Filming and Photography on State Park Land Filming on State Land is permitted through the California Film Commission, while coordinating with the Permit Coordinator of Redwood National and State Parks.
When starting an application with the Film Commission, please also fill out DPR245a and email to Redw_special_use_permits@nps.gov After review with park staff, your permit will be approved by park staff in the Film Commission system and the Film Commision will issue your permit. Please see the State Parks and Recreation Fees dropdown on the California Film Commission State Permit and Monitor Fees page.
Filming Resources:
The Humboldt Del Norte Film Commission is a robust resource for support crew staff, vendors, accommodations, and more. Please reach out to Cassandra Hesseltine at 707-502-0018. Airports: San Francisco (SFO) and Portland, Oregon (PDX) are the closest major airports, both are a 6-8 hour drive from the respective ends of the parks. Medford, OR (MFR) is a 2-hour drive east of Jedediah Smith Redwoods. Eureka/Arcata, CA (ACV) airport is 1-hour drive south of Prairie Creek Redwoods. Redding, CA airport (RDD) is about 4-hours east of Prairie Creek Redwoods.There is also an airport in Crescent City (CEC) that is 15-minutes from Jedediah Smith Redwoods, but flights are very limited. Filming and Photography on National Park Land All commerical filming that occurs within Redwood National Park requies a permit.
Please reach out to the Permit Coordinator to determine if your project is on National or State Park land. Redw_special_use_permits@nps.gov "Commercial filming" means the film, electronic, magnetic, digital, or other recording of a moving image by a person, business, or other entity for a market audience with the intent of generating income. Examples include, but are not limited to, feature film, videography, and documentaries. Commercial filming may include the advertisement of a product or service, or the use of actors, models, sets, or props.
Federal law requires a permit for all commercial filming, no matter the size of the crew or the type of equipment. This includes individuals or small groups that don’t use much equipment, but generate revenue by posting footage on websites, such as YouTube and TikTok. The primary focus of the NPS, however, is on commercial filming that has the potential to impact park resources and visitors beyond what occurs from normal visitor use of park areas. Examples of this type of filming are productions that use substantial equipment such as sets and lighting, productions with crews that exceed 5 people, and filming in closed areas, wilderness areas, or in locations that would create conflicts with other visitors or harm sensitive resources. All filmers, no matter the size, must comply with all rules that apply in park areas, just like other visitors. Individual parks may require a permit for non-commercial filming if necessary to manage the activity, to protect park resources and values, minimize conflict between user groups, or to ensure public safety. Examples of non-commercial filming include, but are not limited to, filming for tourism bureaus, convention and visitor bureaus, student filming, and filming for personal use and enjoyment. If you have questions about whether a non-commercial film project requires a permit, please reach out to the Permit Coordinator Redw_special_use_permits@nps.gov
In most cases, a permit is not necessary for visitors filming for personal enjoyment. In most cases, still photography does not require a permit. A permit is required for still photography only when:
A “model” means a person or object that serves as the subject for still photography for the purpose of promoting the sale or use of a product or service. Models include, but are not limited to, individuals, animals, or inanimate objects, such as vehicles, boats, articles of clothing, and food and beverage products. Permit Application [click to download]
Please submit the permit application to the Permit Coordinator at Redw_special_use_permits@nps.gov Due to high volume, we kindly request that you allow for a minimum of 4 weeks to process your application from receipt to issuance of the final permit. This process includes processing, a review with relevant park staff, and signature collection. For fastest processing, please include as much detail as possible. A Pay.gov link will be sent through email to pay the application fee electronically.
In addition, Federal law also requires the National Park Service to collect a location fee that provides a fair return to the United States for the use of park lands for commercial filming and for still photography requires a permit. The National Park Service uses the following fee schedules for filming and photography: Commercial Filming
Still Photography
Permits issued for non-commercial filming may be subject to cost recovery charges, including an application fee, but a separate location fee will not be charged. Filming Resources:
The Humboldt Del Norte Film Commission is a robust resource for support crew staff, vendors, accommodations, and more. Please reach out to Cassandra Hesseltine at 707-502-0018. Airports: San Francisco (SFO) and Portland, Oregon (PDX) are the closest major airports, both are a 6-8 hour drive from the respective ends of the parks. Medford, OR (MFR) is a 2-hour drive east of Jedediah Smith Redwoods. Eureka/Arcata, CA (ACV) airport is 1-hour drive south of Prairie Creek Redwoods. Redding, CA airport (RDD) is about 4-hours east of Prairie Creek Redwoods.There is also an airport in Crescent City (CEC) that is 15-minutes from Jedediah Smith Redwoods, but flights are very limited. Do I Need Insurance? Yes. In addition to the application, please submit a copy of your Certificate of Insurance showing a minimum $1 million liability, with a $3 million aggregate. Prior to issuing your permit, we will require a COI showing the State of California and the United States as additional insureds. Insurance must be through a US based A- (or better) rated company. Additional insurance may be required for large or complex projects.Can I Close The Area Of My Event For Privacy? How Long Does It Take To Process A Request?Due to high volume, please allow at least 4 weeks from recept of application to final permit issuance. Once your completed application is received, your request will be reviewed by our staff. We might contact you for additional information or clarification. To ensure fastest processing, please provide as many details as possible.
What Else Do I Need To Know?
We reserve the right to disapprove of any filming activities which may have adverse impact on park resources.
Please keep in mind that our permits are issued on a non-exclusive basis, meaning that you may not exclude other visitors from the area during your project.
Are there other permit requirements? You may be required to obtain liability insurance naming the United States and State of California as additionally insured in an amount commensurate with the risk posed to park resources by your proposed activity. You may also be asked to post a bond to ensure the payment of all charges and fees and the restoration of the area if necessary. What about photography workshops? If you are planning a photography workshop, you may need a commercial use authorization. See the commercial use authorization page for more information. If you have any questions, please feel free to call, or e-mail.Permit Coordinator |
Last updated: February 13, 2024