Do you need a permit to film or photograph in Australia?

State and territory screen agencies

Australia's states and territories each run a screen agency; the AFCI directory lists the film commissions.

Sources: InkTip: film commissions in Australia

In New South Wales, councils decide filming applications under the NSW Local Government Filming Protocol (June 2025): councils must grant an application unless there are compelling reasons not to, and the protocol presumes filming is allowed on public land, subject to the land's plan of management. Filming is graded no impact (6 or fewer cast and crew), low (7 to 25), medium (26 to 50) or high (over 50), with best-practice approval times of 5 business days for low, 7 for medium and 15 for high impact. Applicants must tell the council about drone use, and councils may not add drone fees. Other states have their own rules.

Sources: NSW Office of Local Government: Local Government Filming Protocol, June 2025 (PDF)

Checked against the official source on October 6, 2026.