FEDERAL LANDS
BLM Lands
National Forests
National Parks
POLICY
The Bureau of Land Management encourages properly conducted filming where appropriate, considering its potential economic and social benefits to the community and to the public as a whole.

PERMITS
A permit is required for commercial filming on the public lands. Still  photography for commercial purposes may require a permit. A permit may take 30 days to process. This waiting period may be waived if minimal impact will occur (as determined by the BLM). Contact the appropriate BLM District Office as soon as possible to discuss the process. In all cases, at least 3 working days are necessary once all of the information is gathered.
FEES
Motion Picture
1 to 10 people     $150/location/day 
11 to 30 people   $250/location/day 
31 to 60 people   $500/location/day 
Over 60 people   $600/location/day 
Still
 
1 to 3 people        $50/location/day 
4 to 10 people      $100/location/day 
11 to 30 people    $150/location/day
31 to 49 people    $250/location/day 
50 to 100 people  $300/location/day 
101+ people         $300 (or as determined by appraisal) 
Filing and monitoring fees are required if total user fees exceed $250 for both motion pictures and still photography. A performance bond and liability insurance may be required.  
CREDITS FOR MONTANA BLM LANDS
Broken Arrow, Return To Lonesome Dove, Far and Away, Thousand Pieces of Gold, History channel, numerous commercials, stills, and documentaries.
For more information contact the Montana Film Office or:
Montana State Office 
5001 Southgate Drive 
PO Box 36800 
Billings, MT 59107-6800 
(406)896-5000 
(406)896-5299-fax 
e-mail:  MT_Information@blm.gov
Billings Field Office 
5001 Southgate Drive 
Billings, MT 59107
(406)896-5013 
(406)896-5821-fax
Butte Field Office 
106 North Parkmont 
Butte, MT 59701-3388 
(406)533-7600
(406)533-7660-fax
Dillon Field Office 
1005 Selway Drive 
Dillon, MT 59725-9431 
(406)683-2337 
(406)683-2970-fax
Glasgow Field Station 
54079 Hwy 2 West  
Glasgow, MT 59230 
(406)228-3750 
(406)228-4121-fax 
 
Havre Field Station 
1704 Second Street West 
PO Box 911 
Havre, MT 59501-0911 
(406)265-5891 
(406)265-3634-fax 
Lewistown Field Office 
920 NE Main
Lewistown, MT 59457 
(406)538-1900 
(406)538-1904-fax 
Malta Field Office 
501 South Second Street East 
HC 65 Box 5000
Malta, MT 59538 
(406)654-5100 
(406)654-5150-fax 
Miles City Field Office 
111 Garryowen Road 
Miles City, MT 59301 
(406)233-2800 
(406)233-2921-fax 

Missoula Field Office 
3255 Fort Missoula Road
Missoula, Mt 59804-7293
(406)-329-3914
(406)329-3721-fax

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BACKGROUND

The U.S. Forest Service is responsible for managing nine National Forests covering almost 17 million acres in Montana. The agency is charged with protection of the national forest system (NFS) land and its resources, while providing for a variety of commercial and non-commercial, public and private uses of these lands.

The National Forests offer a wide variety of landscapes, scenery and features from craggy mountains to sagebrush rangeland, and alpine lakes to valley streams. Rustic cabins and mountaintop fire lookouts also dot the landscape. These natural landscapes, rugged yet beautiful features and rustic manmade structures are often sought and highly prized for inclusion in feature films, documentaries and commercial advertisements.

PERMITS

The Forest Service generally requires a special-use permit be obtained prior to conducting commercial filming or photography on National Forest lands. There may be exceptions for very small, non-impactive projects.

Contact the responsible Forest Service office a minimum of four weeks or more in advance of the proposed filming dates with proposed locations so the necessary environmental analyses and permit processing can be completed. Large-scale projects may require substantially more time for evaluation.

 

COMMERCIAL FILMING FEES
Motion Picture
1 to 10 crew members    $150 per day 
11 to 30 crew members  $200 per day 
31 to 60 crew members  $500 per day 
Over 60 crew members  $600 per day 
Still
1 to 10 crew members    $ 50 per day 
11 to 30 crew members  $150 per day 
Over 30 crew members  $250 per day 

A performance bond may be required, and the Forest Service may require a full-time agency representative be on-site during major productions or operations in sensitive areas. A film or photography permit holder may be required to cover such administrative costs.

CREDITS FOR MONTANA NATIONAL FOREST SERVICE LANDS
Horse Whisperer, Ballad of Little Jo, Beethoven's 2nd, Heaven's Gate, Iron Will, The Patriot, Rancho Deluxe, The River Wild, A River Runs Through It, Son of the Morning Star, War Party, Winds of Autumn, Winterhawk, Wolf Summer, numerous commercials, stills, and documentaries. 

