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Colorado Film Commission - Film and Commercial Production in Colorado


The public lands have long been a popular location for the motion picture industry. The western deserts, dry lakebeds and mountain terrain are strong attractions to national and international television and film production companies. Many major motion pictures and television commercials have been filmed on public lands. Special permits to use the public lands for commercial film production are issued by the Bureau of Land Management. A permit is required for all commercial filming activities on public lands. Commercial filming is defined as the use of motion picture, videotaping, sound recording, or other moving image or audio recording equipment on public lands that involves the advertisement of a product or service, the creation of a product for sale, or the use of actors, models, sets, or props, but not including activities associated with broadcasts for news programs. For purposes of this definition, creation of a product for sale includes a film, videotape, television broadcast, or documentary of participants in commercial sporting or recreation event created for the purpose of generating income. Commercial filming will NOT be permitted on public lands if it is determined that any of the following criteria apply: There is likelihood of resource damage that cannot be mitigated. There would be an unreasonable disruption of the public's use and enjoyment of the site beyond short-term interruption of use of the site, or The activity poses health or safety risks to the public that cannot be mitigated. Film Production companies should contact the local Bureau of Land Management office to advise them of their activity and determine whether or not a permit or fees are required. Each local Bureau of Land Management Field Office authorizes filming on public lands within its jurisdiction. Each location is unique and is subject to different conditions. The Permitting Process The Bureau of Land Management Website provides comprehensive information about filming on public lands, including a Schedule of Fees and a step-by-step explanation of the permit process. Land Use Application Form Complete only the application section and sign the form. Bureau of Land Management will complete the permit portion of the form. Provide a map showing the specific location(s) requested. Consult Bureau of Land Management local office for map of area if needed. Cost recovery and rental fees as discussed with the local Bureau of Land Management film permit coordinator. Certificate of Insurance naming Department of the Interior - Bureau of Land Management as co- insured. Contact the appropriate Bureau of Land Management office for specific dollar amount. Depending on the location, time of production and type of production, Bureau of Land Management may impose additional requirements such as bonding, reimbursement for overtime costs, etc. Payment of Fees: Fees may be paid by credit card or checks payable to US Department of the Interior - Bureau of Land Management. The public contact specialist in each local Bureau of Land Management office can assist in accepting credit card payments. Bonding: Permittees may be required to provide cash bonds to assure reclamation of sets or sensitive locations. Large Productions and Requests to Film Outside Popular Locations will usually require an onsite pre-application conference with Bureau of Land Management personnel. Although the permitting process may not vary, the time to process the application for film production permit will usually take 30 to 60 days. Contact the appropriate Bureau of Land Management office for details. Cost Reimbursement Processing and Monitoring Fees and Rental Fees must be paid before filming is permitted on public land. Generally it is easiest to submit all fees with the application. Processing fees are non-refundable, but monitoring and rental fees will be refunded if the application is not approved. Where the total rental fee is less than $250, cost reimbursement fees are not charged, although it may be necessary to contribute funds to Bureau of Land Management to meet expedited processing requirements. Processing and Monitoring Fees vary depending on the estimated hours of time required to process the application and to monitor filming and reclamation. In most cases, minimal impact filming at popular locations requires payment of Category 1 