Tampa
Film Tampa Bay issues free permits for Tampa and Hillsborough County; commercial shoots on public property need one, with a small-crew exemption in county parks only.
Guidance, not legal advice
Permit
Conditional
Issuer: Film Tampa Bay (Tampa Hillsborough Film and Digital Media Commission)
Cost: Permits are free; production costs like police details are billed separately
Processing: Allow at least 5 business days
Commercial (paid) filming and photography on public property in the City of Tampa and Hillsborough County requires a film permit, applied for online through Film Tampa Bay. In Hillsborough County parks and conservation areas, shoots with a total of 5 people or fewer (photographer and subjects included) are exempt, but that exemption does NOT apply inside City of Tampa parks. A certificate of insurance is required for permitted shoots. Verify current terms 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. 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 5-person exemption is county-only: a small portrait shoot that is fine in a Hillsborough County park still needs a permit in a City of Tampa park.
- The Tampa Riverwalk is city property, so commercial shoots there run through the permit.
- One Film Tampa Bay application covers Tampa, Temple Terrace, Plant City, and unincorporated Hillsborough County.
Sources
Keep shooting
Knowing the rules is half the job. The craft side: