San Antonio
San Antonio charges no film permit fee as a Texas Film Friendly community, but every production must carry insurance naming the city.
Guidance, not legal advice
Permit
Conditional
Issuer: San Antonio Film Commission (City Department of Arts and Culture)
Cost: No permit fee; San Antonio is a Texas Film Friendly community and charges no film or photography permit fee
Processing: Submit at least 10 business days before the principal day
Required for productions using public or city locations. All productions must submit a certificate of insurance naming the City of San Antonio and the Film Commission as additional insured. Personal-use photography like family portraits is exempt from the insurance requirement.
Drone / airspace
Commercial drone work requires FAA Part 107; coordinate with the Film Commission for flying over or from city property
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
- Park filming uses a separate park film permit track.
- The San Antonio Missions are federal NPS jurisdiction and need a separate special-use permit, not a city permit.
Sources
Keep shooting
Knowing the rules is half the job. The craft side: