Green Valley, AZ Filming & Production: Location Permits (2026)

Pima County is one of Arizona's most active film locations, featuring Sonoran Desert landscapes, saguaro-studded mountain backdrops, and the historic Old Tucson Studios (a working film set and theme park since 1939). Productions filming on county property must obtain location permits through Pima County Administration, coordinating with the relevant department managing the property. Filming in Pima County regional parks (Tucson Mountain Park, Catalina State Park area, Colossal Cave) requires permits from Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation, with fees based on crew size and impact level. The Arizona Commerce Authority Film and Digital Media office provides statewide production incentives and location scouting support. Arizona offers a transferable tax credit of up to 15-20% for qualifying productions under ARS 41-1517.01. Drone filming requires FAA Part 107 compliance and county airspace coordination, particularly near Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. Productions involving pyrotechnics or stunts in the desert require Pima County fire marshal notification and may need a fire watch crew during high fire-danger periods. The Tucson Film Office (City of Tucson) and Visit Tucson coordinate county-area productions for locations spanning city-county boundaries.