Washington County, MN Filming & Production: Location Permits (2026)
Film location permits in Washington County, MN, sometimes called film shoot permits, production permits, or filming authorizations, cover commercial photography, video shoots, and motion picture production.
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Ordinance No. 218, Ch. IV § 1(b)
- Permit required for
- Commercial camera use in any park
- Issuing office
- Washington County Parks Division
- Conservation areas
- Stricter no-disruption permit standard
- Penalty
- Petty misdemeanor, Minn. Stat. § 609.02
Summary
Anyone filming for commercial purposes in a Washington County park or conservation area needs a use permit first. Parks Ordinance No. 218, Chapter IV, Section 1(b) bars operating a still, motion picture, video or other camera commercially on county park property unless the Parks Director has authorized it.
operate a still, motion picture, video, or other camera for commercial purposes in a park or conservation area unless otherwise authorized by use permit
Full Breakdown
Chapter IV, Section 1 of Ordinance No. " The same section separately bars commercial solicitation and peddling under subsection (a) and unauthorized signage or advertising under subsection (c), so a film crew that also sells merchandise or posts signage on site needs the same permit to cover each activity. Permits are issued under Chapter II, Section 2, which requires a use permit for any event "of a commercial, cultural, educational, political, or religious nature" and for gatherings of fifty or more people; conditions of issuance are set by Parks Division regulations under Section 2(c), and the Director may revoke a permit at any time for a rules violation or emergency under Section 2(e).
Conservation areas carry a tighter standard: Chapter II, Section 2(b) limits use permits there to activities that do not disrupt natural features, so commercial filming is harder to authorize in a conservation area than in a developed park. The ordinance took effect May 21, 2024 under County Board Resolution No. 2024-057, replacing the 2020 Ordinance No. 213.
Violations & Fines
Filming commercially without a use permit is a petty misdemeanor under Minnesota Statutes Section 609.02, subdivision 4a, fined up to the statutory maximum and deposited into the county park fund, per Chapter VIII, Section 2. Washington County Sheriff's Office deputies and Parks Division staff enforce the requirement under Chapter VIII, Section 1, and the Director may revoke any related permit for the violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to film in a Washington County park?
How do I get a Washington County park filming permit?
What's the penalty for filming commercially without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Washington County
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