For more information contact the Montana Film Office or:

Northern Region Headquarters 
Federal Building, 200 E. Broadway 
Missoula, MT 59807 
Public Affairs Office
(406)329-3472 
(406)329-3411 - fax
http://www.fs.fed.us

 
Beaverhead National Forest 
420 Barrett Street 
Dillon, MT 59725 
Public Affairs Officer  
(406)683-3984 
(406)683-3855-fax 

 
Bitterroot National Forest 
1801 N. First Street 
Hamilton, MT 59840 
Public Affairs Officer  
(406)363-7154 
(406)546-8788
(406)363-7106-fax

Custer National Forest 
1310 Main Street 
Billings, MT 59105 
Public Affairs Officer  
(406)657-6205 
(406)657-6222-fax 
 
Deerlodge National Forest 
420 Barrett Street 
Dillon, MT 59725 
Public Affairs Specialist 
(406)683-3984 
(406)683-3855-fax 
(406)660-2347-cell 

Flathead National Forest 
1935 Third Avenue East 
Kalispell, MT 59901 
Public Affairs Officer  
(406)758-5252 
(406)758-5363-fax

Gallatin National Forest 
Federal Building,10 E. Babcock 
PO Box 130 
Bozeman, MT 59771 
Public Affairs Officer  
(406)587-6703 
(406)587-6758-fax 
 
Helena National Forest 
2880 Skyway Drive 
Helena, MT 59601 
Public Affairs Officer  
(406)495-3730
(406)449-5436-fax
 
Kootenai National Forest 
506 US Highway 2 West 
Libby, MT 59923 
Public Affairs Officer  
(406)283-7695 
(406)283-7709-fax

Lewis and Clark National Forest 
1101 15th Street North 
Great Falls, MT 59403 
Public Affairs Officer  
(406)791-7754 
(406)761-1972-fax 

Lolo National Forest 
Building 24, Fort Missoula 
Missoula, MT 59804 
Public Affairs Officer  
(406)329-1024 
(406)329-3795-fax
 
 
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POLICY
The National Park Service permits and encourages commercial filming to the fullest extent possible consistent with the protection of resources and the enjoyment of the visitors. All commercial filming requires a permit and is subject to location fees and cost recovery*. Filming activities must be conducted in strict compliance with applicable regulations and conditions.

PERMITS
Filming permits are required for any filming intended for public viewing or commercial advertising (motion picture, video or still). A minimum of ten working days is normally required to process and review a proposed filming activity. Yellowstone National Park requires a minimum of two weeks to process requests; longer for large productions.

Initial contact should provide as much specific information as possible about the nature of the project, dates, times, crew size, vehicle requirements and special effects. Permit language, and potential impacts vary from park to park. 

NATIONAL MONUMENTS AND NATIONAL RECREATION AREAS
National Monuments and National Recreation fees may differ. Each should be contacted individually to obtain guidelines.


FEES

Motion Pictures/Videos
1 to 2 crew members, camera and tripod only  *$0
1 to 10 crew members    $150/day
11 to 30 crew members  $250/day
31 to 49 crew members  $500/day
Over 50 crew members  $750/day
Commercial Still Photography
1 to 10 crew members    $ 50/day 
11 to 30 crew members  $150/day 
Over 30 crew members  $250/day 

*Commercial videographers, cinematographers or sound recording crews of up to two people with only minimal equipment working in areas open to the public are required to obtain a commercial filming permit and are subject to appropriate permit terms and conditions and cost recovery charges, but are not subject to location fees.

CREDITS FOR MONTANA NATIONAL PARK SERVICE LANDS 
Glacier National Park: 
Big Eden, What Dreams May Come, Beethoven's 2nd, The River Wild, Forrest Gump, Heaven's Gate, numerous commercials, stills, and documentaries. 
Yellowstone National Park: 
Jack Wolfskin, Reebok Shoes and numerous documentaries.

For more information contact the Montana Film Office or:
Glacier National Park  
Special Use Permits
PO Box 128
West Glacier, MT 59936  
(406)888-7825 
(406)888-7946 - fax  
Superintendent's Office  
(406)888-7800  
e-mail: glac_park_info@nps.gov
Yellowstone National Park  
Box 168  
c/o Public Affairs  
Mammoth Hot Springs, WY 82190  
(307)344-2012  
(307)344-2014 - fax  
e-mail: yell_public_affairs@nps.gov  
Contact: Stacy Vallie  
 
Big Hole National Battlefield  
PO Box 237  
Wisdom, MT 59761  
(406)689-3155  
(406)689-3151-fax
Grant Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site  
266 Warren Lane  
Deer Lodge, MT 59722  
(406)846-2070  
(406)846-3962-fax  
 
Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area  
PO Box 7458  
Fort Smith, MT 59035  
(406)666-2412  
(406)666-2415-fax
Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument  
PO Box 39  
Crow Agency, MT 59022  
(406)638-3204  
(406)638-2623-fax
Nez Perce National Historic Park/Bear Paw Battlefield  
PO Box 26  
Chinook, MT 59523

 

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