Ohio
Ohio permitting is city by city; the state film office is an incentives and referral shop, and ODNR handles state park shoots through its special activity permit.
Guidance, not legal advice
Permit
Conditional
Issuer: Ohio Film Office (Ohio Department of Development)
Cost: Varies by city; ODNR special activity permits carry a 40 dollar processing fee
There is no statewide filming or photography permit. The Ohio Film Office administers the Motion Picture Tax Credit and connects productions to the right authorities, but permits come from individual cities (Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, and Dayton each have their own processes, often via regional film commissions). On state land, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), which runs Ohio State Parks, uses its Special Activity Permit system for organized events and commercial activity in parks, applied for at least 30 days ahead with a 40 dollar processing fee; casual photography by an individual is not the target of that system. Large-crew shoots in state parks are handled case by case with the park office.
Drone / airspace
Commercial drone work requires FAA Part 107
ODNR restricts drone operations in state parks without approval, and cities add their own 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
Private property sets its own rules regardless of state law.
Practical notes
- Hocking Hills is the enforcement hotspot for commercial photography in Ohio state parks; portrait photographers working there regularly should talk to the park office about what triggers a permit.
- Cuyahoga Valley is a national park with NPS rules; the ODNR permit does not apply there.
Sources
Keep shooting
Knowing the rules is half the job. The craft side: