There is no single “drone filming permit” for the United States. Commercial drone filming runs on two tracks. The FAA governs the air: pilot certification, aircraft registration, Remote ID and airspace authorization. Cities, counties, states and federal land managers govern the ground: film permits, insurance, access and whether you may launch at all. You need both, and the second track is the one that delays shoots.
This guide is for producers, agencies and brand teams commissioning aerial footage in the US, including crews from abroad. We are a Swiss-based photo and video production, so we see this from the side of people who plan shoots across borders.
TL;DR
- The FAA requires commercial drone work to run under Part 107: a Remote Pilot Certificate, a registered aircraft and, in controlled airspace, an airspace authorization.
- A pilot certificate gives you access to airspace, not to land. Cities, film offices and land managers issue their own permits.
- Drone launches are prohibited in most National Parks. Plan an alternative before you fall in love with a park location.
- Municipal permitting may require proof of aviation liability insurance, even when the flight is FAA-compliant.
- Start permit inquiries at least 6 to 8 weeks before the shoot, longer for sensitive locations.
Table of Contents
- Two tracks: the FAA and the ground
- The FAA track for commercial work
- The ground track: film offices and local rules
- Federal land: parks, forests and other agencies
- A realistic timeline
- Common mistakes
- Our perspective
- Working with us on US and Swiss projects
- FAQ
- Sources
Two tracks: the FAA and the ground
Most permit confusion comes from mixing up these two systems. They do not replace each other.
| Track | Who decides | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Air | FAA | Pilot certificate, drone registration, Remote ID, airspace authorization, night and over-people rules |
| Ground | City or county film office, state agency, federal land manager, private owner | Film permit, launch and landing site, insurance, hold harmless agreements, crew size, closures |
FilmLA, the film office for Los Angeles, states the split plainly. Drones and their airspace are regulated by the FAA, but its municipal partners require a filming permit for commercial drone activity, plus FAA documentation and insurance. That applies to location scouts, camera tests and b-roll as well as full shoots.
The FAA track for commercial work
Part 107 and the Remote Pilot Certificate
Any business use falls under commercial rules. The FAA’s own FAQ is clear that flying for business purposes sits outside the recreational rules, and a marketing clip, a brand film or event documentation all count. Don’t lean on hobbyist exceptions when a client is paying for the footage.
Under FAA guidance for certificated remote pilots, commercial operators fly under Part 107 with a Remote Pilot Certificate. Part 107 pilots may fly at night and over people and moving vehicles without a waiver, as long as they meet the requirements of the Operations Over People rule, which took effect on April 21, 2021. Night flight, for instance, needs anti-collision lighting.
If you bring a pilot from outside the US, check early that they can hold the right certification and that the aircraft can be legally registered and operated. This is a common gap on international productions, and we cover it from the photographer’s side in our guide to US commercial drone rules.
Registration and Remote ID
The FAA’s Remote ID rule applies to drones that must be registered, whether flown for recreation, business or public safety. Your aircraft must either be a Standard Remote ID drone or carry an FAA-compliant broadcast module. A Part 107 pilot registers each aircraft individually, so a fleet means separate registrations and more paperwork before the shoot. You can check a drone model against the FAA’s published Declarations of Compliance.
Airspace authorization
Many filming spots near cities sit in controlled airspace. There you must request authorization through LAANC or through FAADroneZone. The FAA explains the process on its Part 107 airspace authorizations page and tells operators to submit requests with enough time for processing. Requests that are not covered by instant approval can take weeks, so build that into the schedule rather than treating it as a day-of task.
Temporary flight restrictions, such as those over stadiums or around wildfires, are a separate matter. Check them again the day before and the morning of the flight.
The ground track: film offices and local rules
The FAA does not tell you whether you may stand on a sidewalk, a beach or a trailhead with a tripod and a drone case. That is up to whoever controls the land.
City and county film offices
Los Angeles is the most documented example. FilmLA’s municipal partners expect a film permit, FAA paperwork and insurance, and may add requirements such as extra personnel. Miami works in a similar way: the city’s film office lists a film or photo permit, an FAA UAS form, pilot credentials and pilot insurance among its requirements. California’s state film office has its own questionnaire for drone use on state property.
The pattern is the same everywhere, even when the forms differ. You submit a flight plan, proof of pilot qualification and an insurance certificate, and the office decides on the application.
Insurance
Insurance is where well-prepared crews still stall. According to FilmLA’s drone requirements, local authorities set insurance conditions for drone operations. Limits and wording vary by jurisdiction, and some ask for aviation liability cover on top of the standard production policy. Ask your broker for the certificate of insurance before you apply, not after. Our certificate of insurance checklist for US filming permits walks through the usual baseline.
Private property
Filming from private land needs the owner’s consent, in writing. For flights, remember that your launch and landing point is on someone’s property even if the subject is far away. Get the permission document in the same folder as your FAA paperwork.
Federal land: parks, forests and other agencies
National Parks
Filming on National Park Service land is governed by 54 U.S.C. § 100905 and the park’s own rules. Congress directed the Interior and Agriculture Secretaries to require a permit and a reasonable fee for commercial filming, and the Department of the Interior’s page on filming in National Parks sets out the framework.
