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Aperture
US State

Tennessee

No statewide permit; the Tennessee Entertainment Commission brokers state property access, state parks welcome hobby photography but permit commercial work, and drones in state parks are near-banned.

By Joel Kelly Verified Jul 1, 2026 2 sources
Permit: conditional

Shoot decision

Depends on setup

There is no statewide photography or film permit. The Tennessee Entertainment Commission handles incentives and is the stated channel for professional productions seeking permission to film on state property, which requires a certificate of insurance.

Permit

Conditional

Issuer: Tennessee Entertainment Commission

Cost: Varies by property and locality; see the film office

There is no statewide photography or film permit. The Tennessee Entertainment Commission handles incentives and is the stated channel for professional productions seeking permission to film on state property, which requires a certificate of insurance. City permits are separate (Nashville has its own film, video, and photography permit for parks and rights-of-way). In Tennessee State Parks (Department of Environment and Conservation), recreational photography is generally allowed, tripods included, but commercial photography and videography (paid portrait sessions, weddings, commercial shoots) falls under the business operations rule TCA 0400-02-06-.02 and needs permission from the park manager or, for productions, the Entertainment Commission.

Official permit page

Drone / airspace

Legal under FAA rules generally; prohibited in Tennessee State Parks except by permit

Commercial drone work requires FAA Part 107. Tennessee State Parks prohibit drone use except in rare cases with prior park manager approval and a permit, under the parks' aircraft rule (0400-02-02-.02). 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 (Broadway honky-tonks, Graceland, studios) sets its own rules regardless of state law.

Practical notes

  • The parks' published line for when hobby crosses into 'ask first': detached lighting gear (strobes, bounces, lightboxes) triggers a conversation with the park manager even for non-commercial work.
  • Fall color at Fall Creek Falls and Cummins Falls draws crowds; Cummins Falls also runs a separate gorge access permit for entry, unrelated to photography.

Guidance, not legal advice

Rules change and enforcement varies. Confirm with the issuing authority before you shoot. Drone law depth lives at Drone Authority.

Field kit

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Plan the local shoot

Sources

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