The Arizona Office of Film & Digital Media is here to assist you with film permits for usage of city property, state-owned lands, tribal and federal lands in Arizona. Your project may require various permits, along with fees and proof of insurance, depending upon each specific location. We've provided some helpful links below to some primary permitting agencies to get you started. Not every permit requires a fee.
Currently, there are no fees for permits issued on State park lands, highways or roads. Find your location then see what's required to film there. If you need further assistance, Register Your Project and tell us about the locations you'd like to use and we'll be glad to help direct you to the proper permitting authority.
Permit Time Frames: (Subject to change)
AZ Dept. of Transportation: 10 Business Days
AZ State Parks & Trails: 10 Business Days for Small Scale; 30 Business Days for Large Scale
City of Phoenix: 24 Business Days
City of Tucson: 24 Hours
AZ Federal Lands:
Bureau of Land Management: 30-60 Business Days
National Park Service (NPS), Monuments, Recreation Areas: 15-30 Business Days
National Forest Service (NFS): 60 Business Days
AZ Tribal Lands: 30-60 Business Days
CITY AND COUNTY
For filming on or within City and County areas, contact the nearest local film office.
contact a regional film office or Film Resource Coordinator
STATE
For more information on filming on state roads, parks and highways see the permit links below. Currently, there are no fees charged for the permits required to film in state parks and along state roads and highways. If you need further assistance, please contact us.
Arizona Department of Transportation
Permit Application
Permit Resources: Find a State Road, Interactive State map with mileposts, Find Arizona Airports
Rest Areas, Traffic Advisories
Arizona Department of Public Safety
Hire Off-duty Highway Patrol Officers for security and traffic control:
Contact: Brandy Reissner
Phone: (602) 223-2855
Mobile: (602) 769-4788
Arizona Parks & Trails
Permit Application
Permit Resource: Find a State Park
Arizona Trust Lands
Permit Application
Public Information Request
(Account creation needed for access)
FEDERAL
Federal permits are required for filming on national park and forest lands in Arizona. This includes on waterways within these areas. Permits are governed by the administrator of the land which could be either the National Park Service (NPS), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or the National Forest Service (NFS).
National Parks, Monuments, Recreational Areas
There are 24 National Park Service (NPS) units in Arizona, including three national parks (Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest, Saguaro). Additionally, there are four national monuments administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) - (Agua Fria, Parashant-Grand Canyon, Ironwood Forest, Sonoran Desert, Vermillion Cliffs).
Permits - National Park Service (No drones allowed)
Lake Mead Recreational Area - Permit information
Permits - Bureau of Land Management
Find information about - Arizona National Parks, National Monuments and National Recreation Areas
National Forests
There are six national forests located in Arizona, administered by the USDA's National Forest Service (NFS). Map
Permits - National Forest Service (Drone regulations)
Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest
Coconino National Forest
Coronado National Forest
Kaibab National Forest
Prescott National Forest
Tonto National Forest
TRIBAL LANDS
Filming and commercial photography on tribal lands require the approval of respective tribal governments.
For contact information with other tribal nations, please contact us.
NAVAJO NATION
Film & Commercial Photography Permits (All locations outside Tribal Park areas)
Issued by Navajo Nation TV & Film Office
Film & Commercial Photography Permits (All locations within Tribal Park areas)
Issued by Navajo Nation Parks & Recreation grants film and commercial photography permits for Little Colorado River, Antelope Canyon, Monument Valley, Four Corners, Canyon de Chelly – Campground, Bowl Canyon, and the Navajo Veterans Memorial Park. *Please be aware of all Navajo Nation Laws while visiting our tribal parks. NO CREMATION, NO LITTERING, NO CLIMBING and NO DRONES inside the Navajo Tribal Parks.
MAP of locations within Monument Valley Tribal Park that require a permit
Locations within Lake Powell Tribal Park that require a permit
Native American Tribes in Arizona (Tribal information/Arizona Office of Tourism)
Additional Travel Tips & Guidelines (Arizona Office of Tourism)