Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone's film and photo permit rules after the EXPLORE Act, plus the thermal-area and wildlife-distance rules that constrain where you can set up.
Guidance, not legal advice
Permit
Conditional
Issuer: Yellowstone National Park film, photography, and sound permits office
Cost: No NPS permit for groups of 8 or fewer meeting the EXPLORE Act conditions; location and cost-recovery fees apply to permitted shoots
Processing: Plan well ahead; permitted shoots take time to coordinate
Groups of eight or fewer using hand-carried gear in public areas, without exclusive use and without extra cost to the park, generally need no permit under the EXPLORE Act. Larger or higher-impact productions still require one. Stay-on-boardwalk and resource-protection rules apply regardless of permit status.
Drone / airspace
Effectively banned: launching, landing, or operating a drone within park boundaries is prohibited
NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05 directs each superintendent to close the park to drone use under 36 CFR 1.5. For airspace, Part 107, and legal flying nearby, see Drone Authority.
Street / public space
Yes for personal and editorial photography throughout the park
Visitor photography is welcome; the permit question is about productions.
Practical notes
- Stay-on-boardwalk rules in the geyser basins are enforced; you cannot step off to frame a shot.
- Wildlife distance rules apply: stay at least 100 yards from bears and wolves and at least 25 yards from bison, elk, and other animals.
- Most interior roads close to regular vehicles in winter, which reshapes access for several months.
Sources
Keep shooting
Knowing the rules is half the job. The craft side: