Rules by location
Where can I legally shoot?
Permits, drone airspace, public-space legality, and freedom of panorama, answered location by location. Each guide links to its sources and shows when we last checked it.
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This is guidance, not legal advice
National Park Photography Permit Rules (2025 EXPLORE Act)
When you need an NPS permit to photograph in a national park after the EXPLORE Act, and when small groups are now exempt.
New York City
When NYC requires a film/photo permit, when handheld shooting is exempt, and the insurance requirement that catches people out.
France
Street photography vs France's strong image rights, and why freedom of panorama is restricted when you sell landmark images.
Yosemite National Park
When the EXPLORE Act lets small groups shoot Yosemite without a permit, when larger productions still need one, and the park-wide drone ban.
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.
Zion National Park
Zion needs no permit for most still photography, but a permit kicks in when you shoot a model to promote a product or service; here is the line and the fee.
Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Canyon's filming and photography rules after the EXPLORE Act, plus the river and tribal-land boundaries that change who issues the permit.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Permit and drone rules for the most-visited US national park, including the parking-tag rule that catches photographers out.
Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain's filming and photography rules after the EXPLORE Act, plus the timed-entry reservation that governs when you can even get in.
Arches National Park
Arches needs no permit for ordinary small-group shooting after the EXPLORE Act, but timed entry and the no-climbing-the-arches rules shape every shoot.
Glacier National Park
Glacier's filming and photography rules after the EXPLORE Act, plus the Going-to-the-Sun Road season and vehicle reservations that dictate access.
Acadia National Park
Acadia's filming and photography rules after the EXPLORE Act, plus the Cadillac Mountain sunrise reservation that every photographer hits.
Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree's filming and photography rules after the EXPLORE Act, plus the dark-sky and stay-on-durable-surface rules that affect night and desert shoots.
Los Angeles
When you need a FilmLA permit to shoot in Los Angeles, the personal-photography line, and the insurance that costs more than the permit.
Chicago
Chicago's film permit fee, the $1,000,000 insurance requirement, and when a low-impact photo shoot needs no permit at all.
San Francisco
Film SF's per-day permit fees, the insurance that names the City and the Port, and the personal-photography line.
Miami
Miami spans several film offices; here is who issues permits, the county fee, and the insurance every jurisdiction wants.
Atlanta
Atlanta's Office of Film and Entertainment, the $1,000,000 insurance requirement, and fast turnaround for permits on public property.
Seattle
Seattle's $25-a-day Master Film Permit, when commercial still photography needs it, and the separate parks permit.
Austin
Austin requires a permit to shoot in the public right-of-way; the filming permit itself is free, but you reimburse the city's costs and carry insurance.
New Orleans
Film New Orleans permits, the small per-permit fee, the $1,000,000 insurance, and the rule that even student shoots in Orleans Parish need a permit.
Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton's filming and photography rules after the EXPLORE Act, plus the 2026 road closures and wildlife-distance rules that shape access.
Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon's filming and photography rules after the EXPLORE Act, plus the dark-sky draw and high-elevation winter access.
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
Sequoia and Kings Canyon filming and photography rules after the EXPLORE Act, plus the giant-grove light and the seasonal mountain roads.
230 more locations
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