NOTICE - Photography Permit
Photography (Photo) permits are now required when conducting photography business in Cobb Parks.
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers: (updated 06/30/2020)
An Annual Professional Photography Membership is required when conducting photography business on any Cobb County PARKS property.
Q: Is an Annual Professional Photography Membership required to take photos on a park property?
A: A membership is required if the photography is part of a business transaction.
Q: How do I obtain an Annual Professional Photography Membership?
A: The Annual Professional Photography Membership is available for purchase on the Cobb County PARKS website. Select the Memberships tab on the Registration and Reservation page.
The membership is valid for one year from the date of purchase. A paper membership card is available by contacting the Cobb County PARKS main office. You MUST have your membership purchase receipt or your membership card on your person whenever conducting a photo shoot in any Cobb County PARK.
Q: What is the cost of an Annual Professional Photography Membership?
A: Memberships cost $100/year for Cobb County residents and $150/year for non-residents.
Q: Is a membership required to photograph in all parks or just certain ones?
A: An Annual Professional Photography Membership is required when conducting photography business in any Cobb County park.
Q: Am I allowed to set up props for my photo shoot?
A: Small props may be used only in common areas provided they cause no damage to the grounds and leave no trace of having been there. The use of tents, canopies, trellises, etc. are permitted but they may NOT be staked into the ground. Any item that requires staking or other type of ground penetration is NOT permitted. Vehicles, wagons, structures or other large items are NOT permitted. Small props may be used only in common areas and not in gardens or other planted areas.
Q: Are the use of special effects like smoke pots, sparklers, glitter or fireworks allowed?
A: Incendiary devices such as smoke pots, sparklers, or fireworks are prohibited. Items such as glitter, confetti, streamers, etc. that cannot be completely removed by the membership holder prior to leaving the park.
Q: Am I allowed to drive a vehicle onto the property to drop off equipment?
A: Motorized vehicles of any type are not permitted anywhere but in designated parking areas.
Q: Can I use park buildings, pavilions or other structures?
A: Your membership allows you access to the common areas of the park only. It does not include the use of or access to buildings, pavilions or other park structures. Your membership does NOT entitle you the exclusive use of any portion of the park. You may NOT impede the use of the park by other park patrons.
Q: Who is required to have an Annual Professional Photography Membership? Wedding photographers? Prom groups? Scout troops? Newspaper reporters? Parents on playgrounds?
A: The membership applies to any commercial enterprise or anyone who is making money photographing on any Cobb County PARKS property. Parents taking pictures of their children or scout troops posing after an event are not be required to have a membership.
Q: Who enforces the membership requirement?
A: You are required to show, upon request, your membership receipt or card to any Cobb County PARKS staff member or public safety officer. Violations discovered by PARKS staff will be referred to the park rangers who may issue citations which could result in fines.
Q: Does this affect news reporters/journalist? Say there was a blizzard and we wanted to get shots of kids sledding in a park, would we have to pay?
A: No. The 2018 Cobb Communications Policy, which spells out guidelines about media access to public areas would take precedent.
Q: Why was an Annual Professional Photography Membership considered?
A: There are a few reasons:
- Cobb County Code prohibits all commercial activity in any park without an approval.
- Photographers and businesses were advertising photo packages that included scenic areas of Cobb County PARKS properties. They were using Cobb County PARKS properties as backdrops for their business.
- Cobb PARKS was receiving complaints from park patrons that they were being they were restricted from using areas of some parks.