COVID-19 Impacts (3.27.20) There are some permitting processes and locations in Arizona being impacted by the ongoing national emergency. Please review the notes attached to the various jurisdictions provided below. When in doubt please contact us or the permitting authority directly with your questions.
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 application fees for permits requesting to film 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 (3.27.20- No permits for groups over 10, indoor facilities closed, and "historic sites" are temporarily closed.)
City of Phoenix: 24 Hours
City of Tucson: 24 Hours
AZ Federal Lands:
Bureau of Land Management: 30-60 Business Days
(3.27.20 - No permits for groups over 10.)
National Park Service (NPS), Monuments, Recreation Areas: 15-30 Business Days
(3.27.20 -Permitting suspended.)
National Forest Service (NFS): 60 Business Days
(3.31.20 - Closed Recreational sites at all NSF areas and Grasslands, future permits considered on a case by case basis following current CDC guidance.)
AZ Tribal Lands: 30-60 Business Days
(3.27.20 - Many Tribal Authorities have suspended permitting, such as Navajo Nation.)
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 application fees for permits 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, VIEW roadways in various areas (Use filters to search for specific areas).
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
(COVID-19 update (3.27.20) - Per Arizona Parks & Trails officials, no permits will not be issued for groups larger than 10 people, indoor facilities are closed at the parks, and for now, only state "historic sites" (8 locations) are temporarily closed at this time.)
Arizona State Trust Lands
Permit Application
Public Information Request
(Account creation needed for access)
FEDERAL
(COVID-19 Impacts - Some federal locations and permitting authorities in Arizona are being impacted by the current pandemic. Please review the notations below.)
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 (3.27.20 COVID-19 - Film permitting is temporarily suspended).
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 (3.31.20 Closed Recreational Sites at all NFS sites and grasslands, future permits considered on a case by case basis following CDC guidance.)
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 (COVID-19 Impacts 3.27.20 - (Permitting temporarily suspended.)
Film & Commercial Photography Permits (All locations outside Tribal Park areas) Issued by Navajo Nation TV & Film Office
Tribal Parks - Film & Commercial Photography Permits (All locations within Tribal Park areas)
Issued by Navajo Nation Parks & Recreation. However, film and commercial photography permits are processed by each individual tribal park: 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)