filming and still photography ↗︎ · NPS - Filming, still photography and audio recording ↗︎. Rules and fees change; confirm with the office before you shoot. Not legal advice. Photo: eclectico63, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons.