Denver
Denver's film permit is free and has clear crew thresholds; here is when handheld work is exempt and where drones are banned outright.
Guidance, not legal advice
Permit
Conditional
Issuer: City and County of Denver Public Event and Film Permitting (Denver Arts and Venues)
Cost: No fee to apply for the film permit; other agencies may charge for street occupancy or police support
Processing: Apply ahead; complex shoots may require insurance
A permit is required on public property once you exceed crew thresholds (25 in a park, 10 on a sidewalk), use more than handheld gear or a single tripod, or block access or parking. Handheld shooting under those thresholds, breaking news, and private-property shoots need no permit.
Drone / airspace
Commercial drone work requires FAA Part 107; drones are prohibited in Denver Mountain Parks (including Red Rocks) and City Park, and need a permit to take off or land on sidewalks or in parks
Local rules sit on top of FAA airspace rules. For Part 107 and drone law, see Drone Authority.
Street / public space
Yes: you can photograph what is visible from public space in the US
Private property sets its own rules regardless of city law.
Practical notes
- Parks permit separately with extra rules: handheld-only in the Mountain Parks and filming hours of 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- The permit does not authorize use of public art or city logos; Red Rocks, Union Station, and the State Capitol have their own processes.
Sources
Keep shooting
Knowing the rules is half the job. The craft side: