Filming in the gym in Singapore is allowed only where the venue allows it. At ActiveSG gyms, pools and courts, the rules say unauthorised filming is not permitted, so you ask staff first. At private gyms, the house rules in your membership terms decide. Once the content is paid or for a brand, more rules kick in: ActiveSG needs written approval for business activities, NParks needs a permit for filming in its parks, and drones need CAAS licences. And whatever the venue, don't post strangers who can be identified.
I'm Zhanna, co-founder of ContentGenZ, an ITF tennis coach and a tennis content creator. Most of my content is filmed on public courts, so I've had the "can you film here?" conversation many times. This is the guide I'd give any sports creator before their first brand shoot.
This is a practical guide, not legal advice. Rules change, so check each source before a shoot.
Filming in the gym in Singapore: what the rules say
Most sports creators train in one of three places: a public ActiveSG facility, a private gym, or outdoors. Each has a different owner, and the owner sets the rules.
ActiveSG facilities. Sport Singapore's ActiveSG Rules and Regulations apply at its gyms, pools, sports halls and courts. Two rules matter for creators:
- Rule 14: "Unauthorised filming or photography in the ActiveSG facilities is not permitted." Users should respect others and approach ActiveSG staff on duty with questions.
- Rule 13: no coaching, personal training, league operations or business activities are allowed without prior written approval. ActiveSG can stop the activity and void admission without a refund.
The rules don't define "authorised", so the practical move for a personal clip is to ask the staff at the counter before you set up. For a paid brand shoot, that's a business activity: get written approval first. The gym rules also ask users to be mindful when using electronic devices and to respect others sharing the space.
Private gyms. Commercial gyms, condo gyms and campus gyms set their own policies. We didn't find a published filming policy for the big chains in Singapore, so read your membership terms, ask the front desk, and ask whether there's a quieter time or corner for filming. Campus gyms can be stricter: one NUS gym's published rules allow no filming or photography without prior approval from its Sports Management Unit (NUS gym rules).
Location by location: who to ask, and when
A simple rule of thumb: personal content needs the venue's OK; paid content needs it in writing. Here's how that plays out.
| Where | A personal training clip | Paid or gifted brand content | Who to ask |
|---|---|---|---|
| ActiveSG gym, pool or sports hall | Ask staff on duty first | Prior written approval for business activities | ActiveSG staff on duty, then ActiveSG |
| ActiveSG tennis or badminton court you've booked | Ask staff first; keep other courts out of shot | Prior written approval | ActiveSG |
| Private or condo gym | House rules and membership terms | Written permission from the gym or management | Front desk or management office |
| NParks park, park connector or nature reserve | Keep it small and don't block paths | Permit required for filming and commercial photography | NParks online application |
| HDB void decks, playgrounds and estates | Be considerate of residents | Ask the managing agency | The town council for that estate |
| Commuter facilities, such as MRT stations | Be quick and stay out of the way | Check first | LTA |
| Any private property | Owner's permission | Owner's permission | The owner |
The Ministry of Digital Development and Information says filming on private property needs the owner's permission, filming at commuter facilities should be checked with LTA, and anyone unsure about public areas can check with IMDA (MDDI FAQ). IMDA's production guidance has pointed requests for town council locations, such as coffeeshops, playgrounds and HDB void decks, to the relevant town council (IMDA, 2022).
Filming runs and outdoor workouts in parks
NParks says a permit is required for all filming and commercial photography in its parks and nature reserves, and there's no application fee (NParks: Apply for an on-location filming permit). The details that matter for a creator shoot:
- Small-scale permit. Your shoot counts as small-scale if it has fewer than 16 people, no drones and no large or bulky setups such as dolly tracks, isn't a media organisation request, and isn't in an excluded park.
- Excluded parks. Nature reserves and some central and signature parks can't use the small-scale permit, including Fort Canning Park, Jurong Lake Gardens, Singapore Botanic Gardens, HortPark, Esplanade Park and Youth Olympic Park. Those need the full application, and the Botanic Gardens has its own form.
- One location per application. A run that crosses three parks means three applications.
- Lead time. The permit page says apply at least one month ahead; NParks' photography page says two weeks for commercial shoots. Plan for a month.
What NParks' pages don't spell out is where a casual personal clip ends and "filming" begins. If a brand is paying you, sending product or will reuse the footage, treat it as commercial and apply.
Drones: almost always a "no" for brand shoots
Aerial shots of a group run along the coast look great. They're also the most regulated thing in this guide. The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore splits drone flying into recreational, educational and business use (CAAS: Requirements for flying unmanned aircraft). For business use, which includes a paid brand shoot:
- You need a UA pilot licence, an Operator Permit and a Class 1 Activity Permit, regardless of the drone's weight, where you fly or how high.
- Drones above 250g must be registered.
- Drone activity is never allowed in prohibited areas.
Using a drone also takes your park shoot out of NParks' small-scale permit. For most creators, the answer is to hire a licensed operator or skip the drone.
Filming other people: consent and the PDPA
The biggest complaint about gym filming isn't the creator. It's the stranger in the background. Two layers apply here.
The venue. ActiveSG asks you to respect other users. Most gyms do the same.
The law. Photos and videos of identifiable people are personal data under the PDPA. The PDPC's guidance says consent exceptions may apply where you're acting in a personal or domestic capacity, such as filming for your own purposes at a gathering of family and friends. But in its example, once a photo is published for an organisation's publicity, the organisation will have to get consent before using it for its business purpose (PDPC Advisory Guidelines, paras 4.5 to 4.7).
In practice, for sports creators:
- Frame tight, shoot toward a wall or an empty court, or film at quiet hours.
- If someone ends up identifiable in the shot, blur them or ask them.
- For brand content, get written consent from anyone who appears, including training partners, plus a parent's or guardian's for under-18s.
Before a paid shoot: a 10-point checklist
- Write down exactly where you'll film, with a backup location.
- Ask the venue: ActiveSG, gym management, town council or the property owner.
- Get written approval for any paid or brand shoot.
- In an NParks park, apply for the permit: one location per application, a month ahead.
- No drone, unless a licensed operator with the right CAAS permits is flying it.
- Pick a time when the space is quiet.
- Collect signed consent from everyone on camera.
- Pack light: a phone, a small tripod and a clip-on mic. Bulky kit attracts attention and, in parks, can change your permit type.
- Agree with the brand on disclosure, usage rights and who handles permits. Our guide on how to get paid as a sports content creator covers disclosure and tax.
- Leave the space as you found it.
Filming on court? Our guide to filming your tennis practice on a phone covers angles, tripods and settings, and fitness content ideas brands pay for has shot lists you can plan around these rules.
Get paid for the sports content you make
Brands care about this more than creators expect: a shoot that gets stopped by venue staff, or a post with a stranger who complains, is a problem for them too. A creator who turns up with permission sorted is easier to book again.
ContentGenZ is where sports brands find the creators who sell their products. For creators, it's simple: set your own rates, keep brand offers in one place and get paid through Stripe, whether you post about gym, running, tennis, yoga or more. Get paid to post about your sport.
If you're a brand planning a creator shoot, book a demo of ContentGenZ.
Sources
- ActiveSG Rules and Regulations, Sport Singapore, rules 13 and 14 and the gym rules (read 14 November 2026)
- Apply for an on-location filming permit and Photography in parks, National Parks Board (read 14 November 2026)
- Requirements for flying unmanned aircraft, Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (read 14 November 2026)
- Advisory Guidelines on the PDPA for Selected Topics, revised May 2024, PDPC, paragraphs 4.5 to 4.7 (read 14 November 2026)
- FAQ, Ministry of Digital Development and Information, on filming in public areas, private property and commuter facilities (read 14 November 2026)
- Gym rules, NUS (read 14 November 2026)
- Content productions FAQ, IMDA, 29 August 2022 (read 14 November 2026)
