Travis County, TX Filming & Production: Location Permits (2026)

Travis County Parks has no separate film permit; commercial and institutional filming runs through the general special events process in Sec. 028. Subsection (c) requires organizations and individuals who want to film or photograph on County park property for commercial use, stock photography, student projects, television, or movies to complete a special events application and get approval before shooting. Subsection (a) sets the timeline: unless the Parks Director or a designee waives it, the application must be substantially complete and submitted at least 14 days before the event begins, which for filming means 14 days before the shoot date.

Subsection (b) gives the Parks Assistant Director of Public Safety and Resource Protection, or a designee, authority to deny any application, filming included, if the safety of persons or property is reasonably in question. Subsection (d) restricts after-hours access: outside of parks that permit overnight camping, filming cannot continue past the park's normal closing time unless the Parks Director waives that limit, and any request to shoot after closing must be fully disclosed in the special events application and accompanying liability release. Because the same application covers commercial photography, film crews, student projects, and traditional gatherings alike, a location scout or production company must budget at least two weeks of lead time and be prepared to satisfy the public safety review before a shoot is approved.