City parks & permit fees

First of all I'm not a "professional" photographer. On tonight's news 11/12/15 Channel 5 in the Twin Cities had an report that Minneapolis will be enforcing their fee for professional photographers to shout in city parks more strictly. The fees start at $45/hour to $300/year. Also St Paul also has a fee. Do other cities/municipalities have a fee to do photo shoots in local parks.

Thanks.

Grapevine, TX. Rockledge Park has a photo Naazzii.

Yes. Always been the case around here (NC) in many cities. For professionals doing stuff like weddings, organized portrait, event, whatever shoots not only are fees due, but many park systems demand one call ahead and make reservations. If you're an amateur and just doing landscape or flower shots in the park, it does not apply.

Yup fees in Portland OR as well.

I'm in Canada and I have yet to run into any kind of fees although I live nowhere near any of our national parks so I am not sure if fees are paid there but I have yet to hear anyone needing permits in cities or anything like that.

How does the Park Authority define professional. Likely doesn't apply to you as stated above.

Same thing here. Basically if you are shooting for business purposes (weddings, other paid stuff) you have to get a permit.

As with most photography-muggles: do you have an off camera flash, a lens with a red ring, and/or a tripod.

I'm in Southern Ontario, Canada and most parks (if not all) here require permits. Usually sold in 1-1.5hr increments, they range from $50-300.
It hurts the wallet.

I did not hear this on the news but I am glad I stopped by this thread.

Larry Johnson wrote in post #17785672
How does the Park Authority define professional. Likely doesn't apply to you as stated above.

Unfortunately I don't think that there is a solid definition. I was shooting at a public market which also had a policy, as do many do our parks, where a permit is needed for professional shooting. I was stopped because the security person believed I was a professional based on my 5DII and 24-70. Even when I pointed out that I was on a public sidewalk at the time and not in the market proper, she was still on her radio calling for backup. I now carry a few copies of this in my camera bag.

In the UK many parks seem to have policy that professional photography requires a permit and often the terms define this as commercial use. However, it is not always easy to find out what is and what is not allowed as the parks can fall under ownership and management of different organisations such as Local councils, Royal Parks, National Trust, English Heritage etc. and each has a different rules and regulations.