South Dakota
No standalone film office anymore; the Department of Tourism points productions to land managers, and Game, Fish and Parks permits all commercial photography in state parks including Custer.
Guidance, not legal advice
Permit
Conditional
Issuer: Film South Dakota (South Dakota Department of Tourism)
Cost: Varies by property and locality; see the film office
South Dakota no longer operates a standalone film office; the Department of Tourism's Film South Dakota program provides contacts and routes productions to the right land manager. There is no statewide photo permit. On state park lands, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) requires a Filming/Photography Permit for commercial photography and filming, evaluated per request for resource, operations, and visitor impact, with liability insurance scaled to the activity. Custer State Park handles its own film permit applications through the park's visitor services office.
Drone / airspace
Legal under FAA rules; commercial drone work requires FAA Part 107
Commercial drone work requires FAA Part 107. For Part 107 and state drone law, see Drone Authority.
Street / public space
Yes: photographing people and property visible from public space is legal in the US
Private property and tribal lands set their own rules; filming on tribal lands requires separate permission from each tribe.
Practical notes
- The photogenic Black Hills targets split across managers: Custer State Park (GFP), Badlands and Wind Cave (NPS), Black Hills National Forest (USFS). Each permits separately.
- Allow extra lead time in peak season (May to October), which is exactly when the wildlife loops and granite spires are most shot.
Sources
Keep shooting
Knowing the rules is half the job. The craft side: