Orlando
Orlando's motion photography permit is free, but productions touching city property need one, and the theme parks set their own rules entirely.
Guidance, not legal advice
Permit
Conditional
Issuer: Orlando Film Commission (one-stop permitting for city, county, and state property)
Cost: No permit application fee; you pay actual costs for services like off-duty police or fire staff
Processing: Allow at least 5 business days
City Code Chapter 3 requires a Motion Photography Production Permit for productions that affect city property or the public right-of-way. The Orlando Film Commission runs a one-stop process covering city, Orange County, and state jurisdictions. Casual personal photography does not need a permit; commercial productions on public property do. Proof of liability insurance is part of the application. Verify current requirements with the film commission.
Drone / airspace
Commercial drone work requires FAA Part 107; the city adds insurance and approval requirements
Local takeoff, landing, and park restrictions sit on top of FAA airspace rules, and theme park areas carry flight restrictions. 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
- The theme parks (Disney, Universal, SeaWorld) are private property with their own strict commercial photography rules; the city permit does not apply there.
- Lake Eola Park and its swan boats are city property, so commercial shoots there go through the permit process.
- The permit is free but off-duty police or fire support gets billed to the production.
Sources
Keep shooting
Knowing the rules is half the job. The craft side: