Minnesota
Minnesota permits locally with a film-friendly posture; DNR state parks require permits for advertising and staged shoots, and the state adds its own MnDOT drone registration on top of Part 107.
Guidance, not legal advice
Permit
Conditional
Issuer: Minnesota Film and TV (Explore Minnesota Film)
Cost: Varies by property and locality, see the film office; local permits are typically low-cost or free
Minnesota has no statewide filming permit; cities and counties issue their own (Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board each run separate photo/film permit programs), and Minnesota Film and TV guides productions to the right authority. The layer photographers actually hit is Minnesota DNR: in state parks and recreation areas, a permit is required for filming or photography for commercial advertising, for shoots using props, sets, or compensated models or actors, and for anything that disrupts visitors or impacts resources. Applications start with the park or area supervisor and review can take up to 30 days.
Drone / airspace
Commercial drone work requires FAA Part 107, and Minnesota adds state-level requirements: commercial drones must be registered with MnDOT (annual or per-event), operators advertising drone services need a MnDOT Commercial Operations License, and proof of insurance is required under Minn. Stat. 360.59
This is one of the few states with a real drone paperwork layer beyond the FAA. 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
Private property sets its own rules regardless of state law.
Practical notes
- Casual and editorial photography in Minnesota state parks does not need a permit; the DNR trigger is advertising use, staging, or disruption.
- Budget for the MnDOT drone layer before a commercial aerial job: registration and the operations license are cheap but must be in place at flight time.
Sources
Keep shooting
Knowing the rules is half the job. The craft side: