Houston
Houston's film registration and the $1,000,000 insurance requirement, plus the police and parks costs that sit on top.
Guidance, not legal advice
Permit
Conditional
Issuer: Houston Film Commission (Houston First Corporation), coordinating City of Houston permitting
Cost: No flat permit fee published; traffic control requires hiring off-duty HPD officers and parks require a separate park permit
Processing: Submit a registration form and insurance before production
Filming on general public property needs a completed registration plus a certificate of insurance. General liability of $1,000,000 per incident naming the City of Houston is required before filming. Separate permits cover traffic control, parks, amplified sound, and special effects.
Drone / airspace
Commercial drone work requires FAA Part 107; downtown and airport-area airspace needs FAA authorization
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
- City parks require a separate Parks and Recreation permit through the commission.
- Any street or lane closure requires hiring off-duty HPD officers; pyrotechnics require a fire marshal on set.
Sources
Keep shooting
Knowing the rules is half the job. The craft side: