Fujifilm X-S20
$1,490 - $1,680
US State
Florida
Florida abolished its state film office in 2023; county film commissions issue permits, and state parks run their own DEP photography permit with fees and insurance.
Permit: conditional
Shoot decision
Depends on setup
Small personal or low-impact work may be fine, but commercial, staged, exclusive-use, tripod, light, or crew-heavy work can cross the permit line.
Permit
Conditional
Issuer: County and city film commissions (no state film office since July 2023); Film Florida is the industry association
Cost: Varies by county; state parks charge an application fee plus a daily permit fee and require insurance
Florida eliminated its Office of Film and Entertainment effective July 1, 2023 (HB 5, Chapter 2023-173), so there is no state film commissioner or statewide coordinator; the nonprofit association Film Florida and a dense network of county and regional film commissions (Film Miami, Film Tampa Bay, FilmLauderdale, and others) handle production support and permits. On state land, the DEP Division of Recreation and Parks requires a photography permit for commercial shoots in Florida State Parks that need park participation, resources, or facilities; expect an application fee, a daily permit fee, and liability insurance naming DEP and the Board of Trustees, all arranged with the individual park manager. Casual photography in the parks is free. Verify current fees with the park before booking.
Drone / airspace
Commercial drone work requires FAA Part 107; Florida preempts most local drone ordinances by statute
Florida law centralizes drone regulation at the state level, and state parks restrict launching and landing. For Part 107 and state drone law, see Drone Authority.
Street / public space
Yes: you can photograph what is visible from public space in the US
Florida beaches below the mean high tide line are public; dry sand above it can be private. Private property sets its own rules.
Practical notes
- With no state office, the county film commission is your first call: Miami-Dade, Broward, Hillsborough, and Orange County all run mature permit systems.
- Popular state parks for shoots (Bill Baggs Cape Florida, Honeymoon Island) process photo permits through the park manager, and some county film offices host the forms.
- Theme park property is private; Disney and Universal do not permit commercial photography through any government channel.
Guidance, not legal advice
Rules change and enforcement varies. Confirm with the issuing authority before you shoot. Drone law depth lives at Drone Authority.
9.0
Peak Design Travel Tripod (Carbon)
$599 - $699
Product links may earn a commission at no cost to you. Verify the rules first, then buy only what keeps the shoot practical.