Permits
Special Events:
Special Event Permits are required for any activity that is outside regular park use. Activities that require Special Event Permits include, but are not limited to:
- Marathons, bicycling events, equestrian events, or any other organized competition
- Outside catering companies or food trucks
- Any event involving the sale of any items including food
- Any event where tickets are sold or fees are charged for participants
We recommend all special event organizers and applicants choose a primary location to request and several alternates.
A completed Special Event Permit, Certificate of General Liability Insurance, and non-refundable fees are required in order for the permit to be processed. Fees are determined by use and location.
Contact park staff at (707) 247-3318 to ensure the location and date being requested is available before submitting your Special Event permit application. Permit applications submitted less than 30 days prior to event date will not be considered.
Return all completed forms and fees by mail : Richardson Grove State Park, Attn: Special Events, 1600 Hwy 101 #8 Garberville CA 95542
Weddings:
For information on weddings, call (707)247-3318
Scattering of Human Cremains:
To request the spreading of human cremains within the park: please call (707) 445-6547 or (707) 247-3318
Filming
Parks listed above offers spectacular scenery, making it a popular place to film still shoots, commercials, movies, and other videos. State Parks are an ideal setting for filming and still photography. A variety of filming locations are available throughout the park. A California State Parks Film Commission Permit is required. The California Film Commission (CFC) works in conjunction with Parks to permit these activities.
Parks charge reimbursement fees in order to accommodate filming and to offset personnel costs. These fees are collected and returned to Parks by the CFC. The CFC provides its services, the location and the permit at no cost.
To start the permitting process, the production company must call the State Park. The Park will then initiate a State Park required forms and will have the company begin a permit on-line with the California Film Commission
The CFC’s website, has a State Permits tab that contains information about filming including insurance coverage, FAQ’s, basic Parks fees and the on-line filming permit system.
The application from the production company will then go to the CFC. The CFC refers them to the Park representative in charge of film permits and provides them a contact name, email address and phone number for this representative. Once the application is reviewed by the CFC, a copy is emailed to the Park. Parks determines which fees and reimbursements to charge and notifies the CFC with fee details.
The CFC finalizes the permit and creates an invoice based on the fees assigned by the Park. The CFC collects the fees and issues the final permit. A copy of both is forwarded to the Park and to the accounting office for Parks.
Filming with Drones:
No drone flights are allowed at any time within the Sinkyone Wilderness Area nor within a 1/4 mile of the same area.
Drone use in other areas of the park is limited by threatened and endangered species. Generally drone filming could start as early as September 16 and ends February 1.
There are additional hour restrictions for any drone filming, earliest start is 2 hours after sunrise, and must be completed for day 2 hours before sunset.
If you should decide to pursue drone filming in the park, the following are required to be submitted directly to California State Parks (very much the same documents submitted to CFC):
FAA Remote Pilot certificate / license
UAS Registration certificate
Copy of your CFC UAS Questionnaire
Flight plan (location/groves identified with map)
Please note the CFC requires a minimum of 4 business days to process applications.
Additional information:
Be specific in your location requests listed in your CFC application. The parks are over 50,000 acres and a variety of places have in the past been used for various film shoots. It would be easier for a local scout to visit and ascertain what qualities you are looking for in shots. There are many redwood groves. We recommend you pick your requested location/grove and 3 alternates when applying for your film permit.
For any filming in the forest groves, walking or setting up on/in redwood sorrel (the clover looking ground cover) you will be required to provide enough plywood sheets to adequately protect vegetation. If your talent and crew is walking and setting up exclusively on trails or “brown” areas of the park, plywood boards are not required. (e.g. camera tripod setup in redwood sorrel requires plywood for tripod and camera operator).
Please note: The film average approval process takes 3 weeks. Turn-around shorter than that incurs additional fees.
Contact (707) 247-3318 to reach Supervising Ranger Greg Hall
Tribal Gathering Permits
For information about Tribal Gathering permits, click here.
Scientific Research and Collecting Permits
For information about Scientific Research and Collecting Permits, click here.