fees. These fees are generally paid with the application after coordination with the local Bureau of Land Management contact. The fees are based on the following BLM Permit Fee Schedule. Colorado Bureau of Land Management Offices Bureau of Land Management Colorado State Office Maryanne Kurtinaitis 2850 Youngfield Street Lakewood, Colorado 80215 Phone: 303.239.3708 Fax: 303.239.3799 Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area * Colorado State Park co-managed with the Bureau of Land Management Bureau of Land Management Rob White Park Manager John Nahomenuk River Manager 307 West Sackett Salida, Colorado 81201 Phone: 719.539.7289 Fax: 719.539.3771 Canyons of the Ancients National Monument & Anasazi Heritage Center Bureau of Land Management Lou Ann Jacobson Manager 27501 Highway 184 Dolores, Colorado 81323 Phone: 970.882.4811 Fax: 970.882.7035 Columbine Field Office Bureau of Land Management/US Forest Service 110 W. 11th Durango, Colorado 81301 Phone: 970.884.2512 Fax: 970.884.2512 Del Norte Field Office Bureau of Land Management/US Forest Service Jody Fairchild Special Uses Administrator Steve Brigham 13308 W. Hwy. 160 Del Norte, Colorado 81132 Phone: 719.657.3321 Fax: 719.657.6035 Glenwood Springs Field Office Bureau of Land Management Carole Huey Realty Specialist 50629 Hwys 6 & 24 (81601) Glenwood Springs, Colorado 81602 Phone: 970.947.2800 Fax: 970.947.2829 Grand Junction Field Office Bureau of Land Management Christina Stark Natural Resource Specialist 2815 H Road Grand Junction, Colorado 81506 Phone: 970.244.3022 Fax: 970.244.3083 Gunnison Field Office Bureau of Land Management Cathy Mask Lands, Roads & Minerals Staff Officer 216 N. Colorado Gunnison, Colorado 81230 Phone: 970.641.0471 Fax: 970.642.4425 Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area Bureau of Land Management Linda Reed Realty Specialist 2465 S. Townsend Avenue Montrose, Colorado 81401 Phone: 970.240.5300 Fax: 970.240.5368 Kremmling Field Office Bureau of Land Management Susan Cassel Realty Specialist 2103 E. Park Avenue PO Box 68 Kremmling, Colorado 80459 Phone: 970.724.3000 Fax: 970.724.9590 Little Snake Field Office Bureau of Land Management John Husband District Manager 455 Emerson St. Craig, Colorado 81625 Phone: 970.826.5000 Fax: 970.826.5002 Manco/Dolores Field Office Bureau of Land Management/US Forest Service Steve Beverlin District Manager 29211 Hwy 184 Dolores, Colorado 81323 Phone: 970.882.7296 Fax: 970.882.6841 McInnis Canyon NCA Bureau of Land Management Katie Stevens Field Manager 2815 H Road Grand Junction, Colorado 81506 Phone: 970.244.3000 Fax: 970.244.3083 Pagosa Springs Field Office Pagosa Ranger District, San Juan National Forest Bureau of Land Management Glenn Raby PO Box 310 Pagosa Springs, Colorado 81147 Phone: 970.264.2268 Phone: 970.264.1515 - direct Fax: 970.264.1538 Royal Gorge Field Office Bureau of Land Management Leah Quesenberry Outdoor Recreation Planner US Forest Service Carl Bauer Operations Manager 3028 E Main St Canon City, Colorado 81212 Phone: 719.269.8500 Fax: 719.269.8719 San Juan Public Lands Center Bureau of Land Management Deesta Lewis Office Manager US Forest Service Ann Bond Public Affairs Officer 15 Burnett Court Durango, Colorado 81301 Phone: 970.247.4874 Fax: 970.385.1375 San Luis Valley Public Lands Center Rio Grande National Forest/San Luis Valley Bureau of Land Management La Jara Field Office/Conejos Peak Ranger District/Del Norte Field Office/Divide Ranger District/Saguache Field Office-Ranger District Bureau of Land Management/US Forest Service Mike Blakeman Public Affairs Officer 1803 West Hwy 160 Monte Vista, Colorado 81144 Phone: 719.852.5941 Fax: 719.852.6250 Suguache Field Office Bureau of Land Management/US Forest Service Kristi Murphy Supervisor - Resource Specialist in Recreation 46525 Highway 114 PO Box 67 Saguache, Colorado 81149 Phone: 719.655.2547 Fax: 719.655.2502 Uncompahgre Field Office Bureau of Land Management Julie Jackson Recreation Manager US Forest Service Laurie Kelso Lands/Realty Manager 2505 S. Townsend Avenue Montrose, Colorado 81401 Phone: 970.240.5300 Fax: 970.240.5367 Western Slope Center Bureau of Land Management Christina Stark Reclamation Technician 2815 H Road Grand Junction, Colorado 81506 Phone: 970.244.3022 Fax: 970.244.3083 White River Field Office Bureau of Land Management Linda Jones Realty Specialist 220 E Market St Meeker, Colorado 81641 Phone: 970.878.3800 Fax: 970.878.3805
Colorado Office of Film Television & Media