Do you need a permit to film or photograph in the United States?

State and city film offices

The US has no national film commission: each state, and many cities, run their own film office. The Association of Film Commissioners International lists the government-sanctioned ones.

Sources: Wikipedia: Association of Film Commissioners International · DGA: film commissions

Permits are set city by city and park by park. Personal photography with handheld gear is usually allowed without a permit. Commercial shoots often need one. See the city permit pages for specifics.

Sources: Seattle Parks: photography permits · NYC MOME: when a permit is required

39 states plus DC and Puerto Rico run film and TV production incentives, returning roughly 15–45% of qualified spending. Examples: Georgia 20–30%, New York 30% (10% more upstate), California 35% base.

Sources: GreenSlate: state-by-state film tax credit updates for 2026 · Entertainment Partners: production incentive updates, March 2026