New Mexico
New Mexico's film office issues no permits but is the front door to state property; state parks want film and photo applications 30 days out, and public agencies standardize on 1,050,000 dollars of insurance.
Guidance, not legal advice
Permit
Conditional
Issuer: New Mexico Film Office
Cost: Varies by property and locality; public agencies commonly require a 1,050,000 dollar general liability policy
The New Mexico Film Office does not issue permits; cities, towns, and counties permit their own jurisdictions, and the film office is the stated first contact for state-owned properties. New Mexico State Parks (State Parks Division, EMNRD) requires a Film and Photography Permit for commercial work, submitted at least 30 days in advance. State highways are permitted through the state transportation department, which allows filming on highways and, case by case, the interstates. The recurring number across New Mexico's public permitting agencies is a 1,050,000 dollar comprehensive general liability policy. State trust lands are a separate regime under the State Land Office.
Drone / airspace
Commercial drone work requires FAA Part 107
State parks and land managers add their own drone restrictions on top of FAA airspace rules. 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
Pueblo and tribal lands are sovereign and commonly regulate or prohibit photography; those rules are absolute and separate from state law.
Practical notes
- White Sands is a national park and Bisti is BLM; much of New Mexico's marquee landscape is federal or tribal, so the state parks permit covers less than you might assume.
- Photography on pueblo land without permission is the fastest way to lose gear and goodwill in New Mexico; ask first, every time.
Sources
Keep shooting
Knowing the rules is half the job. The craft side: