Iowa. It’s easy. That’s because general permits are not required for filming in Iowa and location fees, if any, are generally modest. Iowa welcomes you and lets you get right to work on your next award-winning project.
Some public facilities, such as city, state, and federal parks, as well as street closures may require advance authorization and proof of insurance. Use the following resources to determine if a permit is required and contact Produce Iowa if you need assistance.
Iowa Department of Transportation
The Iowa Department of Transportation is broken down into six districts. Review the area of the state in which you wish to do production and contact the appropriate office.
Wanting to use a drone in your production? Iowa follows FAA guidelines for use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). Please see their aviation section for more information on flight regulations.
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will help you find state forests and parks along with its contact information.
National Park Service
The National Park Service provides a list of national parks, monuments and historic sites along with contact information.
Iowa Department of Public Safety
The Iowa State Patrol and the State Fire Marshal, divisions of the Iowa Department of Public Safety, provides assistance with traffic safety, explosives and weapons in a production. Check with local authorities in the corresponding jurisdiction. City police chiefs, local fire officials, county sheriffs and county attorneys are all good resources to guarantee a hassle-free production.
Iowa Division of Labor
Any person under 16 years of age working as a performer in the entertainment industry must secure a Special Order Work Permit from the Iowa Division of Labor. State law requires proof of age, written consent of legal guardians, meal and break times, hours worked per day/week and any dangerous situations. Iowa Child Labor Permit instructions are available from the Iowa Division of Labor.
Iowa is a right-to-work state and welcomes both union and non-union projects.