St. Louis
St. Louis has no general film permit; you register with the film office and pull department-specific approvals only when a shoot impacts streets or parks.
Guidance, not legal advice
Permit
Conditional
Issuer: St. Louis Film Office (at Explore St. Louis), coordinating with individual city departments
Cost: No general permit fee; department-level permits (streets, parks, police) vary, see the film office
Processing: Contact the film office ahead of the shoot; department approvals add lead time
As a general rule you do not need a citywide filming permit in St. Louis. The film office asks productions to register and then routes you to the right department: the Street Department for restricting street or sidewalk traffic, the Parks Department for filming in a park, and the Police Department for driving shots, simulated gunfire, or emergency vehicle activity. Handheld and personal photography needs nothing. Verify specifics with the film office.
Drone / airspace
Commercial drone work requires FAA Part 107; local property rules add restrictions
Local takeoff, landing, and park restrictions 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
- The Gateway Arch and its grounds are a national park (Gateway Arch National Park), so NPS commercial filming rules apply there, not city rules.
- Forest Park shoots go through the city Parks Department, not the film office.
- Missouri has no state film permit either; the Missouri Film Office confirms most cities in the state work the same way.
Sources
Keep shooting
Knowing the rules is half the job. The craft side: