Some reports received that some Malta Institute of Professional Photography (MIPP) members were asked for a permit to shoot in public gardens, such as the Milorda (Floriana) one.
The MIPP has checked and unless one is using heavy equipment blocking access to other users of the garden, a photographer DOES NOT need a permit to photograph in such public gardens.
This excludes the Chinese Garden in Santa Lucia, for which that locality’s Local Council has (for quite some time!! 😦 ) been asking for a fee for photographers to shoot in that garden.
UPDATE (16th May, 2015)
Due to recent issues being raised by MIPP members when they have gone to the Chinese Garden in Santa Lucia, the MIPP President Mr. Kevin Casha has requested the exact charges and regulations being imposed by the Local Council of Santa Lucia.
Below is relative extract from the Local Council concerning the official bylaws granted to the Local Council by the Central Government in 2010. That way any photographers are forewarned of what payments and situations to expect.
Mr. Casha has also sent an email enquiring if there is a contact person or an official form for applying but, to date, no reply has been forthcoming from the Sta. Lucia Local Council.
That is the idea of Local Councils which are supposed to be for the service of the citizen.
The Cons's Nook: www.ivanmconsiglio.com 
How ridiculous….charging a fee to photograph a public garden!!! I would say that this is an illegality and should be stopped.
After speaking to the last Sta Lucia council major, he assured me that it was only for commercial heavy work such as film production or a wedding, yet one of our members was just told to leave while taking a few photos of a couple of friends!
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