The drone question is separate and stricter. Each park publishes a Superintendent’s Compendium. Rocky Mountain National Park’s compendium is an example of the kind of document you must read for the specific park before planning any aerial shot. The practical rule for planning: assume drones are not allowed in a National Park unless the park’s own documents say otherwise, and don’t build a shot list around aerials you cannot fly. We explain the permit side in our piece on avoiding delays with National Park film permits.
A useful comparison: our own work in Switzerland runs into a similar wall. Our guide to filming the Swiss National Park without drones shows how to build a strong visual story when the sky is off limits.
National Forests and other federal lands
The rules are different in National Forests. The US Forest Service’s UAS FAQ says a special use permit may be required when a drone is launched, operated and landed on National Forest land for certain purposes. Read the FAQ and call the local ranger district before you assume anything. Designated wilderness and active fire areas bring their own restrictions. Other agencies, such as the Bureau of Land Management, state parks and tribal lands, each set their own conditions, so contact the managing office for the exact site.
A realistic timeline
There is no federal clock you can rely on. Agencies vary, and sensitive locations take longer. Industry guidance in the Department of the Interior hearing material points to starting permit inquiries at least 6 to 8 weeks ahead. Our working version for a US drone shoot:
- 8+ weeks out: Identify every land manager at each location. Confirm whether drones are allowed at all.
- 6 to 8 weeks out: Contact film offices and land managers. Ask for their drone form, insurance wording and lead times.
- 4 to 6 weeks out: Request FAA airspace authorization if you are in controlled airspace and need more than automatic approval. Confirm pilot certification and Remote ID for each aircraft.
- 2 to 4 weeks out: Send flight plans, certificates of insurance and site maps. Book any required safety personnel.
- Week of the shoot: Recheck temporary flight restrictions and weather. Carry printed permits, the pilot certificate and registration proof.
Common mistakes
- Treating the pilot certificate as a location permit. It only covers the air.
- Calling the shoot “small”. A handheld crew may still need a permit in some city zones, and in federal areas the number of people, equipment and the type of site matter.
- Leaving insurance last. Certificates take time, and wording errors send applications back.
- Planning around a National Park aerial. Build a plan B first.
- Using recreational logic for commercial work. Client-funded content is commercial content.
- Skipping the scout. An early recce reveals closures, power lines, crowds and launch spots that look different in a satellite image.
Our perspective
We work as a Swiss-based adventure, outdoor and sports photography and film team, and we shoot for brands, publishers and tourism clients on expeditions and travel projects, including in California. Mountains and protected landscapes teach the same lesson everywhere: the best aerial shot is the one planned weeks ahead, with the paperwork done and a fallback ready.
Our advice to producers is to let the footage brief decide how much drone work you really need. Many of the strongest outdoor sequences come from ground-level and handheld work, such as wireless mountain biking filming techniques, where the camera sits close to the athlete. Aerials should be chosen shots, not defaults. If you want to understand what a drone adds to a story before you commit to a permit process, read our primer on drone cinematography. A written risk assessment for adventure shoots also helps a film office or insurer see that the crew knows what it is doing.
— Martin
Working with us on US and Swiss projects
If your brand or agency needs outdoor, action or event content, we handle photo and video production for commercial and editorial clients. Our commercial videography and commercial photography pages describe how we scope projects, and you can reach us through bissig.ch to talk through a location, a timeline and what the permits will require. For shoots in Switzerland, our team can also support location scouting and permit handling.
FAQ
Do I need a permit to fly a drone for filming in the USA?
Yes, in practice you need several things, not one. The FAA requires Part 107 certification, registration and Remote ID for commercial flights. Local film offices and land managers usually require their own permits and insurance on top of that.
Can I use recreational rules for a client’s project?
No. The FAA treats flying for business purposes as commercial operation, which includes marketing content and event documentation. That means Part 107 applies, not the recreational exceptions.
Can I fly a drone for a shoot in a National Park?
Generally no. Drone launches are prohibited in most parks, and each park’s Superintendent’s Compendium sets the details. Contact the park’s film permit office before you plan any aerial footage.
How far ahead should I apply?
Plan on at least 6 to 8 weeks, and start earlier for sensitive locations or larger crews. Airspace authorizations and insurance certificates add their own lead times.
What if I am shooting in Switzerland instead?
Switzerland has its own rules, and flight bans apply around major events. Our guide to Davos drone rules for US pilots covers the January WEF airspace restrictions in detail.
Sources
- FAA: Certificated Remote Pilots including Commercial Operators
- FAA: Remote Identification of Drones
- FAA: Part 107 Airspace Authorizations
- FAA: Frequently Asked Questions
- FAA: UAS Declaration of Compliance
- FilmLA: Filming with Drones (UAV, UAS)
- Rocky Mountain National Park: Superintendent’s Compendium
- US Forest Service: UAS Frequently Asked Questions
- US Department of the Interior: Filming in National Parks
